{"id":253,"date":"2009-04-09T06:45:37","date_gmt":"2009-04-09T10:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/judithnatellimclaughlin.com\/?p=253"},"modified":"2014-05-23T21:05:59","modified_gmt":"2014-05-23T21:05:59","slug":"boston-shout-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/judithnatellimclaughlin.com\/?p=253","title":{"rendered":"Blog: Boston Shout Out!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s early here and I am sipping my morning coffee out of my new Boston mug, bringing me right back to all the fun I had in Bean Town.\u00a0 Huge thanks to Anne Occhipinti for bringing me to the Eliot School and to Eda Matchak and Jodi Doyle for working together on all logistics and to principal Traci Walker Griffith for embracing my visit.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 What a great place to learn and to grow.\u00a0On Monday, April 6th, I started with\u00a0grades K1, K2, 1 and 2.\u00a0 This group included my cousin, Chiara and all her friends.\u00a0 I was so excited to meet them all and what great listeners they were.\u00a0 They shouted the word zucchini at the top of their lungs (and whispered it very softly too, I might add), and had fun listening to my poetry and learning about parsnips and acorn squash too.\u00a0 And then, together this group wrote a wonderful poem I will share with you right here:<\/p>\n

I Don’t Know<\/span> by K1, K2, 1 and 2<\/p>\n

The banana mirror<\/p>\n

ate a scared shark<\/p>\n

I like oranges<\/p>\n

I like apples<\/p>\n

I like plums<\/p>\n

I like zucchini<\/p>\n

I like pink ice cream<\/p>\n

I like hot peppers<\/p>\n

I like carrots<\/p>\n

The banana<\/p>\n

Next up, were the middle schoolers.\u00a0 With them I talked about never giving up.\u00a0 Do you know it took me five years to get one poem published in one Bruce Lansky children’s poetry anthology, Rolling in the Aisles<\/span>?\u00a0 But I set a goal for myself and didn’t stop until I achieved it.\u00a0At times it was\u00a0discouraging, but never did I stop.\u00a0\u00a0One of the\u00a0kids asked why.\u00a0\u00a0“Why didn’t you give up?”\u00a0\u00a0The two top reasons are:\u00a0 1.\u00a0 My three daughters.\u00a0 How could I give up when I know I am setting an example for them?\u00a0 What example do I want to set?\u00a0 Never give up.\u00a0 2.\u00a0 I love to write.\u00a0 Why would I quit the thing I love the most.\u00a0 I just remind myself that I write because I love it.\u00a0 Published or not, I love to write.<\/p>\n

Finally, I met with grades 3,4 and 5.\u00a0 Once again we recited poetry together and had a ball.\u00a0 This group treated me to a wonderful surprise…they recited poetry for me that they wrote in their recent poetry unit.\u00a0 I was blown away not only by the student’s poetry, but also by the way they recited their poetry…with feeling and flair.\u00a0 What fun.\u00a0 And together this group wrote a poem too:<\/p>\n

A Weird Poem<\/span>, by 3,4,5<\/p>\n

Fruits are delicious<\/p>\n

Celtics are cool<\/p>\n

Turnips are good<\/p>\n

Oranges are orange<\/p>\n

The first word of the Red Sox reminds me of an apple<\/p>\n

I love food<\/p>\n

The Bruins aren’t fools<\/p>\n

I think fruits are cool<\/p>\n

People rock and they talk<\/p>\n

Something told me so<\/p>\n

We took some pictures of the fun and as soon as I can, I’ll post them right here on the site.<\/p>\n

Then, on Tuesday, April 7th, I got to be the special guest at the North End Branch of the Boston Public Library for their 11:00 – 11:30 story hour.\u00a0 Thanks to children’s librarian, Jennifer Hawes for welcoming me with open arms.\u00a0 This group was made up of fun, funny, active toddlers.\u00a0 Together we rolled an acorn squash back and forth, clapped our way through my Pepper poem, and worked in finger plays and stretching exercises.\u00a0\u00a0What a great morning!\u00a0 I just loved it.<\/p>\n

Boston…you rock!\u00a0 Thanks for the warm welcome.<\/p>\n

My upcoming appearances follow:<\/p>\n