Join WITS on Instagram Live this Thursday, August 6, at 5:30 PM Central for Write Here, for an interview with author Cameron Dezen Hammon. Hosted by Outspoken Bean, Write Here features interviews with WITS Writers from the past and the present. Cameron’s book, This Is My Body, has won numerous awards and gotten amazing reviews. Don’t miss this important and heart-felt conversation.
With younger children, this concrete activity called “Rubber Band Stretching” works well. Demonstrate how a rubber band starts out small and can be stretched much larger. Read a simple sentence out loud, and ask for suggestions about how to expand it. After a student successfully stretches a sentence by adding new words, hand her a rubber band ball. When a second student stretches the sentence further, the first student passes the ball to the second. The game continues until it is impossible to stretch the sentence anymore! Students then apply the lesson to a piece of their own writing.
With older students, the rubber band can be used to discuss sentence length in more complexity. Bring in a strong piece of writing that includes short, medium, and long sentences. Discuss the various effects. If you have a geo board, you can actually record or map out the sentences using rubber bands. Show how the rhythm of a piece changes depending on sentence lengths.
As a spinoff activity, ask students to map out sentence lengths in advance. Then, try to write a paragraph that fits, and notice how the paragraph sounds. For older students, it is empowering to see how they can control the rhythm of their piece just through sentence length.
-Marcia Chamberlain, WITS Houston
This April, Writers in the Schools celebrated National Poetry Month and the power of the imagination, reaching 2.3 million people in Houston and beyond! Student words were spread through H-E-B markets, read each day on KPFT 90.1, and showcased during readings, workshops, and poetry slams around town. At the Space City Grand Slam, we selected the Meta-Four Houston team and announced the launch of Houston’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate program in partnership with the City of Houston and the Houston Public Library. Poetry is alive, well, and making a real difference.
We would like to give a special thanks to our amazing partners and all of the people who support National Poetry Month. Thank you H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, KPFT 90.1, Susan Phillips for producing all of the wonderful audio for each Poem of the Day, London-based composer, Ketsa, for providing spectacular tracks to accompany the student poetry, and thank YOU, our readers, for enjoying and spreading poetry in our community.
Have a wonderful May!
Photo by: Angelo Rossi
I’m the brightest parrot
flying in the jungle.
I’m the sugar in the coffee,
maybe the salt to the sour salad.
I’m the moon that glistens in the dark;
he’s like the sun to the sunset.
We are the peak of a cold mountain.
You are the skyscraper to the breeze;
I’m the greatest spark in the crystal,
shining like when the sunlight
touches a diamond and it starts
to blink brightly. I’m a big
ball of fire, made from hot lava
that comes out of a volcano
of courage. I’m the future traveler,
and I will meet you in the future.
By Kevin, 6th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Summer Ames, a 6th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Gary Leger, Magnet Coordinator. Music is by Gerry Davis, “Magical Forest.” www.jamendo.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Original post: November 14, 2014
Photo by: Judy Schmidt
I am in the center of a galaxy.
I am a circle or a sphere.
I am black.
Light cannot escape from me.
Flying objects get sucked into me.
It is very silent where I live.
What am I?
A black hole!
By Kavin, 1st grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Gabriel Canepa, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Ches Smith, Campus Technologist. Music is by NonMemory, “Black Hole II” www.freemusicarchive.org. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Original post: July 18, 2014
Photo by: Aikawa Ke
Sometimes I don’t like change
but then I remember how
leaves turn red and gold,
then fall of and then grow
back again bright green.
I remember change is part of the life
cycle and I’m okay with it.
By Justine, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Caprice Haddad, a 6th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Susan Calvin, 8th grade History Teacher The background music is “Hope For Tomorrow” by Seastock. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Original post: January 12, 2015
Photo by: Great Beyond
In the mist of the night,
I zoned to sleep.
An antelope, very fleet,
at tremendous speed
crashed through my body
into my heart
to ram and break
or carry away
those bad things breaking my heart.
It runs away
then comes back like a
magnet pulling and pushing.
The antelope travels up my bloodstream
to my brain, and it
rams and breaks
or carries away
those bad memories
breaking my brain.
It runs away
then comes back
like a magnet pulling and
pushing.
The antelope slides down
to my right foot, and it
rams and breaks
or carries away
those bad kicks
breaking my feet.
It never gets tired,
running around,
doing its job
to make me better.
By Rohan, 3rd grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Windell Gradiz, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is John Latchett, Math Teacher. The background music is “Digya,” by Kevin MacCleod. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: Geir Tønnessen
When sheep dream
They don’t look up at
the sky, but their heads
are filled with clouds
floating quietly
this way and that
By Alashia, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Arianna Vara, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Jerri Deleon, Assistant Principal. The background music is “J. S. Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze – BWV 208” by Kevin MacLeod. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Original post: February 12, 2015
Photo by: Perlaroques
Crushed from the black rock
captured in a bottle of dark gold
like gunpowder in musket on paper
black as night
wandering in the shadows
like a spider
waiting for its prey
captured in its web
ink like armour drip by
drip on my paper
captured in a bottle
By Charlie, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Alexandria Collins, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Special thanks to Arvis Allen, Head Custodian at JMS. The background music is “Mysterioso March,” by Kevin MacLeod. www.Incompetech.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: Darryl Neeley
The ocean writes notes to those
who seek its majestic treasure of beauty.
My future is swallowed by those
who disturb its tranquility.
Belief cries and sounds like a person’s heart
being double crossed and tossed away.
Monday is defeated by all the other days
like the weakest god on Mt. Olympus
being beaten by Zeus.
Determination cartwheels over
the lost hope of the living.
My heart explodes after being
broken by my first true love.
Knowledge tumbles after it has been
put to the test and failed
with a relentless fate ahead.
Hope dances as it goes down the meadow.
By Eti-Ini, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Kyla Mays, a 6th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Diana Grosscope, Piano Teacher. The background music is “Our Tape” by Jurrivh www.soundcloud.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: Milena Mihaylova
I can write from an arrow of fire of the cruelness of this world.
I can write from a sword of ice of all the cold hearted people in our earth.
I can write from a rainbow feather of the kindness of my people.
I can write from a flower burning but not dying,
because I know we will stand even on the ends of the earth.
I can write from a sword with the stabbing truth.
I can write from broken chains because even in times of slavery
I will let my people free.
By Christian, 3rd grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Donovan Williams, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Dr. Jose Rocha, Orchestra Director. The background music is “Aftermath” by Gregoire Lourme from www.jammendo.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: Quinn Dombrowski
My name, to me, in English means fire,
And water, raging and fighting, but not
Very different, in all they are friends,
It smells like mint, burning and sighing,
Crackling and dying,
My name has a secret, it shall not tell,
Of a magical place, hidden in a forest,
It wanders and roams a dark palace,
Dreading the ghost of a wizard,
When a hard day is over, it goes
And hides in its imagination,
It feels light, silky, and cold, but it will
Burn your finger, harsh
By Marina, 5th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Ambar Caldwell, a 6th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Jennifer Wood, Drama teacher. The background music is “The Snow Queen” by Kevin MacLeod from www.Incompetech.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Original post: July 31, 2014
Photo by: mrhayata
My mom is the ferocious dragon
Defending her egg on the lake.
My mom is the queen of nature
And defender of homes.
She always lets me have
The last piece of food at the dining table.
My mom is the chef of all sweets in the world.
She is the gatekeeper of perfume land.
When I am sick, the bridge to heaven
Opens when she walks through the door.
When I yell for help
She is like a gust of wind ready to aid me.
Whoosh!
By Maddox, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Grant Cambron, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Chelsea Kennedy, KickStart Karate Instructor.The background music is by Kevin MacCleod, “The War is Not Lost” from www.incompetech.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by Eric Leslie
Home is a River
Flowing perfectly in silence
Like a big rock for support
The waves crash against the
Sand, washing away
All obstacles in my way
By Maejon, 7th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Alex Cweren, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Faculty is Art Teacher, Tobi Arsham. The background music is “Turning Wheel” by Ketsa. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: torbakhopper
I see what you’re trying to do
I promise
Many believe that words gave us life
So you type and you swipe
Your numbers and letters
To give life to a maximum of 160 characters
In your driver’s seat
You become the narrator
But what is it worth
If you can’t save the five most important characters
Y-O-U
And don’t forget
M-E
I don’t understand
How could this be going on
Our lives are finally worth more than a drink
But worth less than an emoticon
Just a few letters
That could be all it takes
Keep your eyes on the road
So you can put your foot on the brakes
We have to make a change
We’ve got to make it right
It’s all fun and games
Until LOL stands for Loss of Life
You only have one chance
You don’t get to do this twice
So as you drive
Strive for life
You still have 160 characters
All I’m asking is that you save five
But if you can’t
And decided that you are worth less than three
Don’t do it for you
Do it for M-E
By Homer, 12th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Sophia Singleton, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. The background music is “Sun-Filled” by Ketsa, from the Free Music Archive. freemusicarchive.org. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: Lotus Carroll
Do you know that
there are two layers
of love and joy
inside and outside?
Look deeper, because
I understand
the color of the sun;
and there is nothing more I could ask for
than a life like
the color of my eyes.
And the great teachers
I have, with my mother
and father, they
complete my day.
As I see myself
in the mirror, I see
the beauty in me
every day.
By Ali-Raza, 2nd grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Jaquelyn Simmons, a 7th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. The background music is “Super Pop Happy Song” by Five Easy Pieces. Produced by Susan Phillips. Faculty is Alex DeWalt, Assistant Principal.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Original post: September 11, 2014
Photo by: girl/afraid
Here and now I love you. You make
the moon blue. You make
my every wish come true. People
always want the sun to walk
slower when you are here
and the night to go by quickly
so they can see you faster.
You love me so dearly.
You’re scared when you leave me.
But you are far away,
but I see you ride fearfully
on that only cloud. But you
are the one, the one & only mom.
By Kyra, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Preston Parker, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. The background music is “Falling Away” from freestockmusic.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Photo by: Bryce Bradford
Yo tengo un bello sueño
Sueño que estoy en una nave espacial y que viajo afuera en una galaxia.
Sueño que no exista más la violencia y que exista la paz en el alma.
¿Que sueñas?
Sueño con la noche y el corazón abierto al mundo.
Mi alma esta flotando.
Mi alma que me llama siempre veo.
Quisiera dormir para solo soñar con mi familia y mis antepasados.
I have a beautiful dream
I am dreaming that I am in a rocketship and I am traveling out to another galaxy.
I am dreaming that there is no more violence and that there is only peace in the spirit.
What are you dreaming?
I am dreaming in the night, and the heart is open to the world.
My soul is floating.
I see my soul that calls me always.
I would like to just dream with my family and my ancestors.
By Joaquin, 2nd grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Roberto Blas, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. The background music is “Spring to Life” from freestockmusic.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Happy National Poetry Month! Today is the start of a Poem a Day, a month-long celebration of poetry by WITS students. Each weekday we will share a poem by one of our talented students here on the blog. You can also check out the poems via the WITS facebook, instagram, or twitter, and listen to the poems read by Johnston Middle School students, on the radio station KPFT 90.1, at 4:30 pm. Make sure you subscribe to the WITS blog today to receive the poem of the day in your inbox.
Photo by: Miguel M. Almeida
I open the door,
It is
silent.
I walk to the
shelf.
Thump, Thump.
My feet echo.
I find my book. Thump, Thump.
I walk to a table.
I find a warm corner.
Sunlight comes over me,
like a yellow bubble.
In I go!
Adventuring with Percy and Annabeth.
Back to shelf.
Found another one. In Puppy
Place with Lizzie and Charles
All done! Back to shelf.
Here we are, another one.
Back to table.
Thump, Thump.
Gone to the rodeo with Kylie Jean.
Back again. Glance at clock.
It’s almost 5! Please just one book more!
Race to shelf. One last time.
Thumpata, Thumpata, Thump! Screeching halt.
Scan the shelf. Grab the book. Race to table.
Open book. Time flies.
Chapter 5.
Mom comes in. Time to go!
Check out book. Dragging feet.
In the car. Buckle up. Watch sadly
out the window as the library flies out
of sight.
By Morgan, 4th grade
Click the link above to listen to the poem read on KPFT radio by Eliana Collins, an 8th grader at Johnston Middle School For the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. The background music is “Walk in the Night” from freestockmusic.com. Produced by Susan Phillips.
Poem a Day is made possible in part by H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Copy.com, The City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and KPFT 90.1.
Tomorrow is the start of A Poem a Day, a month-long celebration of poetry by Houston children. Each weekday we will send out a poem by one of our talented students through email. You can also enjoy these poems here on our blog and on radio station KPFT weekdays at 4:28 PM.
Get in on the fun by writing to our weekly prompt featured Saturdays on the blog, and snap a picture of it! WITS will be re-gramming our favorite poems throughout the month @witshouston #wherewordsfly.