TKT@School

WANT TO SNAG SOME POETRY SWAG FOR YOUR CLASSROOM?

TKT is seeking classroom “sponsors” to help get out the vote during the March Madness Poetry 2013 tournament, which will run from March 10, 2013 through April 4, 2013. Here’s how it works: You commit your classroom to attract a certain number of people to “follow” the event (i.e., read poems, vote, comment). In return, your classroom gets to select a word to be used as a poetry prompt during the tournament! Classroom sponsors will also be eligible to win free kids’ poetry prizes, and all sponsors will have their school/class name listed on the master event sponsor page! If interested, contact me using the short form on the right sidebar. Thanks!

More TKT@SCHOOL

Hi! If you are a teacher, administrator, or school librarian, and you are doing something cool to foster the love of poetry among your students and families, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT! And so do the other authors who visit this site. So, leave a comment with the name of your school and classroom (e.g., Fake School, Grade Eight) and what you’re up to, and I will post it on this page for all to see.

PUT YOUR SCHOOL ON THE MAP BY CELEBRATING KIDS’ POETRY TOGETHER!
Every marker on this map represents a school doing something cool with poetry. Obviously, we’re just getting started. Spread the word!




Click to open in new window. Map is not interactive via Google (yet).

WHAT ARE THESE SCHOOLS DOING TO FOSTER A LOVE FOR POETRY AMONG STUDENTS?

  • Elma, NY. Iroquois Intermediate school. Having a lot of fun reading all of the fresh, new poems in the Madness! 2012 tournament. It is amazing to see where each poet goes with their word. It is also neat to see the similarities between the poem match-ups!
  • Los Angeles, CA. Several schools and private students. Madness! 2012 is on tour with me! Great fun! Maybe I’ll start my own classroom tournament with the kids! (Great way to make vocabulary and spelling words MUCH more interesting!)
  • Berlin, CT. McGee Middle School, 6th grade. We have been reading and voting on the poems in Madness! 2012 tournament. They love the voting and have had some great discussions as to what makes a particular poem resonate with them. Brilliant idea and a great selection of poets.
  • Asheville, NC. Vance Elementary School, 3rd grade. Following the action in Madness! 2012 and casting their collective vote.

What is YOUR school doing?

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  • Melinda Harvey

    I am participating in the tourney and sharing with my students at Iroquois Intermediate school in Elma, NY…we are having a lot of fun reading all of the fresh, new poems. It is amazing to see where each poet goes with their word. It is also neat to see the similarities between the poem match-ups! Thank you, Ed, for organizing such an engaging experience! What do you have up your sleeve…it’s Poetry month, you know!?

  • Hannah Ruth Wilde

    I teach at several schools in Los Angeles and have private students – Madness 2012 will be on tour with me! Great fun! Maybe I’ll start my own classroom tournament with the kids! (Great way to make vocabulary and spelling words MUCH more interesting!)

    • http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com Kathryn Apel

      What a fantastic idea! Who knew, Ed, that your Madness would spread and grow like this? Love it!

      • http://www.thinkkidthink.com Ed DeCaria

        Thanks. I suspect that there are a LOT more schools that are doing (or would be willing to do) cool stuff with poetry — not just as it relates to this particular madness. I think it’d be fun for them to get some individual and collective recognition from us poets. I want this map to be covered with little orange-y flags!

  • Lori Wright

    We have been reading and voting on the poems in our 6th grade ILA co-taught classes here in Berlin, CT at McGee Middle School. They love the voting and have had some great discussions as to what makes a particular poem resonate with them. Brilliant idea and a great selection of poets. Thank you for your efforts!

    • http://www.allanwolf.com Allan Wolf

      Hey Lori,

      I’m going to be in your neck o’ the woods on Monday and Tuesday. In Fairfield, CT I’m presenting for their One Town, One Book event and on Tuesday, I’m visiting all day at Roger Ludlowe Middle School! Monday night we’re going to do a segment from my latest book (set aboard the Titanic) that will involve the audience of 700 people all with speaking parts in the largest (I think) readers’ theatre ensemble performance in the world–unless, of course, it ends up being a train wreck. One never knows about these things!

      Allan W.

  • http://www.allanwolf.com Allan Wolf

    At Vance Elementary School, in Asheville, NC, a class of 3rd graders is following the action and casting their collective vote. I’ll see if I can get Ms. Simmons and her class to leave you a collective note.

  • Janet

    At State Street Intermediate School in Skaneateles, NY children are reading, writing, reciting and performing (and loving) poetry. Each June we have a Poetry on Parade sharing night for family and friends. In nearby Auburn and Jordan-Elbridge, NY some elementary students are also using a variation of this approach. But the important thing is that in some classes in Skaneateles we celebrate poetry through-out the year on a regular, if not daily basis. Check out poetryonparade dot com to find out more. Immersion in poetry leads to wonderful literacy, community, enjoyment, appreciation and learning. And we are always seeking new poems our students will want to add to their repertoire. BRAVO to the March Madness poets and, of course, ED who have given us so many new words to savor. Poetry deserves to be a part of the “heart of literacy” in our schools. I and many others in our area have seen its power to transform. When children ask: “when are you going to give us a new poem?” and applaud when you arrive at the door to “do poetry” you know you have found something that appeals naturally. Keep on writing your poems!!! We are working to build your audience!!!!!