tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post438579009981222866..comments2024-03-25T12:58:42.058-05:00Comments on Poetry for Children: Painting the Poetry LandscapeSylvia Vardellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00570078181499700656noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-24851793157234826622014-08-10T14:40:16.443-05:002014-08-10T14:40:16.443-05:00My late mother, Sydell Rosenberg, was a NYC teache...My late mother, Sydell Rosenberg, was a NYC teacher and a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, founded in 1968 in NYC. She wrote other poetry as well as short stories and puzzles, and translated Spanish literature as well, but I think haiku (and senryu, which are more about human nature) were her favorite creative writing formats. According to her bio-sketch in a haiku anthology published years ago (I believe it was The Haiku Handbook), mom published her first haiku in 1967. She must have written hundreds of haiku and senryu over an approximately 30 year span (she died in October, 1996). <br /><br />I want some of her work to live for today’s audiences – especially children. I know that, eons ago, my mom wanted to publish a haiku picture book – an A-B-C reader.She never fulfilled this dream, although she was well-anthologized and appreciated in her circle. One of her senryu poems even appeared in a novel public art experience in the heart of Manhattan in 1994 entitled, “Haiku On 42nd Street” -- http://pgwtoolkit.com/microsites/?id=128 in which short poems were showcased on empty movie marquees.<br /><br />My thinking is that haiku, with their compact and concise, yet richly evocative format – and of course, poetry in general – can expand the scope of kids’ imaginations and help them make creative connections, as well as facilitate literacy through elegant, spare wordplay and metaphor. And since haiku poems capture nature in “nuggets,” as I like to say, I think they are ideal for “en plein air” reading and writing, as well as arts and crafts and other activities.<br /><br />In my idiosyncratic way, I have made some strides in sharing her work with young audiences: I recently concluded the second Sydell Rosenberg-Arts For All haiku/art workshop series for second-graders at P.S.163 in the Bronx, in which several of mom’s animal haiku were paired with drawing and painting. The first program took place in the fall of 2013 and at the end, Arts For All – a wonderful non-profit children’s arts education organization in NYC (arts-for-all.org) -- kindly created a picture book with the students’ artwork and the haiku that were used, as a thank you keepsake. So in a way, my mom has finally gotten the picture book she wanted.<br /><br />Another program recently wrapped at P.S. 163: a haiku/music workshop series for English as a Second Language learners – also second-graders. I attended three of the six sessions. They were delightful! One of the two music teachers from Arts For All developed inventive lesson plans that connected my mom’s haiku to melody and rhythm, with the words serving as the verses. The children helped to construct the melody and even their own haiku “lyrics” which served as a unifying chorus. The lead music teacher selected four haiku, each one representing a season.<br /><br />Also, in 2013 I worked with NY’s Children’s Museum of the Arts on a splendid project called the PoeTree – please see this blog below. Using my mom’s haiku, and her definition of haiku, as a guide, or a kind of starting point, kids were encouraged to write their own haiku on paper leaves and suspend them from the tree. Over several months, this bright structure became populated with many colorful leaves decorated with haiku. And in 2012, an enterprising young art teacher from Teaneck High School in NJ used several haiku and senryu in his digital art class and some of the resulting student artwork were put on display at the Teaneck High School Art Show that spring. It was gratifying – thrilling, even.<br /><br />In addition to the Children’s Museum of the Arts PoeTree blog, please also see this recent article about the importance of teaching poetry in schools. My partnership with Arts For All is included. Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about my efforts to keep my mom's words alive for today's young audiences. Kind regards, Amy Losak, Teaneck, NJ, <br /><br />http://blog.cmany.org/featured-artists/poetree/<br /><br />http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/04/16/why-its-important-teach-poetry-schoolsAmyhttp://sydellpoetry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-87684302281766489192014-07-22T08:01:11.763-05:002014-07-22T08:01:11.763-05:00I've been feeling a little down about poetry&#...I've been feeling a little down about poetry's place in the world of children's literature. Thank you for helping me celebrate its success and growth, instead! I adore JOYFUL NOISE--happy to see it discussed in your essay!laurasalashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13807781795919555208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-57636651736455935822014-07-20T21:58:27.664-05:002014-07-20T21:58:27.664-05:00This sounds like a book that I should purchase whe...This sounds like a book that I should purchase when I attend the NCTE this November, dearest Sylvia. I am so glad to see so many familiar books here. The Surrender Tree is a personal favourite, as well as Joyful Noises. :)GatheringBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477710897574769648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-76231961672798361862014-07-20T07:44:53.022-05:002014-07-20T07:44:53.022-05:00Thanks again for all the lovely comments-- and the...Thanks again for all the lovely comments-- and the Nerdy Book Club Award suggestion! I love seeing how poetry continues to evolve and reach new readers.Sylvia Vardellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00570078181499700656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-71842401790526018562014-07-19T16:18:21.603-05:002014-07-19T16:18:21.603-05:00Wonderful essay, Sylvia, and great resources! Than...Wonderful essay, Sylvia, and great resources! Thank you! I'm looking forward to the next 25 years!BJ Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810656260650783785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-66911033457402278742014-07-19T12:39:09.243-05:002014-07-19T12:39:09.243-05:00Beautifully written -- what a treasure you are to ...Beautifully written -- what a treasure you are to be our go-to resource for all things poetic.Kerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07754424789728293252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-69133206039144576552014-07-19T12:24:21.249-05:002014-07-19T12:24:21.249-05:00I always learn so much from you, Sylvia. Thank yo...I always learn so much from you, Sylvia. Thank you for your generous spirit and all you do for poetry! xoAmy LVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625469276544426664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-25683022739465286092014-07-19T11:47:54.641-05:002014-07-19T11:47:54.641-05:00I can't do much more than echo the sentiments ...I can't do much more than echo the sentiments of those who have already commented...well done, Sylvia! Can't believe it's been 25 years...and it truly is amazing to see how far children's poetry has come!Matt Forrest Esenwinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04230063389130167424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-88483611403845531202014-07-19T10:31:50.340-05:002014-07-19T10:31:50.340-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steven Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424518148189688086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-5131142983150679982014-07-19T10:27:51.357-05:002014-07-19T10:27:51.357-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steven Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424518148189688086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-13772961221872945852014-07-19T08:46:13.791-05:002014-07-19T08:46:13.791-05:00Great post, Dr. Vardell! This will be a reference ...Great post, Dr. Vardell! This will be a reference for many. Thank you for always teaching us about our literary history.Mrs.Alanizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874564584623692038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-50438439976327729572014-07-19T08:29:30.440-05:002014-07-19T08:29:30.440-05:00Thank you all for stopping by and for your kind wo...Thank you all for stopping by and for your kind words and input. It was such a privilege to write this and so fun to look at the span of poetry in the last 25 years!Sylvia Vardellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970790447637356879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-65893830882562482912014-07-19T08:28:00.871-05:002014-07-19T08:28:00.871-05:00First of all, it's just a little creepy to rea...First of all, it's just a little creepy to realize that I was alive and teaching for all of those 25 years!<br /><br />Thanks for a great poetic-retrospective. The only suggestion I would make for the next edition would be a mention of the Nerdy Book Club awards. They differ from the CYBILS, which has a panel of judges. The Nerdys are entirely crowd-sourced -- nominated and voted on by readers.Mary Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-18531072545655875522014-07-19T05:51:11.328-05:002014-07-19T05:51:11.328-05:00Can't believe it's been 25 years since JOY...Can't believe it's been 25 years since JOYFUL NOISE was honored with a Newbery! Thanks for this piece -- and thanks (always) for your wisdom and inspiration about poetry for kids/teens. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021989648517265873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-41379750766439056582014-07-18T20:07:56.035-05:002014-07-18T20:07:56.035-05:00What a wonderful 25 years it's been... I'm...What a wonderful 25 years it's been... I'm looking forward to the next quarter century. Great job, Sylvia.Michelle Heidenrich Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02051827857519159837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-66799143712404242512014-07-18T14:09:03.272-05:002014-07-18T14:09:03.272-05:00Beautifully written, Sylvia. I remember buying &qu...Beautifully written, Sylvia. I remember buying "Joyful Noises" and "I AM Phoenix" when they were first published. They were so popular with my students that I later bought several more copies!<br />Thanks for this excellent essay!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01786457482835741494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-79365792137820758182014-07-18T08:32:17.006-05:002014-07-18T08:32:17.006-05:00I am enjoying getting acquainted with your blog si...I am enjoying getting acquainted with your blog site. Thank you for the background knowledge on Walter Dean Myers' works. Carol Varsalonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-88741864054185962272014-07-18T08:30:26.224-05:002014-07-18T08:30:26.224-05:00I loved the background information and remembered ...I loved the background information and remembered my years in the classroom using "Joyful Noises." Poetry is a gift to the world.Carol Varsalonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31122236.post-84789921776723161992014-07-18T07:16:25.996-05:002014-07-18T07:16:25.996-05:00Well done, Sylvia! This article makes me excited t...Well done, Sylvia! This article makes me excited to be a poet, and proud to be part of a movement that's broad and still growing. Thank you for sharing. xoIrene Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905936104127707762noreply@blogger.com