MORE BUILD A POEM

Horton Center, New HampshireI’m glad to be back after a long absence which included two months volunteering in Japan, writing a new picture book manuscript, and the launch of my YA historical novel. I haven't written much poetry, and I’ve missed the richness of this community! This week's Roundup is at Reflections on the Teche. Thanks, Margaret!

Last year I shared a Build-a-Poem poetry workshop for middle-graders. I’ve just used the same basic building idea with a group of terrific young teens at a New Hampshire camp in the White Mountains. They gave me permission to post some photos.


The week’s theme was “Get Real-Finding Your True Self.” Each day they studied what that might mean as a Christian. So with a few paint chips, a handful of words from a word pool, and my own example, they wrote poems with new names for this self they were discovering.




Scaffolding consisted of “My real name is..., My name used to be…, In my dream my name was…, and Tomorrow my name will be… .” This Re-naming poem is not my original idea, and I am sorry to say I can’t remember the source! If anyone is familiar with this exercise, please help me out.


It was a fun exercise, and not too academic for a summer activity. Two Deans and other camp staff  jumped right in and wrote poems, too! In one hour we had built a poetry wall.