Happy Poetry Friday! It's great to be back in the round up this week. Thank you for visiting the ridge, and please stop by Carol's Corner for more of this week's collection of poetry!
Hope is a beautiful thing, especially when it has wings. It's just the kind of hope I needed after experiencing a difficult time. I remember feeling so lost and detached from a path I wanted to take very much. As humans, we have a yearning to belong, to feel a part of something bigger. We are driven to connect, and remembering connects us to our identity. When I lost sight of my goal and the realization that I might not achieve it, I returned to my memories of hope. It turns out, I had many of them waiting for me in my notebooks to remind me of hope. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
While this poem is about waiting with silent hope for my dear Purple Martin swallows to return to the skies, it's more about returning to myself. I needed to remember the things that are most important to me. I needed to find a new hope. And with this new hope, I have found delight in the peaceful way in which it has arrived.
How does remembering help you connect to your identity? Where do you find new hope?
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Happy Poetry Friday, friends! It's a great week to celebrate poetry and friendship! Head over to Jone's space HERE for more poetry celebrations!
This week, I'm sharing a friendship poem about my very special friend, who happens to be a tree. Yes, that's right! Even trees can be friends! In fact, I have many tree friends on the ridge. I love to gaze up at them and walk beneath their sturdy branches. They are very wise and have many stories to tell. Trees are one of nature's friends that I connect with just like a friend. What objects do you consider friends? I invite you to think about the friends in your life. They might be a person, place, or thing. What makes these friends special? Consider your friendships. What makes those connections valuable and important to you? Try writing a friendship poem to one of your favorite friends! Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
People and pets are often thought of as friends, but objects can be friends, too! Sometimes, we can develop a very special feeling or connection to an object. This object can be a companion of sorts. We can spend lots of time with our special object and even talk to it! In this way, our object becomes well loved, like a dear friend. Think of objects that are special to you. Make a list and jot down reasons why you connect to the object. You're sure to find a friendship poem hiding inside your writing about your very special friend!
Hooray for Poetry Friday! Thank you so much for dropping by the ridge for a visit. Our friend Tara, is hosting this week at her space, Going to Walden.
I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on change these past couple of weeks. Change is an interesting topic to explore. I've become rather fascinated with the nature of change and our relation to it. I think there can definitely be some validity in the idea that the magnitude of change lies in the eye of the beholder. We all perceive and react to change differently. I have noticed this quite often with fellow colleagues in education. I think the important thing is to reflect on the change both individually and with others who face the same challenge. It's a process that demands our attention, reflection, and understanding. Sometimes we choose change, and sometimes it's chosen for us. It can be both easy and hard. And depending on the change and the implications, we can find ourselves feeling really any place on the spectrum. Whatever change we may face, reflection through talk and writing can help. It has certainly helped me understand the impact that change has in my life. Change often invites me to grow and stretch myself. That's one invitation, I'm always willing to accept. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
Careful reflection can often lead to meaningful change in our lives. If you have discovered helpful ways to use reflection to create powerful change, I invite you to share your learning reflections with the #TeacherMyth followers on Twitter. This group is also thinking deeply about reflective practices.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thank you for visiting the ridge. This week, Tricia is hosting the round-up at her space, The Miss Rumphius Effect. You can find more poetry offerings there!
As a writer, I try to live a wide-awake life. When I do, I notice how much it improves my life and my interactions with everything around me. There is something extraordinary that happens when the lens of attention begins to focus and sharpen. There is an immediate connection between myself and whatever I have stopped to acknowledge has come into my frame. And whatever it may be, it is worthy of my attention. It becomes the center of everything. Through this simple act of noticing, I learn something more about this life. "The dream of my life Is to lie down by a slow river And stare at the light in the trees- To learn something by being nothing A little while but the rich Lens of attention." -Mary Oliver from her poem, Entering the Kingdom Mary Oliver was a true master of the art of noticing. Her wise words will continually inspire me to live with a lens of attention. There is so much in this world to delight in. Listen to my poem-Invitation to Write:
Noticing often leads to learning. We can learn so much about ourselves and others through the simple act of noticing. Try practicing the art of noticing to see what comes of it. Pay close attention to details and ask yourself questions to lead to reflection.
Where are spaces in your day that you are building a habit of writing and reflecting? What are you noticing and learning about yourself as a result? If you try out the art of noticing, I invite you to share your learning reflections with the #TeacherMyth followers on Twitter. This group is also thinking deeply about reflective practices and the power of noticing. There is so much to learn about ourselves and the world around us through a careful lens of attention !
Happy Poetry Friday! Thank you for visiting the ridge! Be sure to stop by Kat's space HERE for more poetry delights this week.
I don't generally make resolutions at the beginning of a new year, but I do make a point to reflect on my personal and professional life. My writing life has always helped me balance them both, so I'm happily reclaiming my writing life this year. It's time to prioritize my time and energy to those things that matter most. My family and the work that I do as an educator to serve children and others will always be top priority. My writing must be a high priority as well. Writing completes me. I am better for myself and others when I write often. So after reflecting on how I spend my time, I have decided to be more intentional about creating a space in my day to write.
Listen to my poem-
Invitation to Write:
I have been thinking a lot about the reflection process lately, along with many of my teacher colleagues. It's a great topic to explore as a writer. One of my friends, Aaron Hogan, author of Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth, has initiated a blog challenge over the next few weeks to write a reflection in response to a given prompt. I think it's a wonderful invitation to write, so I have decided to accept his challenge. If you would like to join in, I will be including his weekly prompt in this section of my blog or you can find the prompts on Twitter at #TeacherMyth.
This week, notice how you're using your time. Is there a space in your day to build in some time for reflection? Happy Poetry Friday! I am so grateful to be back with this amazing community of poets! I can't wait to read all the poetry offerings waiting to be unwrapped at Donna's space, Mainley Write, on this last Poetry Friday round-up of the year. It feels so wonderful to be writing for myself again. For some time, much of my writing has been the academic kind. Now that I have completed my master's degree program, I can give myself fully to my writing life. I can return to my pen and notebook. I may be a bit rusty, but I believe writing is the kind of thing that comes back to you with ease. Like a beloved song or some fond memory from childhood, it's always there. It always waits, and it always takes us back whenever we are ready to return. Invitation to Write:For me, nature is a sturdy workbench for my writing. I will make time and listen, to hear the words that it may speak.
Whatever your workbench may be, my hope is that you return to it again and again. It will be there, ready to help you accomplish the work of your heart.
Happy Poetry Friday! I'm back in the round up this week with a poem inspired by a pic of one of my favorite flowers, the Four o' clock. Thanks for stopping by the ridge to read it, and for more poetry goodies, head over to Jone's space HERE!
One of my favorite things to do is to walk about the ridge, admiring all of nature's gifts. There are always poems hiding about in the images around me. Just the other day, I was walking about when my nose caught the scent of the most glorious smell. I followed that smell, and it led me straight to a bed of freshly bloomed Four o' clocks. I knew I had to capture this splendid image while I had the chance. You see, Four o' clocks open at four and remain open throughout the night and into the morning. They only bloom once before they wilt and fall off the plant. So of course, I had to snap a pic and write a poem to honor these short blooming beauties! I studied my photo of the Four o' clocks and zoomed in on every tiny detail I noticed. I asked myself, What do I notice? and What does this image "say" to me? Next, I tried to describe it using my five senses and my reactions to the image. Then, I wrote everything out in my notebook. Finally, I reread my entry with my poet's eye and found this poem blooming there! Listen to my poem:Invitation to Write:
Snap a picture of something you like, wonder about, or notice. If you don't have access to a camera, snap a mental image in your mind. Study your picture and zoom into every detail of the image. What do you notice? What does the image "say" to you? Talk it out with a friend. Describe it from the inside out. Then, write it out in your notebook. You can bet, there's a poem hiding in each pic you take!
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks for visiting the ridge this week. For more of the poetry party, head over to Carol's space Beyond LiteracyLink.
Over Labor Day weekend, I took some time to walk about the ridge. I enjoy observing all the gifts that the natural world has to offer! Our observations can surprise us and wonder us. Having a notebook brimming full of observations can inspire so much writing! Listen to my poem:Invitation to Write:
Writers are observers of the world around them. Take some time this weekend to take a walk and record your observations. Open your senses and capture all the life around you! Let your observations lead you to many new writing possibilities. A simple walk can do a writer good!
Welcome to the Poetry Friday round-up on the ridge! I am excited to be hosting this week. I can't wait to read all your offerings! Just hook up your link at the bottom of the post.
Now that summer has been unleashed here on the ridge, I find myself wanting to spend my days outdoors having fun in the sun. I especially enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of summer evenings. I like to flip back in my notebook to all my summer entries. They are filled with memories, observations, and all things summer-esque. As I was reading, a few lines from the pages of my notebook merged and inspired me to write my poem offering this week. I wish you all a lovely summer's song all season long! Invitation to Write:
As a writer, one of my favorite things to do is to sift back through the pages of my notebook from time to time. This helps me find balance and inspiration for future projects or poems. Sometimes, lifting a line or two from your notebook can renew your writing life. I invite you to time travel back into your notebook as well. What stands out to you? Jot down some of your thinking and reflect on your writing journey so far. Lift a line or two. Copy those lines on a new page. Do you notice any connections? Try writing from those lines to see what emerges.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks for visiting the ridge. This week, Margaret is hosting the round-up at her space, Reflections on the Teche. I can't wait to read all the poetry offerings there! The poem I am sharing today has been revised to fit my intended audience, YOU! When I read the original poem in my notebook, I realized that if it were to come out of my notebook for publication, I would need to consider my audience and design the poem based on my desired purpose. In my revision, I decided that I needed to consider my content and word choice to appeal to an audience of all ages. Safe inside the notebook, the original poem will always be written for me. It's one of the gifts of the notebook that I cherish. The fact that it's a place to collect whatever comes from my mind. The notebook is for ME. I think. I dream. I notice. I write whatever comes. And when or if I'm ready to share it with the world, it comes out to be revised for my audience. Just like the one I'm sharing with you now! Invitation to Write:Think about your design and revision process. How would you describe it? At what points do you turn your attention to audience? It's very interesting to hear how other writers tackle revision. As writers, we can learn so much from each other!
Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome to the ridge. This week, I am sharing a tiny poem about a Luna moth. Be sure to visit Tabatha at her space, The Opposite of Indifference, for more of the round-up. It seems that I make very little time these days for my personal writing, which has me feeling a little lost. Most of my writing consists of reflective academic writing for my graduate school work. It's been hard to find the balance between work, school, and home. I welcome all my visitors this week to share your wisdom or any strategies you may have for maintaining a healthy writing life. I look forward to reading your comments! This week, I decided to jump back into the round-up with a small poem about a moth. I stumbled upon this tiny poem, while I was flipping through the pages of one of my old notebooks. It reminded me very much of a poem I might find in Valerie Worth's book, "All the Small Poems and Fourteen More." I love that poems can come in all shapes and all sizes. I can always find a poem idea lurking between the pages of my notebook. That's comforting to me as a writer, especially when my writing time is limited. Invitation to Write:Revisiting and rereading your notebook entries can often bring a sleeping idea to life! Whenever you feel stuck in your writing or you're searching to find an idea, try returning to your notebook for writing inspiration. Big or small, ideas are waiting for you to lift them from between the pages of your notebook!
Welcome Poetry Friday friends. Happy National Poetry Month! Today, our dear friend Amy is rounding up a wave of poetry offerings at her space, The Poem Farm. This week, I couldn't help but write about the blue Passover moon after it put on quite a show for me last weekend. The moon did not disappoint and neither did the poets who had a hand in kicking off the 2018 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem Challenge! I was so inspired by each line, that I decided I would write a draft of a found poem about the moon using at least one of the words from each of the lines of this year's Progressive Poem (in progress). Here are the words I selected from the first five lines to write my first found poem: nestled, dreams, blooming, stars, sweet, game. To see today's addition to the progressive poem click on Irene's space HERE. She's the sweet lady that welcomed me to join in the project this year, and I'm ever so grateful! I'll be adding my line to the poem on April 25th. Who knows...maybe my line will inspire other writers in a new way, too! Invitation to Write:Writers often involve themselves in all sorts of projects. Participating in a poetry challenge with a group or creating your own poetry project can help keep your writing skills sharp. What are some of the projects you have participated in or maybe have considered starting? It's never too late to join in the excitement and joy that a poetry project can bring. It's a great way to explore new writing territories! So be brave, writers. Step up to the challenge and write!
Happy Poetry Friday! It is great to be back with friends this week. Thank you for visiting the ridge this week, where spring has sprung! Today, I'm writing about a favorite friend to me as a writer, my notebook. Join the rest of the round-up at Linda's space HERE. My notebook is one of my dearest friends. Like a friend, I miss my notebook when I am away from it for too long. When I haven't visited my notebook, to drop in a word or a line or two, I feel very sad. Sometimes, things in our life can take us away from spending time with our friends. This can happen in our writing lives, too. When this happens, I try to give myself some grace. I know my notebook will be there waiting for me. Like a true friend, it's always there. It calls to me, like a long lost friend. I open it up, and begin again. And just like that, I feel anew! Invitation to Write:Think about your favorite writer's tools. How are they like "friends" to you as a writer? If you keep a notebook, which kind do you prefer. Notebooks can often be called a safe place, a think-tank, a workbench, and so many more! What makes your notebook special? How might you describe it using this sentence stem, "My notebook is..."
Whatever writer's tools you use to collect your words, how do they welcome you and sustain you in your writing life? A writer's tool is a friend for life. Happy writing with your favorite writing tools and friends! It's so great to be back with the Poetry Friday community this week! I welcome your words here at the ridge today. For more of the round-up, Liz is hosting today at her space, HERE. A few weeks back, when I was home sick, I stumbled across a film documentary of the legendary poet Robert Frost. I was so inspired and intrigued by his words, that I quickly pulled for my notebook to document the experience in some way. It all began with this poem he recited. The word "retreat" tugs at heart each time I read this poem. In his commentary, Frost spoke of his purposeful decision to use the word retreat, despite the fact that it rhymes with defeat. There is no shame in retreat. We don't escape, we retreat for reasons that are ours alone. In doing so, we regain our strength and fortify ourselves to reach those places we've not been. Following Frost's poem is my own poem, which was inspired by this remarkable man and poet. And to my incredible friends, who give me strength in my retreat. They let me know, I'm not alone. In winter in the woods alone Against the trees I go. I mark a maple for my own And lay the maple low. At four o'clock I shoulder ax And in the afterglow I link a line of shadowy tracks Across the tinted snow. I see for Nature no defeat In one tree's overthrow Or for myself in my retreat For yet another blow. -Robert Frost I would like to end with some of my favorite lines and speeches that Frost shared within the film. Perhaps some of the most cherished words I hung on, were his words on poetry. "It starts with a mood. It's a curious state that takes over you...Every poem solved something for me in my life. Every poem is a momentary stay against the confusion of the world. Then so is making a basket or making a horseshoe. Giving anything form, gives you a confidence in the universe, that it has form. All you want to do is get a sense of form, makes you healthy and well, makes you feel like there is some sort of form to your business, your occupation." -Robert Frost I am often in awe of inspirational poets like Robert Frost, and I find that I have this same admiration for my dearest friends. I am grateful for courageous friends who challenge me every step of the way. I couldn't agree more with the words of Mr. Robert Frost, "The gamble of life takes bravery." I'm so glad to be able to boldly venture forward with my friends as we make our mark on this world. Invitation to Write:Think about the notion of retreating and finding form. Where do you retreat for strength? What sense of form do you seek? Who or what inspires you to retreat in search of this form? Write down your thoughts for safe keeping!
Happy Poetry Friday, dear friends! It has been bitterly cold here on the ridge, and I am anxious to read all the poetry offerings this week that are sure to warm my heart! You can find the warmth of poetry this week at Kay's space, A Journey Through the Pages. January winds have come sweeping over the ridge so swiftly and so suddenly. I find myself in a busy tizzy these days. A new year provides the opportunity to re-root and rearrange. But perhaps my favorite thing about January, is the chance to re-enter my writing life. Though the newness of the year may bring unknowns and uncertainties, I know how to sit idly with pen in hand and write. Knowing this simple truth, gives me comfort. Writing can help me grow patient and attentive to all that lies ahead in the new year. Writing is a teacher. I listen. I trust. I know just how. Invitation to Write:Learning to be patient and accepting what comes can be a difficult task at times. Yet, when we let go and trust, our senses become keener. The blessing of words may come softly and freely. Each writer finds a way to turn idle thoughts into meaning and song. Practice sitting idly with pen and notebook in hand. See what voices emerge, what dreams may come.
Happy last few days of the year Poetry Friday friends! It has been a year filled with unexpected twists and turns. I wish you all a marvelous new year filled with much laughter and writing! Don't miss stopping over at Heidi's space My Juicy Little Universe, for the last round-up of the year. For me, this year has been filled with lingering happiness and unexpected sadness. As I look back on a year gone by, I remember all the opportunities and changes that were brought into my life. I think about what was gained and what was lost. I let go and let it pass. I say goodbye to all that must fall away, and hello to a year brimming with new hope on the rise. May the dawning of this new year bring you blessings of health and good cheer! New Year’s Tidings The smell from the kitchen of fresh baked bread and black-eyed peas to ring in the new year, a celebration of the old one as it passes, never to bring back the hours, those soon to be forgotten. January winds will blow; now come the days by the fireplace glow and days with the promise of snow. So tonight, tuck the memories away. Say goodbye to the old year passing. Raise a glass and make a toast to all your dreams and hopes. Listen as the chimes ring out: Here’s to a new year without any doubt and all the good things it brings about. © Kiesha Shepard And because I follow the moon in all its glorious phases, I had to share this photo of a Wolf Moon over the ridge. A January full moon is known as a Wolf Moon for obvious reasons. Stand outside on some cold January night, and you can hear the wolves howling at the moon. This year, we're in for a real treat as we will see not one, but two full moons in January. When you have two full moons in one month, it's called a Blue Moon. That means the full moon on January 1st and January 31st will be both a Wolf Moon and a Blue Moon. You can bet I'll be writing a super-duper blue wolf moon poem in honor of this momentous occasion! Invitation to Write:Spend some time thinking about the events in the past year. Reread some of your notebook entries across the span of the year. What do you notice? Write whatever thoughts come to my mind. Allow your thoughts to meander through the past and drift into the future. Many realizations can come to us when we write in this way. May you find the answers to many of your dreams and aspirations in your writing this year!
Welcome, Poetry Friday friends! For more invitations to read and write poetry, visit Lisa at Steps and Staircases. She's hosting the round-up party today. The snow we got here on the ridge last night certainly offered an enchanting yet unexpected invitation to write. In my part of Texas, a snowfall is a rare and blissful experience. It was a delightful invitation to change this poem's original repetitive refrain from "The cold is coming" to "The snow is coming." Invitation to Write: Sometimes, invitations to write can surprise us by showing up in the most unlikely places or at times when we least expect it. Where do you find unexpected invitations to write? Take some time to make a list in your notebook. Pull it out some snowy day (if only in your imagination) and let its gentle invitation guide you to all kinds of unexpected writing possibilities.
Happy Poetry Friday, friends! I appreciate your visit, and for more poetry, stop by Mary Lee's space HERE. I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday! I am so grateful for the time spent with family, nature, and my trusty notebook. I took some time throughout the holiday to walk-about my yard, listening to the sounds of Thanksgiving. After I had gathered some descriptions and noticings in my notebook, I reread them out loud. My words reminded me of a poem I had read sometime before. Does that ever happen to you? You can be reading something you wrote and suddenly you realize it sounds so familiar, like maybe you had heard it before or even written something sort of like it in the past. I love when this happens! It's a wonderful reminder to a writer that topics and words are never used up. We can always lean on earlier entries and pieces we have written. The poem I am sharing today is a spin-off of a previous poem I had written titled, Sounds of Christmas, which itself was modeled after Walt Whitman's poem, Sounds of the Winter. You can find his poem HERE. So remember writers, read widely and write often. Those words will become a part of your memory and will inspire many more pieces to come. Invitation to Write:Think about all the different pieces of literature and texts that you have read. What are the ones that stick with you? Make a list of those titles in your notebook. Now take it a step further. Write down the words, phrases or lines that you can remember by heart. Reread your writing out loud when you're done. How will you let these familiar words spark new ideas for writing? Happy writing!
Welcome to the ridge! Join the November Poetry Friday kick-off with Linda at her space, TeacherDance.
Did you know that this weekend there will be a hunter's moon? A Hunter's Moon or "blood moon" is the name given to a full moon when it falls in the month of October, except for every four years (which is this year) when it appears in November instead. It was dubbed the Hunter's Moon by the Native American's who would track and kill prey during the light of the full autumn moon. Besides being the subject of folklore and legends, it is an occurrence of significance for astronomers and moon enthusiasts like me! So what makes the Hunter's moon different from a typical full moon? Well, this moon rises 30 minutes later each successive night which makes the sunset and moonrise really close together. This leads to longer periods of light during this harvest time of year. See for yourself! Step outside tonight and throughout the weekend to gaze at the incredible Hunter's Moon. Invitation to Write:
Writing about topics we care about never loses its luster. These are those magnet topics that we are "over the moon" about. As we begin a new month, take some time to sift back through your writer's notebook. Are there entries or pieces of writing that could could be sorted into a particular collection? Read through your writing pieces. Does your collection feel complete? What other types of entries could you add to your collection? Perhaps you'll discover a collection of essays based on a particular theme or maybe a poem anthology about the moon, like me!
Welcome, friends! Thank you for joining me here on the ridge this week. for more Poetry Friday fun, visit Leigh Ann at her space A Day in the Life.
I have been relying on my magnet topics for writing starters lately. Trains are certainly a magnet topic for me that I write about often in my notebook. I can always find new ways to write about them. There's just something about a train lumbering down a track, far off in the distance, that makes me pause in my busy track of life. It seems I move full speed ahead these days, and yet somehow, a familiar sound will blow the horn in my head. It's the horn that says, "Stop, slow down, let out the steam." I need to hear that, and when I do, I feel safe. So safe that I am eager to step up on the platform and board the train, wherever it may be going. The destination becomes very unimportant. What matters is that the train's familiar sound was enough to slow me down and pick me back up. Listen to my poem:Invitation to Write:
Often a familiar sound can slow us down and make us think about why it's so easy to recognize. It could be a memory from our childhood or something we hear everyday at school, work, or at home. What are the sounds that you are most familiar with. Make a list in your notebook. Think about how these sounds make you feel or what they remind you of. Writing about a sound we connect with can lead us down all kinds of writing tracks.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks for joining me for a visit this week. Matt is hosting this week at his space Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. Join him for the rest of the round-up offerings! Everyday a new set of current events and topics to ponder present themselves as focal points in our daily lives. While I believe it is very important for us to stay up to date with the happenings and possibilities that we may face in the future, I think it is equally important to stay centered in the now. However, staying grounded in the now, does not always come so easy. In my own experience, I have noticed too often that the thoughts and sometimes worries about the future distract me. And somehow, before I've even realized it, I have given my full attention to something in the future that might not ever happen. As a result, I end up feeling as though I may have missed something extremely valuable and meaningful in my current reality. This tends to be a struggle for me both as a writer and as a person who cares deeply about the natural world as well as the small intricacies of ordinary life. Whenever I sense this tension, this struggle, I do what I always do. I write. This kind of fast and furious writing in my notebook, allows me to document my thinking about the future, so that I can continue living in the now. By both acknowledging my questions and fears, I can create a space in time that gives me the freedom to plant myself in the moment to write the immediate thoughts of my mind. Writing provides an invitation and the the room to welcome balance in our lives. Invitation to Write:Writers have different ways to balance their past, present, and future thoughts. For example, many writers choose to blog about ideas and issues that they are immediately responsive to. Other writers may choose to log their daily thoughts in a journal or notebook. Some writers do both! How do you choose to document your current and future thoughts for safe keeping? Where do you find balance in your writing life?
Welcome! I'm so glad you are here visiting today. After your stop here at the ridge, be sure to sail over to Donna's space Mainely Write, where she is hosting the round-up for us. I'm glad to be back with my Poetry Friday friends this week. I have been away hosting my other dear friends and members of the CSISD Writing Project. This is the third year that our school district has offered The Heart of Texas Writing Project professional development for the teaching of writing. This summer institute is truly a transformative experience for the participants. As teacher consultants, we are honored to be in a room full of teacher writers so dedicated to providing authentic writing instruction for their students. In celebration of our week together as writers, I am sharing a few pictures that capture our work and a piece inspired by these writers with wings. Writers with Wings With many voices all coming together to learn and grow as writers, the room became a safe place. It became a space to question, a space to explore, and a place to feel stuck. So we dreamed a little dream together. We imagined this not only for ourselves, but for our students. And in the midst of that dream, we opened our hearts and dared our minds to give that dream flight, to give it wings. We vowed to give our students those wings to stretch out and fly into this world as thinkers and as writers. For on the wings of a writer, humanity is restored. And the space between words and this world, is only as wide as our desire to fill it. Invitation to Write:Discovering and exploring your identity as a writer is often a great place to begin your writing life. Spend some time getting to know yourself by writing inside your notebook. Write widely and often. Read and reread. Give yourself some grace. Focus on what is there rather than what is not. It is through a lens of appreciation that we must learn to view our own writing. It is through this lens that we may begin to expect and welcome the sound of our own words pitter-pattering upon the page. It is through this lens that we mine the words of others, those writers at heart.
Welcome Poetry Friday friends! It's great to be back with the Poetry Friday community this week. To join in the fun this last week of June, head over to Diane's space at Random Noodling. Some nights, I have a really hard time sleeping. I find myself wandering into the darkness of my sleeping house. There's something quite magical that happens late at night when my mind is still awake. It is during those times, that I reach for my notebook and write. I let my imagination run wild, allowing the night time world to whisper its stories and secrets. The poem I am sharing this week has a bit of the magic and whimsy I experienced one night. I wish each of you a night of mystical writing, too1 Invitation to Write:If you ever have trouble sleeping, writing in your notebook can often soothe you right to sleep. I like to keep a notebook by my bed in case I can't sleep, or if I want to scribble down a dream I want to remember. So many magical ideas can come late at night in the quiet dark. Before you sleep away, jot your thoughts down so they are sure to not slip away!
Welcome to the ridge! Thanks for stopping by this week. For more of the Poetry Friday collection, visit Carol at Carol's Corner. I am back this week from my relaxing trip to the beach. I took advantage of the ocean's poetic whispers while I was there. As I sat on the shoreline, I started generating a list in my notebook. I used my five senses and the imagery of this coastal scene to get some words onto the page. Then, I started playing with the words and phrases from my list. The result is my "Ocean Scene" poem. Working from a list is a quick strategy I use often to get my ideas flowing. Invitation to Write:Try creating a word list in your notebook. Once you have your list, try putting words and phrases together. Play with different combinations until you find one you like. Collecting lists can be great fun!
One of my favorite things to write about is the moon. It's one of those objects that has intrigued and fascinated me ever since I was a little girl. I believe that the moon holds great power and mystery. It's often written about in poems and songs as having great significance and enchantment. I have many entries in my notebook that include the moon, but today's poem seemed to really fit this time of year. Whenever I'm feeling a little off track with my writing, I can always find my way back by looking up to the moon. If you are ever in need of a little writing inspiration, you might try looking to the moon or any other object that has great significance to you. Even the constant objects of our world can evoke a great feeling of power and change within us. |
AuthorWelcome! I'm Kiesha Shepard, and I have a love for writing and the teaching of writing. Whispers From the Ridge is a place where I can share my words and ideas for teaching writing. It's also a place for you to find inspiration for writing the words inside of you. I invite you into my world of writing as I capture the whispers from the ridge. Follow by Email
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Schedule of Round Up:
July
2 Laura at Laura Shovan 9 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche 16 Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone 23 Kat at Kathryn Apel 30 Becky at Sloth Reads August 6 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading 13 Christie at Wondering and Wandering 20 Carol at The Apples in My Orchard 27 Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections September 3 Heidi at my juicy little universe 10 Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect 17 Denise at Dare to Care 24 Laura at Laura Purdie Salas October 1 Catherine at Reading to the Core 8 Irene at Live Your Poem 15 Bridget at wee words for wee ones 22 Jama at Jama's Alphabet Soup 29 Linda at TeacherDance November 5 Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference 12 Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme 19 Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink 26 Ruth at there is no such thing as a God-forsaken town December 3 Michelle at Michelle Kogan 10 Cathy at Merely Day by Day 17 Jone at Jone Rush MacCulloch 24 Buffy at Buffy Silverman 31 Carol at Carol's Corner |