Eat like a champ Take a shower when you smell Quit acting like a dumb kid Don’t bother your mom Don’t bother your sister Stay in school By Tucker, 7th grade
Do I have to be good? Do I have to be nice? Do I have to eat with a napkin in my lap?Do I have to behave? Do I have to talk with difficult words? Do I have to dress nice? Do I have to walk straight? Do I have to obey people? Do I [...]
It’s beginning to look a lot like… holiday madness Moms going crazy Kids out of their minds Dads clueless Some snow mixed with desperation Mistletoe Credit cards It’s beginning…. By Ben, 7th grade
Did you ever want to make an animated movie? Using the Xtranormal Movie Maker, now you can. Simply choose your characters, type out the dialogue, and watch. Have fun!
Every year my mom drags us to a pumpkin patch so we can get our picture taken. “Smile!” she tells us. “Smile better!” she commands. “We’re not leaving here until I get some good pictures!” she yells. So, my brother and I show the whites of our teeth and try to look happy about being [...]
Being on the other side of cancer is easier than being in the middle. When you’re in the middle, it’s like being at sea and not knowing where you’re going. Some days were easy, while others were very challenging. The best parts of being sick were seeing all the friendly [...]
I like when the sun rises in the East to get me out of bed. I like how the cool wind blows on my face. I like when new flowers open and bloom in the morning. I like reading encyclopedias. I like serving food to my family on Thanksgiving. I like playing with my baby [...]
On August 18, 1983, Hurricane Alicia hit the Texas coast. It killed 22 people and caused a billion dollars in damage. Many children have lived through natural disasters and witnessed difficult things. Creating a safe space for them to talk and write about their experiences is a form of healing. Today, as we remember the [...]
By Marcia
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Also posted in Houston, nature, place, poem a day, poetry, student, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged Hurricane Alicia, hurricane poem, Natural disaster, storm poem, texas, weather, weather poem
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As teachers, many of us must spend time teaching the personal narrative in preparation for state testing exams. We concentrate on organization, clarity, word choice, grammar, and other writing “essentials.” The child’s real story, though, sometimes gets lost. As I prepare to return to the classroom (and all of those What I Did This Summer [...]
By Marcia
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Also posted in essay, Houston, place, poetry, student, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged Afghanistan, Afghanistan war poem, brother poem, dream deferred, Langston Hughes, poetry, war poem
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This poem, “My Grandma’s Hands,” is written by a 3rd grader, who was inspired by Niobi Shihab Nye’s poem “Words Under the Words” about her grandparents. My Grandma’s Hands My grandma’s hands know how to make tortillas which she learned how to do in Mexico. My grandma’s hands know how to take care of my [...]
I used to go into classrooms with a very clear idea of the poems and stories I wanted the students to create. I imagined beautiful, lyrical language, deep emotional revelations, memorable, personal themes. Then I started reading some of the research about boys and writing. I learned from experts such as Ralph Fletcher and Peg [...]
School’s out! It’s time to celebrate. In addition to going to a summer fest, we invite you to throw a party for poetry! That’s right. Grab a pencil and go to town! You’ve got all the time in the world to play with words. No tests, no teachers. Just you and the wide world of [...]
WITS writers often turn to Paul Fleischman when they teach choral poetry. His book Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices has delightful, double-column poems about insects. The poems, which include everything from a love affair between lice to fireflies writing in the sky, are written for two readers alternating turns. What I did not realize [...]
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s unexpected victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In Houston, the city with the third-largest Mexican population in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a popular day for recognizing and appreciating Mexican heritage and culture. In honor of Cinco [...]
Are you ready for the biggest literary celebration of the school year? Blooms takes place this Sunday, May 1 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM on the Discovery Green main stage featuring renowned author and photographer Karen Walrond as guest speaker. The audience will be treated to an uplifting afternoon filled with the discovery and intrigue of [...]
By jrwatson5
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Also posted in contest, creativity, education, essay, event, Houston, poetry, Reading, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged discovery green, literary arts
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