Comments

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  Josie Whitehead September 24, 2023 at 3:44am

  5 October is National Poetry Day in the UK and the subject this year is: Refuge - which is an important subject in this day and age. I have written an important poem for older children on this subject and one for younger children about refuge for birds etc. Here is a link to my main poem: https://www.josiespoems.com/refuge I make class visits all year round, to so many places in the world. I'd love to visit your class. Email me (see website).

  https://www.josiespoems.com/refuge
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  Mike McQueen January 26, 2012 at 1:10am

  Greetings Josie,

  I'm Mike McQueen, teacher librarian and founder of http://www.GettingBoysToRead.com. Like many school districts, we are in a financial crises. Our school board recently proposed to eliminate ALL 20+ middle school teacher librarians and also cut all 90+ elementary schools to half time. Since we are the biggest district in all of Colorado, we worry this will cause other districts to follow suit. We launched an online movement and are going to do our best to put up a good fight. If possible, please visit our Facebook page and "Like" us http://www.facebook.com/SupportSchoolLibraries . Adding a positive comment and sharing with your friends would help our morale as well. The board finalizes the budget soon so your timely support would be greatly appreciated!

  Sincerely,

  Mike McQueen

  Teacher Librarian at McLain HS

  Lakewood, CO
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  Josie Whitehead October 24, 2011 at 8:48pm

  Nancy - Thank you for your note.  I do indeed have lots of ingredients which I put into my poetry that can add "flair and colour" and if you go to my website, you will see many poems that have alliteration and assonance, many with similes, metaphors but above all, if you go to the web index, you will see that I have written many articles that teach you a little bit about adding rhyme and rhythm to poetry, but it isn't something you can read once and that is that.  As with being able to play the piano or other instrument, or knowing a waltz from a quickstep, you need to understand the structure of metre (which is very easy) and need a little practice on a regular basis to get into writing using it.  The other thing which is important is using poetry as a performance art:  getting children to get away from reading poetry and learning it and reciting it, throwing the voice without shouting, putting expression into it and linking poetry to the other arts to make a sparkling performance.  I've written a lot on my website about this.  I don't know it I should mention this on this website to others involved with poetry.
• Nancy Brockman October 24, 2011 at 11:38am

  Josie- I appreciate your welcome- I do have a busy life right now! What ages are your grands? I am currently working on a poetry project with my fourth-graders in hopes of helping them add some flair and color to their writing, so am interested in hearing that you are a poet. Perhaps we can share ideas...

  Nancy
• Tracy Jackson August 14, 2010 at 4:47am

  Hello Josie,
  
  Thanks for the welcome. I need some quick advice...if you were a first year librarian and you were a month late starting in your new library position, what would your priorities be as far as getting it organized and running. I almost forgot.....there isn't an automated system either. The only source of information or proof of books there is the card catalog and the accession record. Help......
• Joann Absi August 2, 2010 at 8:26am

  Josie, Thank you for the welcome.
  Joann
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  Mark Cruthers August 2, 2010 at 5:14am

  Hi Josie,
  
  Yes, I think the Virtual Classroom is a great place to share poetry online.
  
  Take a look at what's going on in WiZiQ's public Classrooms.
  
  http://www.wiziq.com/online-classes/archived
  
  http://www.wiziq.com/class/search.aspx?qry=poems&status=archived
• Lyn Parker August 6, 2009 at 9:55pm

  Hi Josie Thanks for the welcome. Lyn