Ordinary Magic

I'm Celebrating this Past Week!

Writer and educator, Ruth Ayers at https://ruthayreswrites.com/celebrate-link-up/ created Celebrate This Week, a community of writers that write about their week’s celebrations, whether ordinary or extraordinary. I decided to gather some of my celebrations from this past week here, today.

Poetry Celebration #1!

Each Friday, not only on my blog, but at school, I like to take the time to celebrate poetry. I share a “Poetry Break!” with the entire school, by reading a poem on the morning announcements. Yesterday, to wrap up Random Acts of Kindness Week, I read Eileen Spinelli’s “How to Love Your Little Corner of the World.”  It’s one of my favorite poems. It's one I've copied into my Poetry Journal and created a collage for. It was appreciated by many staff members as well as some students who commented that they liked the poem that I shared on the announcements. I love that I can reach the whole school by sharing a “Poetry Break!” on the announcements!  It's a great way to begin our day.

Poetry Celebration #2!

A second celebration around poetry also occurred yesterday. I call each Friday, Poetry Friday and share poetry with my Book Clubs (also known as my reading intervention groups). I read aloud poetry, have s collection of poetry books for students to peruse, give out poems to read and sometimes illustrate with a sketch, and many other activities that involve poetry. Students love Poetry Friday in my Book Clubs!  I know this because they tell me so each week. As a matter of fact, yesterday, one of my fourth grade boys commented, “Why do we only get to have Poetry Friday?  Why not Poetry all the time?”  My response was that we also had many books that we would be reading.  Another student replied, “Yeah, we should have Poetry Friday and Poetry Monday!”  I thought about how excited these kids were to have time built into their day to spend with poems. I decided that I will add poetry into each day that I see my Book Clubs. After all it takes a minute or less to read aloud a poem.

I Won a Scholarship!

I'm so excited that after applying for a scholarship, I won!  The scholarship will allow me the opportunity to attend the New York State Library Association’s annual Conference!  I've not yet been able to attend one. So this May I'll be attending the NYLA SSL Annual Conference!  Here's a link to the list of amazing speakers https://sites.google.com/view/nyla-ssl2019/home. I love learning from authors, educators, and other speakers!  I also submitted a proposal to present at the conference. I'm still waiting to find out if it was accepted.

New and Improved Reader and Writer!

To wrap up my celebrations for this week, I'll add that I signed up for two writing courses through SUNY Broome’s  Continuing Education program. I can't wait to participate in them!  I've also been in touch with a couple of authors regarding the NYSRA Charlotte Book Award and not only considering their books for the Ballots but also to set up interviews that I'll feature here.

I feel as though each day I come closer and closer to the reader and writer that I once was. Not only do I feel that I am nearer to her, but I feel as if I am a new and improved improved reader and writer. I'm a better version of each because all my experiences from the last few years have had a tremendous impact on my growth and learning.

Another Way to Share Poetry!

"Poetry Break!"

Happy Poetry Friday!

Day 11 of my kidlit book-a-day inspired wardrobe!

Last week I decided to celebrate Children's Book Week by wearing clothes and accessories that coordinate and match with children's books and their characters. I had so much fun and better yet, the students in my school library were excited and motivated to hear about and read the books that I was promoting!  Oh, and I decided that even though Children's Book Week ended for the year, my bookish wardrobe doesn't have to!  

Matching books and poems to your clothing and accessories is an excellent way to promote literacy!  So go check your closet and coordinate with your bookshelf!  

Scroll down to my previous post if you're interested in seeing my other book inspired outfits. 

For more Poetry inspiration, visit A Teaching Life for the Poetry Friday Roundup.

Poetry Break Has a New Look!

Today I'm celebrating my passion for sharing poetry by revisiting how I originally got started with presenting poems to children. Although I've always shared poetry in small ways, about ten years ago I began doing "Poetry Breaks" - popping into classrooms with an announcement of, "Poetry Break!" with a sign and whistle or bell to signal that, much like D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read), we pause for a poem.

In my first post participating in Poetry Friday (from 2012!), I share how I got started with conducting Poetry Breaks. I also share a brief video Booktalk that features Caroline Feller Bauer's Poetry Break! book. Check it out here.

In a Poetry Friday post from 4 years ago, I wrote a Tribute to Caroline Feller Bauer and my inspiration and mentor for sharing poetry with children.

always searching for

the perfect poem to share

it's "Poetry Break!" ~C. F. B. 

I now take time out for "Poetry Breaks" in my school library. I incorporate them into lessons when students in grades pre-k through 5th grade visit the library on a weekly basis. Poems relate to seasons, holidays, curriculum topics, student interest, and much more!  I also use "Poetry Breaks" as a way to Booktalk Poetry books, as well as many other books and magazines in the library. The poem possibilities are endless.

I was so excited when my new sign arrived in the mail, just in time for National Poetry Month. My cousin, Tara Sawyer designed and created my amazing new and improved, "Poetry Break" sign, which is proudly on display in my library, just waiting to announce the arrival of a "Poetry Break!"

Add

Be sure to check out Tara's beautiful designs at Bird Branch Designs.

Celebrate today, celebrate #nationalpoetrymonth, celebrate #slm17 by pursg the Poetry Friday  Roundup, hosted by Doraine at Dori Reads

Poetry Collages & Patience

I'm still joining the Poetry Friday party, even if it's a day late. I'm learning to have patience with myself as I'm still recovering from a long year of health complications, which were most recently punctuated with a case of pneumonia. As I've returned to work full days, I've realized that although I'm feeling much more like myself, I can't do it all and I certainly can't do it all at once.

During my recovery, I've discovered or rediscovered my interest in expressing myself creatively - not only through writing but also through art. I've always had an interest in collage and creating with images. Among other collage creations, I've started to create a poetry collage notebook or journal.  I'm collecting some of the many poems that I love and that touch my heart, and I'm adding them to a blank book, along with an accompanying collage of images that I've collected. Not only is this a fun and therapeutic hobby, it will serve as a great resource to me in my quest to share poetry with children. My poetry collage book will be a part of my Poetry Breaks!  If you aren't already familiar with my Poetry Breaks, stay tuned for an update, as I will revisit them here at Mrs. Merrill's Book Break. I'll also be sharing how I'm revising my original Poetry Breaks.

The first poem that I've collage is "Surprise" by Beverly McLoughlan, from, Good Books, Good Times by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Harper Collins 1990).

 

An entry in my Poetry Collage Journal (April 2017)

  

Mane sure you visit Irene Latham at Live Your Poem to check out all the other Poetry fun that she's got in the Poetry Friday Roundup.

A Picture Book & a Poem

As I looked through the "Drafts" section here at Mrs. Merrill's Book Break, I discovered this review that I had done on Goodreads. As I reread it and remembered this treasure, I immediately grabbed Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong's The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science Teachers. The perfect poem to pair with this book is, "Uh-oh, Pluto" by Jeannine Atkins. The anthology is treasure trove of science themed poems on every topic imaginable. Poetry lovers and science enthusiasts alike will need to rush out to get a copy! Click on the link above for more details about the anthology. 

Amy Zimmer Merrill's Reviews > Pluto's Secret: An Icy World's Tale of Discovery

Pluto's Secret: An Icy World's Tale of Discovery 
by Margaret Weitekamp, David Devorkin, Diane Kidd (Goodreads Author) (Illustrations),National Air and Space Museum (Creator) 

Amy Zimmer Merrill's review 

Jan 03, 15  ·  edit

4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: charlotte-2016, picture-book, primary-grade,middle-grade, non-fiction, astronomy

Unique informational book from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum about the discovery of Pluto, how it was named, and later was not considered a planet. Readers will learn a great deal about the mysteries surrounding Pluto as well as the astronomers who have studied it. Illustrations are fun and cartoon-like, giving Pluto its own personification. Text is easy to understand and there are contextual clues as to the meaning and pronunciation of some vocabulary. Includes endpapers with; photographs & information behind the story, bibliography, suggested reading for young people, a glossary, a who's who - information about each planet, a note from the museum, and an index. Great resource for primary, intermediate, and even middle school science teachers. Would also make an educational and fun read aloud - might be interesting to create a reader's theater from selected text highlights.

1 like · 

Celebrating Life's Ordinary Moments

It feels great to be back to this humble, little blog of mine that I so long ago named, "Mrs. Merrill's Book Break". Here's a link to one of my first posts that introduces and explains why I wanted to keep a blog to begin with. Over the years, I have changed and grown and at times I've not published anything here. Although, my thoughts are not shifting in terms of the content that I share, I am thinking in terms of the structure. Basically, I've come to realize that this is a place for me to share my passion for literacy and celebrating not only the "bigger" or perhaps more "profound" ideas and thought, but to simply record MY "little moments," or what some may find to be "ordinary," but I find to be joyous, make my heart happy, and make me smile!

After a very difficult year in terms of my health, I've truly come to appreciate (even more so than I had before), life's little joys. Especially when it has come to reading - since at times, what has always been a part of daily life, was not possible for me to do or when it was possible to pick up a book, it was a real challenge.  So, let's not take for granted the small moments or the words and stories that can do so much for our souls.

I have found some peace in reading Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's beautiful poem, "Healer."  You too, can read it by visiting The Poem Farm.  Amy is hosting Poetry Friday at The Poem Farm. Please visit to see all the others out there who are celebrating life's poetry moments - both big and small. Click here,

Award-Winning Author Jen Bryant Visits With Me!

Today I am welcoming the award-winning author, Jen Bryant to Mrs. Merrill's Book Break!  I'm honored that she has agreed to share some interesting facts about her reading and writing life with us.  Thanks Jen!  

Jen Bryant and illustrator Melissa Sweet signing books. 

 

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus is on the 2006 New York State Charlotte Book Award intermediate ballot. 

    I came to write The Right Word . . . quite by accident. I decided at the very last minute to accompany my family on a road trip across the state of Pennsylvania. I had to pack a bag very, VERY quickly, so I threw in what I thought was the novel I’d picked up at a library book sale—but once we were on the road (5-hour trip, no smart phone or laptop with me), I realized I’d packed a Thesaurus!! So—I got to know Dr. Roget’s masterpiece, really REALLY well that day!! Needless to say, I developed a new awareness and respect for this amazing reference book, and began to “poke around” in the author’s life (see my reply above) to see what possessed him to write something so ambitious and all-encompassing.The Right Word answers that question, I hope!!


    Readers should read The Right Word because . . . it’s a true story of a boy who overcame shyness, sadness, and self-doubt by making (and expanding, using, cherishing) word lists. These personal lists later became the first Thesaurus, the only book, aside from the Bible, never to have gone out of print. That’s an UN-believable tale, when you think about it—and yet . . . it’s true. 

     Watch the trailer for The Right Word . . . 

2008 Lupine Award & artwork by Melissa Sweet.for A River of Words.

   My favorite place to read . . . on the deck in my backyard, especially in the Spring, where I can hear the birds singing!

Photo by M. Wirtz

A book that has touched my heart . . . I’m going to cheat and give you Two books:

1. I recently re-read The Tiger Rising, by Kate DiCamillo. It’s on my top-ten kids’ books of all time, and I discover new levels of compassion for my fellow man (and my fellow non-human creatures) every time I read it. Life is strange, and messy, and often disappointing, but somehow at the end of this book (and in a NOT too-sentimental way), the author turns us gently back toward love and trust and hope. Given the plot and a few of the characters in this book, that is no small feat!!

2. I recently shared (out loud to a young child) Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon. I am a bird-and owl-watcher myself, and am one of those people who always feels privileged when the natural world lets me in on one of its secrets. I love this book because Yolen uses her exquisite narrative (I mean, it’s poetry, really . . .) to build suspense that leads to the crescendo of a child’s first encounter with a real Great Horned owl. The child is transformed by that experience—and it gives me hope that in our hyper-technical world, there will always be children, and adults!, who stand in awe of natural things.

    I collect my ideas and inspiration for writing  . . . like lint!! I would need a hundred lives of a hundred years each to pursue every interesting idea that’s out there. But one must CHOOSE, alas . . . so I usually poke around (i.e. do some preliminary research) in a few topics that interest me at the same time—and usually, one will peak my interest more than the others and I will just continue to “follow” that topic wherever it may lead. It’s very UN-strategic, very organic, but that’s the only way I can explain it.

    Readers should know . . . that my writing room/office is the messiest room inthe house. I don’t include this tidbit because I’m proud of it (I often wish it were not QUITE so messy), but because writers of all ages frequently as me for “steps” or for “methods” or for “strategies” to apply their own writing process. Maybe these do exist, but the organic, haphazard appearance of my work space reflects, I think, my belief that serendipity, instinct and passionate curiosity play the largest part in fueling good writing. At least for me they do.

    A project I’m currently working on . . .  is a picture book biography of the child-inventor Louis Braille, called SIX DOTS. It’s illustrated by Boris Kulikov and will be published in September by Knopf Books for Young Readers. Told from young Louis’s point of view, it’s the story of how he came to invent, at the age of only fifteen!!, the six dot alphabet that anyone who’s reading this paragraph probably passes by every day on ATM’s, in school hallways, in hotel rooms and restaurants. Sighted folks rarely think about it, but for the blind, it opened up pathways to knowledge and opportunity that had been previously inaccessible to them—and it changed their lives. You can read more here. 

    Be sure to visit Jen's website. 
    Follow her on Facebook.