Why Poetry?

Why poetry?
Why?
Why sunsets?
Why trees?
Why birds?
Why seas?

This is an excerpt from a poem by Lee Bennett Hopkins that I shared with the boys and girls on our very first day of reading and writing poetry. I wanted to send a message then that poetry is special - so special that some people can't imagine a world without it. I told them that poetry brought together meaning and music and that the result could be powerful and exciting. They bought it! The boys and girls spent this week finding some amazing poems that touch their hearts and others that tickle their funny bones. And they have been writing poems that often do the same for me.

If poetry seems frivolous, think again. This week, I heard Wisconsin's poet laureate, Karla Houston, speak. She said,"When you write poetry, any other writing you do is the better for it" because it requires a precision and a tight sense of organization that are assets to any genre. And reading poetry, she said, stretches our minds, requiring us to see an old tree as a grandma or find beauty in a spider's web. Please plan to come and share some poetry with us at 2 PM on Wed., June 6, at our Poetry Cafe. 

In other parts of our days, the boys and girls are revisiting the topic of measurement in math. Science has been lively as we've watched our mealworms go through various stages, from larva to pupa to adult Darkling beetle. We'll be observing a second group of insects - milkweed bugs - move through the stages of eggs, nymphs, and adults. And we are growing Brassica plants, and noticing how plants, too, follow a life cycle.

What an honor to have another student from our class chosen as one of the Sensational Six at this week's all-school assembly. Congratulations, Tierney! Your class is proud of you.

Mark Your Calendars:

Wed., May 24 - MAP Test - Language (PM); early release day for students; Milwaukee landmark projects due. Thanks for helping your child with this at home.

Thurs., May 25 - Field trip (AM). Walking tour of downtown Milwaukee. Thank you for returning your permission slip and fee.

Mon., May 29 - Memorial Day. No school.

Thurs., June 1 - All-school field trip to Bayside Middle School to see the musical (AM).

Fri., June 2 - Stormonth Talent Show, K-2 performers (AM).

Sat., June 3 - PTO-sponsored Cupcake Run/Walk and Carnival. See you there!

Mon., June 5 - Stormonth Talent Show, Grades 3 and 4 performers (PM).

Tues., June 6 - Field Trip to the Boerner Botanical Gardens (AM).

Wed., June 7 - Volunteer Breakfast (8 AM) and Year-End Assembly (9 AM); Poetry Cafe in our classroom, (2 PM).

Thurs., June 8 - Last day of school for students.

Fri., June 9 - Last day of school for teachers.