Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 28

Agenda:

Check-in

"To the Young Who Want to Die" by Gwendolyn Brooks

Prompts for the last day of NaPoWriMo

HW: RJ 15.1- 15.4 get signature and turn in tomorrow

Submit drafts of 20-30 poems

Hey y'all. Our Zoom is today at 1:00. See you there!

Check-in: How do you feel about the end of NaPoWriMo?

Will you participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day? It's worth 10-20 points extra credit. Click the link for ideas.  

Today's poem:  

Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud) or listen to the poet reading it (link is above).  
What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
What is it about? 
What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompts: Write about reasons to live. 

From Winter Tangerine: "Write an ode to your heart."

And from Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Total (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles could include: “Total Madness,” “Total Victory,” “Totally Awesome,” and/or “Total Cereal.”

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

OK, get your drafts together, maybe start typing them up, think about ones you want to revise and include in your collection/chapbook. 

Also think about your slam poetry performance!

Email or come to the Zoom or use Remind to ask any questions. Otherwise, I'll see you Monday. Have a good weekend. 

Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 27

Agenda:

Check-in

"Learning to Love America" by Shirley Geok-Lin Lim

Prompts for NaPoWriMo Day #29

HW: RJ 15.3 on a poem. 

Read a poem and write a poem.

Tomorrow is our last day of NaPoWriMo! Make sure you turn in poetry drafts tomorrow and RJs Friday!

Our Zoom's today are at 9:00 and 10:15. See you there! Oh, and check for new codes on Schoology today. 

Check-in: How does poetry work differently than prose? 

Our poem today is:

Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud) or listen to the poet reading it (link is above).  
What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
What is it about? 
What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompts: Write about learning to love something like Shirley Geok-Lin Lim does about America. 

From Winter Tangerine: "Create a word; then define it."

From Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt:

Write a look back poem and/or…

Write a don’t look back poem. Because some folks just want to keep their eyes on the road ahead.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

 

Once you have your poems submitted, start working on your collections and performance pieces. They are due next week!

For your collections: put together a collection of your best 10-15 poems due May 6th. (50 points)

Include an introduction and table of contents. 

Number your pages. 

Revise your poems to make them as strong as possible. 

For our poetry slam: Submit a video of you performing a poem by May 8th. (30 points)

You can do someone else's poem with a response or your own original poem. 

They should not be longer than 3 minutes. 

You can work by yourself or in a small group.

Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 26

Agenda:

Check-in

"It's Not Your Job" by Caitlyn Siehl

Prompts for NaPoWriMo Day #28

HW: RJ 15.2 on a poem. 

Read a poem and write a poem. 

Zoom class today from 1:00 - 1:30.

See you there. 

Check-in: What is a quality you don't feel like you have but that you really admire in a friend?  

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud) or listen to the poet reading it (link is above).  
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompts: Write about something you think the world thinks you should be but you see as "not your job" or write a birthday poem for me (today's my birthday). A poem is just about the best gift I can get!

From Winter Tangerine: "Write instructions for falling in love."

And from Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, write a massive poem. The poem itself could be massive in size and length. Or it could take on a massive problem, describe a supermassive black hole, or praise a massive bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Whatever you write, I hope it’s a massive success.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

Have a great day, y'all and I'll see you tomorrow~ 

Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 25

Agenda:

Check-in

Q ⧫ Q ⧫ Song

"This Will Give You Poetry" by Yrsa Daley-Ward

Prompts for NaPoWriMo Day #27

HW: RJ 15.1 on a poem. 

Read a poem and write a poem. 

Our Zoom classes today: 

Periods 4/5/6 is from 9:00 to 9:45

NEW TIME FOR Periods 2/3  from 10:15 to 11:00. 

See you there. 

Check-in: What is a small thing that brings you joy? 

Quote of the week: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." Arthur Ashe
What do you think this great American tennis player means? 

Question: What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

Song: "Across the Universe" The Beatles

Today's poem:  is "Poetry" by Yrsa Daley-Ward

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud) or listen to the poet reading it (link is above).  
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompts: Write about something that you think is giving you poetry right now. 

From Winter Tangerine: "Write a piece involving two people watching a fire billow and grow."

From Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, write a change poem. This could be a poem about something that has changed or something that will change. Changing tires, clothes, or perspectives. Change left over when paying for something with cash. Feel encouraged to change it up today.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

A couple of other things to know about. Thursday, poems are due. You should upload drafts of your poems. If you are taking pictures, try to fit a few poems on each shot so I don't have to open 20-30 images and you don't have to upload so many files. 

Thursday is also Poem in Your Pocket Day. Post a poem on social media or write a poem in chalk on the sidewalk or perform a poem for a friend. There are endless opportunities to share poetry. This is an extra credit assignment worth 10 points. Upload what you do and I'll give you credit. 

Friday RJs are due. 

That's what our week looks like. 

Looking ahead:  

For your collections: put together a collection of your best 10-15 poems due May 6th. (50 points)

Include an introduction and table of contents. 

Number your pages. 

Revise your poems to make them as strong as possible. 

For our poetry slam: Submit a video of you performing a poem by May 8th. (30 points)

You can do someone else's poem with a response or your own original poem. 

They should not be longer than 3 minutes. 

You can work by yourself or in a small group

Ms. Nakada's NaPoWriMo Post: Day 26

Our poem today is another by Lucille Clifton: 

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud). 
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

For today's prompts: write a poem about wishes you have for someone different than yourself.

From  Winter Tangerine: "What does the candle of you smell like?"

From Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, write a change poem. This could be a poem about something that has changed or something that will change. Changing tires, clothes, or perspectives. Change left over when paying for something with cash. Feel encouraged to change it up today.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt." 

Enjoy your Sunday and I'll see you tomorrow. 

Ms. Nakada's NaPoWriMo Post: Day 25

Our poem today is by Lucille Clifton. You might want to take note of her use of capitalization. 

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud). 
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

For today's prompts: write a poem imagining seeing someone you know now but haven't seen in many years.

From Winter Tangerine: "Write a myth in a landscape you know very well."

From Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, write a remix poem. That is, take one (or more) of your poems from earlier this month and remix it. Make a free verse poem into a villanelle. Or condense a sestina into a haiku or senryu. Or forget form. Just completely jumble up the words…or respond to the original poem(s). As always, have fun with it.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

Stay healthy. Keep washing your hands and wear a mask and enjoy these last days of April. 

Ms. Nakada's NaPoWriMo Post: Day 24

Agenda:

"Instructions on Not Giving Up" by Ada Limón

Prompts for NaPoWriMo

HW: Turn in 13.1-13.4 signed and the drafts of 10-15 poems you've written. 

No Zoom class today. Just get poems read and written, turn in RJs, and I will see you for class on Monday. You also might want to check out the Get Lit Slam. 

Our poem today seems about right for this bit of summer we're feeling right now. 

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud). 
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

For today's prompts: write a poem of instructions for...

From Winter Tangerine: "Where do your regrets live?"

I hope none of you are suffering from too much regret, but if you are, what are you wishing you could go back and do differently? 

From Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Social (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles could include: “Social Distancing at the Grocery Store,” “Social Media Trolls,” “Social Club,” and/or “Social Distortion.” Heck, flipping the script to come up with a title like “Ice Cream Social” would totally work too.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

Try to stay cool, and have a great weekend! 

Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 23

Agenda:

Check-in

"Playground Elegy" by Clint Smith

Prompts for NaPoWriMo Day #23

HW: RJ 14.4 on a poem. 

Read a poem and write a poem. Get these signed and turn them in tomorrow. 

Zoom is art 1:00 today. See you there if it's something you need or find helpful right now.  

Check-in Question for today: What are you grieving for from life before?

Our poem today is by Clint Smith.

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud). 
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompt: Write a poem about an early childhood memory.  

From Winter Tangerine: "Where do your joys live?"

And from Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, write a quirk poem. The quirk could be a personal or human quality. Or it could be a quirk of fate.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

For your collections: put together a collection of your best 10-15 poems due May 6th. (50 points)

• Include an introduction and table of contents. 
• Number your pages. 
• Revise your poems to make them as strong as possible. 

For our poetry slam: Submit a video of you performing a poem by May 8th. (30 points)

• You can do someone else's poem with a response or your own original poem. 
• They should not be longer than 3 minutes. 
• You can work by yourself or in a small group

See you all tomorrow. Oh, and check out the Get Lit Slam today or tomorrow. A great way to see young LA poets share their work. 

Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 22

Agenda:

Check-in

Poetry Collections and Poetry Slam Videos

"Toy Boat" by Ocean Vuong

Prompts for NaPoWriMo Day #22

HW: RJ 14.3 on a poem. 

Read a poem and write a poem. 

Happy Wednesday. Somehow, the weeks are flying by. We're already almost done with our four week of distance learning. Crazy. 

Zooms are at 9 and 10 today. See you there. 

Check-in Question for today: What do you wish teachers knew or would do differently in the transition to online learning? 

Before we look at our prompts, let's talk a little about our poetry collections and the poetry slam. 

For your collections: put together a collection of your best 10-15 poems due May 6th. (50 points)

Include an introduction and table of contents. 

Number your pages. 

Revise your poems to make them as strong as possible. 

For our poetry slam: 

Submit a video of you performing a poem by May 8th. (30 points)

You can do someone else's poem with a response or your own original poem. 

They should not be longer than 3 minutes. 

You can work by yourself or in a small group. 

Here is a sample video of poets performing youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman's poem. 

Our poem today is by Ocean Vuong. 

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud). 
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompt: Write a poem about inspired by a historical or political event. 

From Winter Tangerine: "Imagine your body as a planet. What do you orbit?"

From Writer's Digest: 

"For today’s prompt:

Write a love poem and/or…

Write an anti-love poem. Because some folks just aren’t that into love poems.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."

Ms. Nakada's Virtual Classroom: Day 21

Agenda:

Check-in

"Hope" by Emily Dickinson

Prompts for NaPoWriMo Day #21

HW: RJ 14.2 on a poem. 

Read a poem and write a poem. 

It's another short Tuesday, y'all. Our Zoom today is from 1:00 - 1:30.

For our check-in: Now that we're 20 days in, do you have a favorite poem/poet? 

OK, make sure you have all of your English materials ready for today. Write your agenda and here is today's  poem. 

• Read through the poem 3-4 times (preferably out loud). 
• What feeling/tone do you get from the poem? 
• What is it about? 
• What poetic elements do you notice happening in this poem? 
• Annotate and make sense of this poem.

Prompts: Write a poem about something you find hopeful. 

From Winter Tangerine: "Write a self-portrait as your favorite body of water."

From Writer's Digest: "For today’s prompt, write an isolation poem. For many, this is a very real and present subject. And for me, I’ve found that social distancing and staying at home has actually made it harder for me to find the isolation my introverted soul needs to recharge—so I actually wake up before anyone else to get a little alone time. But isolation existed before COVID-19 as well. So there are plenty of ways to dive into this one.

Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt." 

That's it for today. I hope poetry is keeping you company during this time of isolation. I know it's helping me as is connecting with you. I've loved reading your poems so far. Keep writing and I'll see you tomorrow.