1. Welcome! January 26th, 2018 Friday
Do Now
Find your seats! If you don’t remember where you sit, ask me.
Write the date at the top of a new page in your journal.
Once the bell rings, begin the freewrite.
Prompt: Write a story that includes the following dialogue - “We’re being held hostage and you decide to raid the fridge?” “Hey, man, they didn’t say the kitchen was off limits.”

2. “Valentine for Ernest ManN” by Naomi Shihab-Nye
Today, we’re going to talk about topics. What kind of things can you write poems about? What kind of things should you write poems about?
First, we’re going to read “Poetry Hides” by Naomi Shihab Nye.
To get a sense of her style of poetry, we’re going to watch a short video of her performing her found poem, “One Boy Told Me.”

3. “Valentine for Ernest ManN” by Naomi Shihab-Nye
Next, we’re going to read one of Shihab-Nye’s poems that she wrote in response to a fan. In it, she claims that one can find poetry in some pretty odd locations.
After I read, take five minutes to respond to the prompts below in paragraph format. (Make sure you answer all questions! )
Write/Pair/Share:
1. What kinds of places does Shihab-Nye say poetry hides in? Do these places have anything in common? Why do you think she says poetry hides in these places? Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

4. Poetry Hides: Brainstorming
2. In your journal, create a list of at least ten places you can “find” poetry – things, places, events, or moments in your life (or anyone’s life) that inspire you or makes you feel something powerful.
Make sure at least half of them are unusual/original.
For example, don’t put “my true love’s face” or “a pretty sky” – those are pretty common things for people to write poems about. Think of something strange, or packed with emotion, or just beautiful things that people often forget about. Moments that make you think or feel something.
For example, “my dogs constant flinching when I first got him (he was abused)” or “the way my best friend’s eyes go a little wild and her arms start waving when she tells a story she’s really excited about”

5. Poetry Hides: Brainstorming
3. Copy the chart below. Then choose your eight best/most interesting “places” poems can hide and put them in the right column, then complete the chart. Make sure you add specific details
Places Poems Hide
Adding descriptive/poetic details
1. My dog flinching
He was new to my house, cautious in his every step. He flinched every time I picked up a broom, convinced he was back where I got her from
2. TV
The humming glow of the TV I forgot to turn off and wake to in the middle of the night, back cramping from my cheap couch

6. Poetry Hides: Brainstorming
Drafting
4. Begin drafting your poem. Remember to start off your poem with “poetry hides,” and include at least six items from the right-hand column in your chart (the figurative language side).
Once you put together the body of your poem, consider how you’re going to end it. You need a line or two (or three, if you want!) to give your poem some sort of conclusion. Give the reader the reason why you’re telling them where poetry hides. What are you really trying to say?
Consider if there are any common elements in your places. Do you find poetry in things people normally think are ugly? Do you find poetry in every day objects that you describe in unusual ways?

7. Poetry Hides: Brainstorming
Final Draft
5. Pick at least one thing you’ve written today, and create a final draft. Remember, your final draft needs to be different in some way from your original draft. Either rewrite a few lines, add something, restructure the poem, add more details, etc. Your draft should be at least eight lines in length.
If you finish early, feel free to write anything you’d like (mark this as a freewrite in your journal and I may give you bonus if I’m impressed by your effort). Either way, you should be writing. 