Xapa to the World

Tag: poetry

  • FIAR Vol. 1 – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

    FIAR Vol. 1 – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

    The kids could recite parts of this by the end of the week. And the illustrations are evocative – seeing how much detail can be made with just black and white drawings. Robert Frost is a favorite of mine too – his was one of the first poetry collections I bought myself. I especially meditated quite a bit on his poem, “Mending Wall,” particularly when I was struggling with knowing how and when to set personal boundaries.

    Language Arts

    Teaching my kids to enjoy poetry is a passionate goal of mine. I want to do it in a way that sparks imagination and not frustration. Kwame’s book is great for that, as is the book “Kiyoshi’s Walk” (not pictured) for learning about haiku. My kids were not readers at this time, so “Joyful Noise” was a little lost on us. If your kids are readers, reading poetry for two voices is great for practicing rhythm, inflection, and timing while reading aloud.

    Science

    Snow is fascinating and can be just a joy all around for kiddos. These books – learning the mechanics behind it and how animals interact with snow – are great for littles learning how the world around them works. There are some excellent books on animal tracks in snow or mud.

    Other books

    Soon after we started this curriculum, P.J. Lynch came out with another illustrated version of Frost’s poem. We were excited to get them and compare and contrast the two versions! These poems by Bob Raczka are incredible too, as are the illustrations. We enjoyed reading the words as they twisted around the pages, demonstrating the action of the words. For example, one was about a mouse going through a maze and the words were typed out within the framework of a maze with a piece of cheese as the final prize. Another poem is of hitting a home run and the words crash into the wall of the page and bounce off turning the words backwards as it flies to the top corner. People are so creative and I LOVE it!

    Disclaimer: This site uses some affiliate links. This costs you nothing, but helps supplement our homeschooling costs.

    Complete Booklist:

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  • Poem: Cold Winter 8

    8
    January 24th, 2014

    How did they know? Those farmers…
    How did they know of the frigid and bluster
    Of this year’s winter?
    The proof is in the pudding
    And the pudding is cold as stone
    And hard as ice.
    Cold.
    Doesn’t even seem the right word for this feeling.
    And the perpetual snow drifts across the roads,
    Like snakes of white powder
    Side-swiping between the tires and biting at them,
    Turning them to ice in an instant.
    And the cats eyes of taillights
    Glaring behind as if angry of the cold as well.
    I’m tired of it too, but my car is warm,
    Mostly, and I’m willing to go around in it.
    But don’t ask me to get out and brave the frozen wasteland.
    My only consolation remains that
    The days do grow longer,
    And soon will come the crocuses.

     – Sarah ><>

  • Poem: Cold Winter 7

    7
    January 22nd, 2012

    The ice came and took its victims.
    Freezing and snapping and catching,
    Holding us hostage until it so pleased.
    But the sun came and rescued us.
    And in response, the ice melted,
    Exhaling a mist into the sky –
    At night, obscuring the sights
    And refracting the lights so they scatter
    And blend and flood as much as the water.
    Red and white and yellow and green,
    Bright and obtrusive,
    Tainting the scene.
    But the lake is near untouched
    With the haze rising above
    And weaving its way through the waterlogged trees.
    They never drown.
    And the train awakens and the white lights
    Between the cars like buck teeth
    Flash and pulse and faster and faster
    And gone.

     – Sarah ><>