Last week, I shared a poem I helped a group of students write, based on the Most Boring Object Ever.
This week, we did it again - with different students and completely different MBOE!
Yesterday I visited the students at Sant Bani School in Sanbornton, New Hampshire and discussed writing, picture book creation, and poetry - starting the day off with a poetry workshop for the 6-8 grades.
As I did at the previous school, I shared various forms and styles of poetry and explained why I love the compact, intense nature of the genre. I then worked with students to brainstorm ideas around something I like to call the MBOE: Most Boring Object Ever.
The way I figure it, if you can write a poem about a chewed-up pencil or a rusted paperclip, you can write a poem about nearly anything - and that's what we did on Thursday with a used hair tie.
The small, black, circular hair tie was perfect because it's so plain and simple, it lent itself to all sorts of imaginative descriptions and possibilities. I asked students to "re-name it", wondering what else this seemingly simple object could possibly be.
Students suggested it could be anything from a stretchy weapon to the entrance to a black hole - all great ideas! So I wrote them all down on an easel and then we looked for connections, weeding out the ones that didn't seem to fit.
Once that was done, piecing together this "Re-Name It" poem, as I call it, wasn't very hard at all! We came up with one poem - but by simply moving words around, different poems (and images and feelings) emerged:
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Black Hair Tie
Into the infinite portal:
black hole reflection.
I am the weapon
of universal chaos.
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Black hole portal
into infinity, looking glass
of chaos.
I am the universal weapon.
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A weapon of chaos:
reflection, never-ending,
in a black hole universe
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Another 15-minute poem, complete. It's amazing how quickly these come together when students start gettign into it! (And remember, if you think you might like to have me visit your school - either in person or virtually - please let me know! Details below...)
Speaking of poetry...
THIS SUNDAY: I hope you'll join me, Nancy Tupper Ling, June Cotner, Padma Venkatraman, and many others as we celebrate the official launch of "Bless the Earth" at Peter Reynolds' bookstore, The Blue Bunny in Dedham, MA from 2-4pm! Speaking of student poetry - Heidi Morhorst is celebrating Earth Day a wee bit early as she shares some wonderful poems by students at today's Poetry Friday roundup - so head on over to her blog My Juicy Little Universe for all the poetry links and fun! .
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ALSO: Author Lydia Lukidis stopped by a couple of weeks ago to chat about her new picture book, Dancing through Space - and we have a giveaway!
The link I shared last week was bad, so I'm extending the giveaway by one more week - if you'd like to enter to win a FREE COPY of the book, be sure to check out her interview and leave a comment!
~~ 2024 SCHOOL VISIT dates still available! ~~
I still have a few dates still available for author visits for the 2024 spring semester! If you think your school might be interested in having me visit, check out all the presentations I offer, then email me at Matt (at) MattForrest (dot) com!
I love chatting with elementary and middle school classes about writing: why poetry is fun to read and write, the importance of revision, and how imagination and creativity can lead to fantastic careers! My presentations are tailored to fit the needs of the classes and students' ages. One day I might be sharing details of how a picture book like Flashlight Night (Astra Young Readers, 2017) was created; the next, I'll be discussing dinosaur breath or crafting origami sea turtles!
Student presentations include:
- The Making of a Picture Book
- How a Child Saved a Book
- "Once Upon Another Time"
- The Most Important Thing about Writing Poetry
- "I Am Today"
- "A Beginner's Guide to Being Human"
- "Everybody Counts: Counting to 10 in Twelve Languages"
Adult presentations include:
- The Making of a Picture Book
- The Journey of an Author
- The Most Important Thing about Writing Poetry
- Free Yourself with Free Verse
- Tight Language, Loose Narratives: Crafting a Non-Traditional Picture Book
Learn more at MattForrest.com!
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I'm now on BOOKSHOP!
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I'm also very happy to be part of the BOOKROO family!
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Ordering personalized signed copies online? Oh, yes, you can!
You can purchase personally-signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Astra Young Readers, 2017), Don't Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly EVERY book or anthology I've been part of!
Click here to view all my books and to order!
Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send a comment to the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH requesting my signature and to whom I should make it out. (alternatively, you can log onto my website and do the same thing) They'll contact me, I'll stop by and sign it, and then they'll ship it! (Plus, you'll be supporting your local bookseller – and won't that make you feel good?)
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Thank you to everyone for your support!
FLASHLIGHT NIGHT:
DON'T ASK A DINOSAUR:
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