My Feelings on Poetry September 15, 2008

I think I was like many other people in thinking that poetry had to be analyzed.  I guess it was from the horrible class I had in undergrad when I was attending App.  I think I was going on my second year of college when I took a class in which we had to analyze poems.  That was by far one of the most painful classes that I have taken.  I never wanted to read another poem again until I realized that poetry can be fun. 

After the readings for the week I realized that poetry can be fun.  Maybe I just need to steer clear from certain levels of poetry that don’t resignate with me.  I have always had a fondness for children’s literature.  I feel that it has so much meaning.  After reading the poetry books assigned I feel as though poetry can be a great thing.  Concrete poetry is a very interesting, creative way of writing poems.  I think my students would LOVE writing concrete poems.  I think it would take a few trial and errors but it would be all worth it in the end. 

I hope I will grow to love more and more types of poetry.  I’m sure that I will with Dr. Frye as my professor.  I love how much she motivates me. 

 

BY THE WAY…I’M NOT REALLY WRITING AT 2:30 AM.  FOR SOME REASON MY TIME AND DATE IS WRONG ON MY BLOGS.

Concrete Poetry September 15, 2008

Technically It’s Not My Fault by John Grandits

If you read this book I’m sure you had very similar thoughts.  I absolutely loved this book.  I felt that students could relate to these poems.  It leans more toward older students, like middle school aged students.  I don’t think my fourth graders could understand all of the poems.  They may even freak out when they hear certain words in the poems.  They may be able to understand some of the poems. 

When I read The Thank You Letter I laughed aloud.  For some reason this reminded me of The Christmas Story (movie) when the little boy gets the horrible bunny suit from his relative just like the boy, in the book, getting the sweater with Barney on it.  I think lots of kids get disappointed with presents.  Who hasn’t received a present and thought, what were they thinking?

I think my favorite poem was the TyrannosaursBus Rex.  I would have never thought to give life to a bus.  If a bus did have life I’m sure it would think the same things as this bus thought.  The students are jumping off the bus giggling, laughing, arguing, and running.  It seems as though a teacher wrote some of these poems.  It was amazing how much I related to this poetry.  I think this might be one of my new favorites.

I loved all of the poems.  Some poems made me a little bit dizzy.  I don’t think I’d read those poems again but I think students would enjoy reading these poems.  This would be a great book to introduce concrete poetry into the classroom.