It's Poetry Friday and this week I have been exploring Erasure Poetry. It is a poetry form similar to Black Out Poetry.  Erasure poetry is a form of found poetry created by erasing words from an existing text in prose or verse and framing the result on the page as a poem. The words can be arranged into lines and/or stanzas. Just like Black-out poetry, Erasure poetry require words to be removed, obscured or redacted. What is left becomes the basis of the poem. For me there exists a sense of joy in unearthing poetic words seemingly buried within a larger text. Some people see Erasure and Blackout poetry as the same thing. I am inclined to draw a distinction between them because in an Erasure poem the words are typically lifted out of situ and assembled on a different background. Erasure poems also allow some reorganization of the original line order.  So more writer's notebook experimentation... This time using the words of The Brother's Grimm to create Erasure Poetry.  My ...

It's World Poetry Day, on 21 March. This day recognises the unique ability of poetry to capture the very essence of humanity.  In every culture there are poets who feed the soul of their nation and present as advocates for the arts.  For those of you not yet completely comfortable teaching poetry, or for those looking to freshen up their current poetry resources, Here are some possibilities to explore.  Poetry Ideas Across the Curriculum • Invite students to organize a collection of poems relating to their own culture. You could organize them around such categories as celebrations, families, food, holidays. • Collect photo essays, newspaper and magazine articles, informational books, and historical fiction and invite students to use them as source material for poetry • Make weather poems using weather reports as the basis for ideas. • Encourage students to tell their own stories/experiences in poetic form • Use a science activity to launch a poetr...

When I visited Mount Eliza North Primary School I had the great pleasure of working with groups of young, enthusiastic poets and their teachers. When I arrived these young poets were loaded with lots of questions for me to answer. I tried to answer as many as I could, but we ran out of time, so I agreed to answer more questions right here! So here goes: When you were little did you love writing? The short answer is yes. I have always enjoyed words and language. I can't recall a time when I wasn't doing some kind of writing. When did you write your first poetry book? I have had poems published, but it wasn't until 2014 that I had an entire book of poems (an anthology) published. When I looked back through all my notebooks I realized I had hundreds of poems from which to choose. So, 'Searching For Hen's Teeth-Poetry From The Search Zone' became my first collection of poems to go public.  How many poetry books do you own? I am not really sure o...

It's Arrived! My latest book has just been released, and I'm pleased to share this anthology of poetry with you. It contains a wide assortment of poems written across the years and includes a range of poetic forms. My target audience is kids from eight to eighty. As the preview says: 'A collection of adventurous verse for young poetry lovers, these humorous and engaging poems exult everything from rats to rainbows. A giggle and hoot reading experience. Permission is hereby granted to smile and smirk through this extensive anthology of poems. Things never get better until they get verse!' Searching For Hen's Teeth-poetry from the search zone is available through local bookshops, or on line through a range of outlets including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, Angus and Robertson, Fishpond and Book Depository. It is available as a paperback or an ebook, depending on your preference. I'm hoping it quickly finds its way to the top of the poe...

The following collection of poems, chants and rhymes is presented for active service in classrooms. They have been successfully presented and performed by teachers and students over a period of time. I trust that you, the reader, will find new and exciting ways to link them into your literacy program.  Let's Begin... I remember clearly the chants and rhymes that were part of my school days. "Tip, top, taxi One two three Tip ,top, taxi You're not he !  I still like to tune into the poetry of today's playground people. Children are constantly inventing rhymes and chants and the words they use reflect a poetic thread. Rhyme and rhythm play an active part in many of the games children play. They are part of the performance. The poems included in this post have been chosen because they have shown themselves to be suitable to performance. The presentation may be in a variety of groupings: ·   whole class ·   small group · ...

The Poet's Suitcase Revealed! Collect poetry that reflects the cultural group you are studying –poetry by and about. Collect pictures of areas your class is studying. Have students write a poem that matches a picture. Do a shared writing session with your students where you a poem together about the heritage or customs of the people or region you are studying. Ask students to organize a collection of poems relating to their own culture. You could organize them around such categories as celebrations, families, food, holidays. Collect photo essays, newspaper and magazine articles, informational books, and historical fiction for students to use as source material for poetry Have students dramatize poems by sharing lines or stanzas. Suggest that they vary solo voices with group voices to enhance meaning. Make weather poems using weather reports as the basis for ideas. Explore landforms through...

If you truly wish to become a more poetry friendly person, here are some ideas to bring about the changes to the way you value this aspect of literacy. The poet that dwells within will become apparent to your students (and your colleagues) over time. Students will hopefully come to view you as poetry's pal! If you are introducing the writing of poetry into your instructional  program consider the following ways to create the best conditions for poetry to prosper: ·          Read poetry on a regular basis. A poem a day will assist you in developing your poetic character. It is said that before we can hope to write poetry, we need to read lots of this special writing form. ·           Keep an anthology of poetry close by – at home and at work. ·           Share poems that take your fancy with your students. ·        ...