Celebrating Runeberg Day

Sunday is Runeberg Day, a day  celebrating and honouring Finland’s national poet. English Classes took a jump start by celebrating it today. In the photo collage above English Class third grader Iiris is shown on the far right telling first graders, as well as her own class, about the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.

Then first graders and third graders read Finnish children’s poetry to one another.

Shared reading is something the children always enjoy, but today, reading poetry, was especially engaging as can be seen from the photographs.

 

Poetry on a Poe’Tree

All of the English Class pupils were encouraged to write poems to hang on the “Poe’ Tree” this month. Some class have written poems but they have not yet hung them on the tree yet.  It is always necessary for teachers to help pupils understand the difference between prose and poetry. The many elements and types of poetry are other areas that need to be explored from one year to another.

English Class second graders are shown in the collages above hanging their poems on the tree. As our pupils pass the tree on their way to class or on their way out, they have an opportunity to read what other English Class pupils have written. It is gratifying to hear the pupils praising many of the poems that they read!

 

More of Shel Silverstein’s Poetry

English Class third graders continued their exploration of some of Shel Silverstein’s poetry. This week the children read the poems, Hinges, Whatif, Homework Machine, and Voices. Emphasis was on reading out loud with inflection. Pupils practiced reading the poems to themselves and then one another.

Pupils then discussed what each of the poems meant to them. Finally each pupil wrote the poem, Voices, in his/her language arts notebook. This is a good poem for recitation, as well.

 

Shel Silverstein Poems Inspire

English Class third graders began the school year with a short unit of poems by the versatile Shel Silverstein. The list poem, “Band-Aids” was the first poem they read. In groups they created their own lists of things that caused them to say, “Ouch”. Following that, each pupil wrote a personal “Ouch” poem to put into their English language arts notebooks.

The pupils also played a game where they competed in groups to write unique lists naming things that were not listed in other groups to score a point. Another poem that the third graders explored was the poem, “Sick”, which contains lots of health-related vocabulary. The pupils really appreciated the humor of Silverstein’s poetry. Next week they will add to their collection of Silverstein poems.

September Acrostic Poems

English Class sixth grade pupils wrote acrostic poems for the word “September”. Using their computer skills they chose fonts and clipart to enhance their poems. Click the photo to enlarge it for easier reading.

Spring Fest

Friends and families thoroughly enjoyed the English Class Spring Fest programme put together by pupils and teachers on Monday evening. Some of the many, many talents of pupils were highlighted in the poems and skit they wrote and shared, the songs they sang, their joyful dancing, as well as by the music they played on recorders, buckets and even their bodies! It was a heartwarming experience for anyone who had the pleasure of attending the fest!

The programme began with everyone singing “School Rules” together. English Class kindergarten pupils performed a foot tapping rendition of “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain“. First and second graders danced two Finnish folk dances Hans vili vili and Lintu lensi oksalle, Fourth graders played two songs on their recorders, “The Eensy Weensy Spider” and “Puff the Magic Dragon“. Fifth graders performed bucket drumming, a cup game variation and some body percussion. Both fifth and sixth graders danced a Morris stick dance together. Some sixth grade boys wrote and acted out a skit about their recollections of primary school. All of this was interspersed and hosted with poems presented by English Class third graders. The finale was a surprise to all when pictures of pupils holding signs showing what they want to be when they grow up were displayed as pupils sang, “We’re so Proud of Our School.”

 

 

Below are two samples of the evening’s numbers.

Second Grade Poetry Journals

English Class second graders have been compiling a poetry journal since the beginning of the school year as part of their English language arts course.

Poetry is rhythm, beats, sounds and music. It is the most kinesthetic of literature forms. Poetry shows children how to express experiences in their lives using imagery, metaphor and symboloic langugage. Poetry is a short piece of imaginative writing. Even with limited English vocabulary pupils, can understand the personal nature of poetry.

In addition to writing down poems in their journals written by others, English Class second graders have written some poems of their own as a group. They also have memorized some of the poems. Recitation is a good form of exercising the brain and practicing presentation skills. Click the photos to better read the poems.