Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Poem Notebooks

I work at a school that is a Core Knowledge school.  Being a Core Knowledge school we have a curriculum that we have to cover that spirals throughout the grade levels.  We also do our state standards and common core.  With being a Core Knowledge school we have a lot of  poems that we have to cover.  Since we learn poems throughout the whole year I have the students make a Poem Notebook.  This is a great way for the students to have a collection of poems for them to keep.  We use a spiral notebook for our poem notebook.  I usually print out a cute title for their notebook on a label and then a label with each child's name.  

At the beginning of the year we start these books.  We always start the year learning our color words.  I have awesome songs I teach my kiddos from Heidisongs for the color words.  I print out the sheets that go with the songs and on one side of the notebook we glue the poem/song/saying and the other side we put a picture.

For the color words I use Heidisongs songs for the poem and for the picture I use TLC Art Color Book. Here are some examples.
 

 Sometimes I don't use the TLC Art projects.  Sometimes I create my own project.  The one below is a pig.  I guess the girl didn't finish hers. 

Other times, I print a picture from the internet that matches the poem we are working on.


  
Sometimes I have the students illustrate the poem.

 Sometimes I make copies of worksheets I have on a certain topics the students to use.
 
 




Below is a saying that we cover.  I love having the students illustrate the sayings before I explain what it really means.  Their interpretation of the sayings are so cute to look at. 


Throughout the year we work on Nursery Rhymes.  These are also added to our poem notebooks.



I just love these notebooks.  They make a great end of the year keepsake.  The parents of my students also love them.  They make a great collection of their work. 

Do you make something like this with your class?


                                                                      

19 comments:

  1. I am so bad with poetry notebooks. I love poems, but for some reason I am not good at teaching them and following through. Apparently it's the poems that I choose...I love the way yours look. I want to be like you next year =)

    Laura
    Kinder Kraziness

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    1. Awwww, how sweet!! Having the poem notebooks help me remember to do the poems and to teach them. Every once and awhile we will read through the book for extra practice on our poems.

      APril
      Wolfelicious

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  2. I really like this idea. We do NEWSBOOKS each Friday. We glue the weekly newsletter in the book and the students get to write about something that they learned that week. They also make a picture to go with their writing. It goes home on Friday and the parents write a short response back to their child. During Morning Meeting on Monday, I read the notes from parents to the class. This is a great keepsake. I will always keep my son's NEWSBOOK from kindergarten.

    Valerie
    enrichingkinders

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    1. Thanks!! Your Newsbooks sound great! I love how the parents are involved with them.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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    2. Valerie,
      Do you have a post about your Newsbooks? I would love to see them!

      April
      Wolfelicious

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  3. I have not done a very good job of teaching poems even though I have always loved writing poetry! I love these poetry notebooks. Maybe (hopefully) I'll do something like this next year in order to step up my game a little bit!

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    1. Thanks! I am glad you like them. The notebooks help me remember to do them.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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  4. we do poem notebooks too! IT's actually a notebook for poems, math journals, and WOW words...lol. it's a hodgepodge notebook, but it's filled with good stuff! :) I have them draw pictures too :)

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    1. The hodgepodge notebooks sound great! I know my students love theirs so I am guessing your students love theirs too.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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  5. This post just caught my attention because your brought up Core Knowledge! My school was Core Knowledge 4 years ago when i started, then went to state standards for 2 years, and now after a change in administration we're about to go back to Core Knowledge hardcore. In some ways I feel like I am a first year teacher again when it comes to curriculum and it's stressing me out. You're the first other blogger I've found using the Ck curriculum, make me feel a little better lol. Thanks for sharing your poetry notebook!

    ❤- Stephanie
    Falling Into First

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    1. I am glad to find someone else that uses CK.

      April

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  6. Teaching poetry is a great way to build fluency. With every reading fluency increases. Poetry is perfect to be read again and again. It's fun to read, students can act them out and play around with expression. You're missing the boat if you don't use poetry as a way to teach fluency. I love the idea of a poetry notebook, thank you for sharing.

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  7. Love your poetry notebooks. I am doing SOMETHING with poetry next year - journals or notebooks. Great ideas!

    Susan
    Kindergarten is the Best

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    1. Thanks so much!! The students seem to like them too. Especially when they get to share them with their parents.

      april
      Wolfelicious

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  8. This post made me sad! I taught 2nd grade Core Knowledge for seven years and loved it. I miss it so much! I've moved to another state now and am not a fan of our social studies curriculum. Seems so blah after years of Core Knowledge.

    Megan
    I Teach. What's Your Super Power?

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    1. Sorry to make you sad. CK is wonderful!! I wish more people would do it.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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  9. I just happened across your blog and am your newest follower! I love the idea of poetry notebooks the way you presented it, and my mind is already flowing with ideas of how to adapt it for my third graders...hello another idea to implement this fall! lol I also like a previous posters idea of the "newsbooks"...what a great way to get students and parents involved, and another way to keep me accountable for weekly newsletters! =)
    http://cantmakethisstuffup-hmichaud.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yay!! I am so glad you decided to follower. My kiddos love the notebooks.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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