Pocket Poems

Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day, a celebration sponsored by the Academy of American Poets as part of National Poetry Month. Since I no longer have classes of my own, Illinois elementary librarian John Schumacher was kind enough to invite me to Skype with a group of his second graders.

The students formally welcomed me, listened to the poem I had selected, then shared some of their own favorites. Each child was engaged, enthusiastic. It was evident that a lot of care went into the preparations for this activity. Other age groups Skyped with classrooms in Iowa, Michigan, Maine, Georgia, and Massachusetts.

It seems like an effective way to enjoy poetry, nurture reading fluency skills, and connect with new friends in far-flung places.

John shares book trailers at Watch. Connect. Read and blogs with his collaborative teaching partner, Shannon Miller, on Two Libraries, One Voice.

The poem I chose to carry in my pocket is "If I Had Wings" by Pie Corbett:

If I had wings I would touch the fingertips of clouds and glide on the wind’s breath.
If I had wings I would taste a chunk of the sun as hot as peppered curry.
If I had wings I would listen to the clouds of sheep bleat that graze on the blue.
If I had wings I would breathe deep and sniff the scent of raindrops.
If I had wings I would gaze at the people who cling to the earth.
If I had wings I would dream of swimming the deserts and walking the seas.

 

"Skyping with Mr. Schu's Second Grade" by dmcordell

"If I Had Wings" by dmcordell

Macro Photography: The World Up Close

In my continuing quest to remain relevant as a self-embedded librarian, I've Skyped with students in a number of states, frequently on the topic of photography.

Mary Kreul's class, in Whitefish Bay, WI sent me a list of questions, which I answered using examples from my Flickr sets. Their favorite photos (which happen to be my favorites as well) were the macros. As a follow-up activity, these fourth graders created a slideshow featuring Mystery Math Macros.

It's challenging to demonstrate photo techniques from afar. The children did a wonderful job, choosing a nice variety of examples for their project. I could recognize why some of their pictures weren't exactly what they had envisioned, because I've had the same problems myself.

For example, the following are three shots of the same fishing fly:


In #1, the camera has focused on background details rather than on the desired object. Adjusting the angle of a shot can help prevent this error #2 shows what happens when you move in too close, a common mistake. #3 backs up a bit and is the most successful of the series

Although editing tools can correct color and enhance the final product with interesting effects, excessive cropping causes a photo to lose clarity and leads to a blurring of the image.

As they become more experienced photographers, the students will begin to "see" with the camera's eye, discovering the strengths and limitations of the device they are using. They will be better able to plan shots, matching their vision with their camera's capabilities.

And they will have FUN learning!


*I'm always happy to Skype with classes about reading and/or photography. Leave a comment here or contact me, @dmcordell on Twitter, to arrange a visit.


For more photography tips, view my SlideShares , visit the Club Click or Using Digital Images wikis.


"Mystery Math Macro for Mrs. Kreul's Class" by dmcordell
"Macros: Flies for Fishing" by dmcordell

Building Bridges

Ralph Ellison said that "Education is all a matter of building bridges." So is life.

I thought I knew what my retirement would be like, I had it all planned out. But the world changed, and so did my expectations. Things are not better or worse than I anticipated, just different.

This week I will celebrate a birthday and achieve an age that the Beatles turned into a landmark of sorts. While I sometimes

"...knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride.
Doing the garden, digging the weeds..."

I can, and do, "ask for more."

So I have become a bridge, of sorts: connecting with colleagues via social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Plurk; collaborating on projects in Google Docs; interacting with classrooms via Skype. I use what I've learned over the years and learn what they can teach me, in return.

Together, we bridge the past and the present, and work to create the future. We are fellow travelers on a grand adventure.

And we don't burn ANY bridges, we build them and cross them.

"Humber Bridge" by EOS_3