NCTE: Poetry for Paupers

RECAP ON NCTE 2011:

Janet and I offered free copies of our new poetry e-book, Gift Tag, for all those who came early. Here they are downloading it!

Poetry for Paupers from Recitation to E-Books; Infusing Poetry into the Classroom
National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention
Chicago, IL
Sat., Nov. 19, 2011
8:00am-9:15am

PRESENTERS
Sylvia Vardell, Professor, Texas Woman’s University, School of Library & Information Studies
Janet Wong, Author and Poet, sponsored by Charlesbridge
Laurie Purdie Salas, Author and Poet, sponsored by Clarion Books
Stephen Young, Program Director, Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest
Youssef Biaz, Alabama, 2011 Poetry Out Loud national champion

Janet spoke about many poem-finding resources, our new e-book poetry anthologies, and her own use of the Internet in promoting poetry. Laura shared a multitude of excellent resources and strategies (posted on her web site), and Steve talked about how the Poetry Out Loud competition began, evolved, and why it's valuable. Our session ended with Youssef performing "Filling Station" by Elizabeth Bishop (from memory). So restrained, so perfectly paced, so completely compelling.

Then I highlighted some of my favorite online poetry resources in a variety of categories. I'll share that info with you all here!

POETRY WEB RESOURCES

1. Poetry Foundation http://www.poetryfoundation.org/children/
2. Poetry Out Loud http://www.poetryoutloud.org/
3. The Academy of American Poets http://www.poets.org
4. Poet’s Corner http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/
5. Poetry 180 http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/
6. Poetry Daily http://www.poems.com/
7. The Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center http://www.loc.gov/poetry/
8. Favorite Poem Project http://www.favoritepoem.org/
9. Magnetic Poetry http://www.magneticpoetry.com/
10. Semantic Rhyming Dictionary http://www.rhymezone.com/
11. Columbia Granger’s World of Poetry http://www.columbiagrangers.org/
12. How to Read a Poem http://www.shmoop.com/poetry/how-to-read-poem/how-to-read.html
13. Poetry Slams, Inc. http://www.poetryslam.com
14. Poetry Speaks https://www.poetryspeaks.com/
15. PoetryMagazine http://www.poetrymagazine.com/
16. Poets and Writers http://www.pw.org/
17. Voice Thread http://voicethread.com/
18. LibriVox http://librivox.org/
19. It’s a Small World: International Nursery Rhymes http://itsasmallworld.co.nz/index.php
20. Giggle Poetry http://www.gigglepoetry.com/
21. Teen Ink magazine http://www.teenink.com/
22. Poetry Hill Poetry http://www.potatohill.com
23. PACYA: Poetry Advocates for Children & YA http://poetryadvocates.wordpress.com/
24. Kenn Nesbitt’s Poetry4Kids http://www.poetry4kids.com/
25. PoetryTagTime http://poetrytagtime.com

POETRY BLOGS

1. Poetry for Children by Sylvia Vardell (duh!)
http://www.poetryforchildren.blogspot.com
2. Chicken Spaghetti by Susan Thomsen
http://www.chickenspaghetti.typepad.com
3. Wild Rose Reader by Elaine Magliaro
http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/
4. The Miss Rumphius Effect by Tricia Stohr-Hunt
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/
5. The Poem Farm by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
http://poemfarm.blogspot.com/
6. Wordswimmer by Bruce Black
http://wordswimmer.blogspot.com/
7. Writing the World for Kids by Laura Purdie Salas
http://laurasalas.livejournal.com/
8. Writing and Ruminating by Kelly Fineman
http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com/
9. GottaBook by Greg Pincus
http://gottabook.blogspot.com/
10. Read Write Believe by Sara Lewis Holmes
http://www.saralewisholmes.blogspot.com/
11. A Wrung Sponge by Andromeda Jazmon
http://awrungsponge.blogspot.com/
12. Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/
13. Author Amok by Laura Shovan
http://authoramok.blogspot.com/
14. Karen Edmisten’s blog
http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/
15. A Year of Reading
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/
16. Alphabet Soup by Jama Rattigan
http://jamarattigan.livejournal.com
17. David L. Harrison’s blog
http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/
18. Father Goose by Charles Ghigna
http://charlesghigna.blogspot.com/
19. Bookjoy by Pat Mora
http://sharebookjoy.blogspot.com/
20. Florian Café by Douglas Florian
http://floriancafe.blogspot.com/
21. Polkabats by Calef Brown
http://polkabats.blogspot.com/
22. The Drift Record by Julie Larios
http://julielarios.blogspot.com/
23. Nikki Sounds Off by Nikki Grimes
http://www.nikkigrimes.com/blog/
24. Lee B. Hopkins Poetry Award Teaching Toolbox
http://leebennetthopkinsaward.blogspot.com/
25. LBH Promising Poets
http://promisingpoet.blogspot.com/
26. J. Patrick Lewis Poetry Toolkit
http://jpatricklewis.blogspot.com/
27. p*tag: Teen Tag Time
http://teenpoetrytagtime.blogspot.com/
28. Gift Tag
http://poetrygifttag.blogspot.com

+ 88 POET WEB SITES (which are featured as regular links on my blog in the sidebar)

FREE AUDIO POETRY

Select poets that feature audio recordings:
Kristine O’Connell George: http://www.kristinegeorge.com/poetry_aloud.html
Janet S. Wong: http://www.janetwong.com/
Nikki Grimes: http://www.nikkigrimes.com/
Joyce Sidman: http://www.joycesidman.com/

Select poetry-related Web sites with audio files:
The Academy of American Poets http://www.poets.org/
PoetryMagazine.com http://www.poetrymagazine.com/
Poets and Writers http://www.pw.org/
LibriVox http://librivox.org/
Favorite Poem Project http://www.favoritepoem.org/

PUBLISHERS’ POETRY GUIDES AND MATERIALS

Scholastic: Poetry
http://teacher.scholastic.com/poetry/index.htm
Holiday House: Free materials (& podcasts)
http://www.holidayhouse.com/free_materials.php
HarperCollins: Teachers & Librarians
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/Teachers/
Penguin Young Readers: Teachers & Librarians
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/teachers-librarians/index.html
Macmillan: Library Marketing
http://www.macmillanlibrary.com/
Candlewick Press: Resources
http://candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&pg=1&m=actlist&pix=n
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Teacher’s Resources
http://www.hmhbooks.com/librarians/teacher.shtml
Disney Hyperion Children’s Books: Discussion Guides
http://disney.go.com/books/discussion-guides
Random House: Teachers
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/
Little, Brown (Hachette Book Group): Librarians & Eudcators
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/librarians_index.aspx

WEB SITES FOR PUBLISHING POETRY BY KIDS

Web publishing: http://www.cyberkids.com/he/html/submit.html
Print publishing (COBBLESTONE, ODYSSEY magazines, etc.): http://www.cobblestonepub.com/privacy.html
Print publishing (STONE SOUP magazine): http://www.stonesoup.com/
CREATIVE KIDS Magazine: http://www.prufrock.com/client/client_pages/prufrock_jm_ck_wg.cfm
SKIPPING STONES multicultural magazine: http://www.skippingstones.org/submissions.htm
Teen Ink (print and online): http://www.teenink.com/Poetry/





Posting by Sylvia M. Vardell © 2011. All rights reserved.

Poetry and me at NCTE

I'm heading off to the NCTE convention and looking forward to several poetry sessions and will be presenting one myself along with a lovely panel of poetry people. I hope to report on those sessions with film and video when I return-- J. Pat Lewis is receiving his NCTE Poetry Award, as well as speaking, there will be a "parade" session of other poetry award recipients, Joyce Sidman and Pat Mora will be speaking at the annual "Master Class" session, and Joyce is also the CLA Breakfast speaker (where we'll be finalizing the art auction, too). Plus, informal gatherings and excellent exhibits. Very fun and poetry-filled!

But first, I would like to toot my own horn, if you don't mind. Plus we have a freebie to promote! Here are the details on my session if you're in Chicago and free early Saturday morning! Janet Wong and I are offering free copies of our forthcoming e-book of holiday poetry for kids to all who come early.

Poetry for Paupers from Recitation to E-Books; Infusing Poetry into the Classroom
National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention
Chicago, IL
Sat., Nov. 19, 2011
8:00am-9:15am
Chicago Hilton

PRESENTERS:
*Yours truly
*Janet Wong, Author and Poet, sponsored by Charlesbridge
Autographing Sat., Nov. 19 (3-4pm) at Charlesbridge booth #1120
*Laurie Purdie Salas, Author and Poet, sponsored by Clarion Books
Autographing Sat., Nov. 19 (11am-12pm) at HMH booth #105
*Stephen Young, Program Director, Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest
*Youssef Biaz, Alabama, 2011 Poetry Out Loud national champion (great to have a teen on our panel!)

Here's the session description:
Why is poetry for young people so important? Poetry embodies emotion and imagination that help connect readers and listeners across barriers of culture, ethnicity, and even age. As Emerson said, poetry teaches us the power of a few words, helping us see old things in new ways. It can make us laugh out loud, or stop and think. How do we find ways to share poetry when financial resources are so tight? Inexpensive teaching materials and resources, from the old fashioned tried-and-true to the cutting edge e-reader, offer new and inexpensive approaches for connecting kids and poetry. These resources allow us to bring poets and poetry into the classroom through multiple media using print, visual, and digital tools.

This session will introduce participants to a variety of free or inexpensive teaching resources including:
• Downloadable audio files of poetry readings
• Free readers guides and reproducibles
• Publisher resources such as posters, guides, and bookmarks
• Digital book trailers
• Poetry recitation competitions
• Books for Kindles, iPads, and poetry e-readers
• Blogs and web sites
• Homemade poetry books, magazines, and newspapers

In addition, the session panel will include two nationally known poets reading from their work and discussing resources available on their web sites and blogs. This includes Janet Wong and Laura Purdie Salas. Each is a unique poetic voice, as well as a creator of a range of poetry for both children and young adults. Each employs active web sites/blogs that offer interactive opportunities for young people as well as curricular resources for teachers and librarians.

Finally, the session will also feature the resources available through the Poetry Foundation, in particular, the Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Steve Young, Program Director at the Poetry Foundation will share details about how teens can participate in this free competition and the session will conclude with a poetry performance by this year’s teen winner.

The proposed session will provide an opportunity to learn about inexpensive resources for promoting poetry in the classroom, providing insight and guidance for teachers who want to lead students in reading, reciting, and responding as writers, performers, and poets. We’ll consider how poets, teachers, and kids can use print, performance, and technology to connect through poetry. What kinds of poetry resources engage students to wonder and explore, ask big questions, make discoveries and connections, and learn about themselves and others? With the goal of making more poetry accessible for more children, this session will remind participants of all ages of the richness to be found in poetry for young people today.

For my part, I'll be highlighting:

• 25 of my favorite poetry (teaching) resources on the web,
• 28 of my favorite poetry promoting blogs
• 88 awesome poet web sites
• 10 sources of free audio poetry
• 10 links to publisher sites for free materials
• 6 outlets for publishing young people's writing

Should be fun! I've been attending NCTE conventions for over 30 years now and it's one of my favorite events. Since this is the 100th anniversary of the organization, it feels extra special to be there and to be talking about all kinds of digital resources for the next era.

Watch for more info about GIFT TAG, an e-book of holiday poems for kids available on Thanksgiving Day.

Image credit: 

Janet Wong

Posting by Sylvia M. Vardell © 2011. All rights reserved.

London poetry conference

If you're going to be in London next weekend, there’s a fantastic poetry conference being held there organized by the IBBY UK and the NCRCL (National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature). If you go, please let us know all about it.


Here are the details gleaned from postings by Laura Atkins, Senior Lecturer at the NCRCL.

Date: Saturday, 12 November 2011
Location: University of Roehampton, London

Theme: “It Doesn’t Have to Rhyme: Children and Poetry”



The conference will explore aspects of poetry that impinge on young people, with a focus on the question “Why does poetry matter?” This begs the more fundamental question: What is poetry?” which they hope also to explore. Plenary speakers include Morag Styles, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson, Susan Bassnett and a panel of people involved with the publication and anthologizing of poetry.



Here is their Provisional Programme:


9.30 Registration and coffee, Terrace Room

10.00 Welcome (Pat Pinsent)

10:10 Morag Styles (Cambridge University)

11:00 Publishing panel: Janetta Otter Barry (Frances Lincoln), Gaby Morgan (Macmillan) and Fiona Waters (anthologist; Troubadour)

11:45 Comfort break (don't you love that label?!)

12:00 Michael Rosen

12:45 IBBY, NCRCL and 2012 World Congress news

1:00 Lunch, Montefiore Diner

2:00 Parallel workshops, see notices

3.15 Susan Bassnett (The Times Stephen Spender 2010 prizes judge).

3:45 Tea, Terrace Room

4:15 Jacqueline Wilson

5:00 Joelle Taylor (Poetry Society) Poetry Slam

5:30 Finish



Programme of Workshops

Workshop A

Sandra A. Agard. It Doesn’t Have to Rhyme.

David A. Whitley. Children’s Poetry: Loose Cannons and Loose Iambics.



Workshop B

Lucy Andrew. Riddles in the Dark: The Role of Poetry in Children’s Fantasy Novels from Alice to Harry Potter.

Rebecca R. Butler. Imaginative Opportunities in Two Verse Novels.



Workshop C

Kimberly Black. Social Protest in Urban Youth Spoken-Word Poetry.

Imogen Church. Authenticity of Voice in Poetry Written by Juvenile Offenders.



Workshop D

Julie Blake. Reclaiming the Oral Tradition: The Poetry Archive.

Mathew Carthew. Slam Dunk: Performance as a Way of Bringing Children’s Poetry to Life.



Workshop E

Fiona Collins and Alison Kelly. Poetry Journeys: From Child to Student Teacher.

Jenny Vernon. Ten Years of Children’s Poetry: The Southwark Poetry Anthologies.



Workshop F

Pat Ebhohimen. Is Poetry Written by Children really Poetry?

Robert Hull. Can a Love of Poetry be Taught?



Workshop G

Emily Roach. Dealing with Death: Tough Topics in Poetry for Children.

Siwan M. Rosser. Negotiating Borders: Poetry and the Language of Children.



Workshop H

Georgie Horrell. Caribbean Children’s Poetry in Multicultural Britain.

Aneesh Baria. Children and Cats in the Alley: T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and its French Translations.
 


Doesn't this look cool? I won’t be able to attend, so I contacted the conference organizers about whether proceedings of the conference would be published and I’m pleased to share that the answer is YES. There will be short abstracts if the conference in the Spring 2012 issue of IBBYLink. The journal goes out to all members of IBBY UK so if you are a member you will get that. The proceedings with the fuller papers will be published by Pied Piper Publishing in October 2012. So, I’ll watch for that and keep you posted!


Image credit: www.ncrcl.ac.uk



Posting by Sylvia M. Vardell © 2011. All rights reserved.