The time has come to share the poems my students have been working so hard to write. I have taught a series of eight lessons to classes in middle school, high school and at the university. Since finishing the classes several weeks ago, I have been working on designing the website where the poems will be displayed. I was lucky to have help from a volunteer at the university. Huệ did a lot of the tedious work of copying and pasting poems and organizing them.
If you’re reading this, you have earned a sneak preview of the site, but it comes at a cost! The goal of this site is to make it interactive, where readers can leave comments and even contribute poems to it. For teachers, I have included all of the lesson plans in a curriculum unit which is posted on the site.
So, I am asking my readers for two favors:
- Please go to the site. There are over 70 poems on it so far, and more on the way. Choose a few to read and leave a comment for the student author by scrolling to the bottom of the page. I will be showing the website to the students the week of December 19, and would love for them to see some comments on their poems.
- Share this site with any schools and teachers you know. I want as many schools as possible to contribute to the site.
I worked with about 200 students in Vietnam, and many of them bravely submitted poems to the site. Imagine writing a poem in a language that is not your own. It took a lot of effort on the students’ part, as well as courage, for them to write, revise, edit and publish their poems. A comment from a reader in another country would be a thrill for them and might encourage other students to contribute to the site.
You can read more about this project on the website. More details about other parts of my Fulbright project will be added to the site in the coming weeks. For now, please just take a few minutes to read poems and leave comments. Thank you!
December 11, 2016 @ 19:08
Tim –
I will have my 5th grade class review & respond. We have read some poetry & have responded in class. We haven’t written any yet, but I think the kids would love to do it! Thanks!!
December 16, 2016 @ 06:34
Thanks for participating, Elaine!
December 12, 2016 @ 05:50
How wonderful, Tim!!!! I will definitely read the poems and will try to have my groups read some as well!!!! Looking forward to it!
December 16, 2016 @ 06:35
That would be great. Thanks!
December 14, 2016 @ 17:55
Tim very beautiful. Will see if I can find a few interested teachers
December 16, 2016 @ 06:36
Thanks, Paula. Great to hear from you! I’ve been in touch with Bill and Tina who are in Ho Chi Minh City.
December 14, 2016 @ 19:08
I loved reading them, Tim. I think it is amazing that students are able to stretch in a new language to the complexity of poetry. They are so lucky to have you!
December 16, 2016 @ 06:37
Thanks, and I appreciate you leaving all those comments for the students.
January 11, 2017 @ 15:20
Hi Tim, Today Elaine and I got our LA classes together to share your website and have students read the poems. It was awesome! I am so impressed by the poetry your students have written. Well done!
January 12, 2017 @ 11:28
Hi Heather! Thanks for having your students read the poems. Please let them know I appreciate it and I know the students here will be thrilled to see all their comments.