Wallow in Wonder Day 17 - Sometimes

Welcome to Day 17 of Wallow in Wonder!  For my 2016 National Poetry Month project, I will celebrate learning and writing from learning, writing poems from each daily Wonder at Wonderopolis.  As I did with my Dictionary Hike in 2012, I am looking to surprise myself with new inspiration daily.  This year, such inspiration will show up in my inbox each morning.  I will print it and carry each Wonderopolis Wonder around all day...and in the afternoon or evening, I will write and post the poem for the next day.  

I invite anyone who wishes to take this challenge too.  Just read today's wonder over at Wonderopolis, and write a poem inspired by it for tomorrow.  Share it tomorrow at your own site, and if you wish to link in my comments for others to find (or share your poem there), please feel free to do so tomorrow, the day after the Wonder is published at Wonderopolis.  If you would like to share any ways you have used Wallow in Wonder or your own site (safe for children only please), please link to the #WallowInWonder padlet.

My April Poems Thus Far

April 1 - So Suddenly - a poem inspired by Wonder #1659 

April 2 - Thankful Journal - a poem inspired by Wonder #1660

April 3 - The Storm Chaser - a poem inspired by Wonder #779

April 4 - A Jar of Glitter - a poem inspired by Wonder #641

April 5 - To Make Compost - a poem inspired by Wonder #1661

April 6 - Deciding Now - a poem inspired by Wonder #1662

April 7 - Hummingbird's Secret - a poem inspired by Wonder #1663

April 8 - Limits - a poem inspired by Wonder #1664

April 9 - Sundogs - a poem inspired by Wonder #1665

April 10 - Perspective - a poem inspired by Wonder #128

April 11 - At the History Museum - a poem inspired by Wonder #115

April 12 - Seventy-Five Years Ago Today - a poem inspired by Wonder #1666

April 13 - Homer's Poem - a poem inspired by Wonder #1667

April 14 - The Right - a poem inspired by Wonder #1668

April 15 - 5:00 am - a poem inspired by Wonder #1669

April 16 - Writing - a poem inspired by Wonder #1670

And now for Day 17!

Wonder #194 - from April 16, 2016

Thank You, Everybody!

by Amy LV

Students - You may be hearing your parents or adults around you talking about taxes this week. It has sure been the talk of our house!  That's because tomorrow, Monday, April 18 is this year's deadline for Americans to file their taxes. That means it's the day when we each turn in what we owe to the government to keep things running smoothly here in our country. 

As the Wonderopolis Wonder explains, sometimes grown-ups complain about tax day.  It is difficult to pay a lot of money and sometimes it's difficult to figure out how much to pay as the whole process involves lots of paperwork.  However, paying taxes helps all of us: our community helpers are paid by taxes, schools are covered by taxes, libraries, roads, parks...so much.  Paying taxes reminds me a little bit of going to a restaurant, getting the bill, and splitting it up, each paying a share.  We enjoyed the meal, and we must pay for it.

At first, I did not think that this would be an inspiring Wonder to write a poem from (I complained to my family), but honestly, I am glad it was the Wonder of the day yesterday.  See, this Wonder helped me to see taxes a little bit differently.  Now, though I may sigh a bit tomorrow, I am reminded of how many great things I have in my life thanks to everyone who chips in each April.  

Be willing to be open to assignments.  Even if you do not think you like a topic sometimes, you may find that it can teach you something.  This happened to me today.

Today's poem is not a rhyming poem (until the last couplet) so to make it sound like a poem, I had fun playing with the rhythm and just a little bit of repetition.

It is wonderful to host middle school teacher and librarian Stefanie Cole and her students from Ontario, Canada at Sharing Our Notebooks all month long. This is a fantastic post full of notebook inspiration, a video clip, and a great book giveaway from Stefanie.

Happy Day 17 of National Poetry Month 2016!  

Please share a comment below if you wish.

If you are under 13 years old, please comment only with a parent 

or as part of a group with your teacher and class.

Thank You Note - Writing from Pictures & Gratitude

Moth
by Amy LV

Students - Sometimes people ask where writers find their ideas. Actually, I ask this quite often.  My own curiosity about this is what inspired my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks.

We cannot look inside of other people's brains, and so the closest we can come is to ask someone, "What's going on in there?"  Today, some of you may be wondering, "Why is Amy writing about a moth when it is almost winter where she lives?"  And since you can't ask me...I'll just tell you.

One way I find ideas for writing is by reading and looking at everything, letting everything I see and learn soak into my skin and heart.  This weekend, I will be part of the first WNY Children's Book Expo.

Click HERE to learn more about this event.

Because this is a new event and there will be many authors and illustrators there, I have been curious to learn about these people I will meet.  One of the visiting author illustrators is Jennifer Hansen Rolli, and I have simply fallen for her paintings.  

I visited Jennifer's website, and you can see the painting that inspired today's poem HERE.  When I look at the painting of little Claudia holding her moth, I am reminded of our Georgia and how she has always loved small moths and creatures too.  I am also reminded of our family's love for the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage, where we watch moths come to a lit sheet at night, watch and learn about how the beautiful moths of our area.

And there you have it.  Research on authors and illustrators led to love of a painting led to memories led to gratitude led to today's poem.  It's a funny trail that writing ideas take, don't you think?

I must also tell you that writing about something I am grateful for feels very good inside.  Research teaches us that gratitude, feeling thankful for the good in our lives, helps us to live better lives. You can read more about this here at Greater Good, and you may even choose to write a small poem thank you note to something you are thankful for.  It may be something big or perhaps it will be something as humble as a moth.  I'm calling this a thank you note poem, and there are many more of these inside of me.

On Monday, I posted as part of a celebration of Irene Latham's 10th blogiversary! In honor of this special occasion (I am very grateful for Irene), I offered a giveaway of SHARING THE SEASONS, edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by David Diaz.  The winner of this book is Maria Gianferrari.  Maria - please send an e-mail to amy at amylv dot com with your snail mail address, and I will send you a book.

At my other blog, Sharing Our Notebooks, I could not be happier to host author K.A. Holt and her cool notebooks and process.  I'm offering a giveaway of her great new verse novel, HOUSE ARREST, to a commenter on that post.  Please comment by Tuesday to win!

Bridget is hosting today's Friday the 13th Poetry Friday round up over at wee words for wee ones.  If you're in a poetry mood, be sure to swing by her place, thank her for hosting (it's her first time!), and enjoy the poetry offerings.  All are always welcome to read and link up to Poetry Friday...

Please share a comment below if you wish.

Posters - Do You Love Horses?

Horse by the Side of the Road

Photo by Amy LV

Today is my day off and the first time I've touched a computer in a week - glorious!  Why?  Well, these two weeks find our children and me at Sprucelands Horseback Riding Camp where they are campers, and I am a hill parent.  On Wednesday, the Sprucelands riding instructors offered an evening riding lesson to us moms, and it was such fun! 

Our teachers were extremely patient, and we students walked and trotted around Ring One, laughing and learning together.  I rode a beautiful Appaloosa named Sunrise, and for the first time, I understood why so many people (including Hope, Georgia, and Henry) adore horses.  I will post a photo of this lesson as soon as I have one.

Students - sometimes a poem idea comes from something you feel grateful for.  Today I feel grateful for many things, including my friends and teachers from horse camp.  Taking a few minutes each day to reflect on good happenings is wise, and one fourth grade teacher I know even has her students do this daily in their writers notebooks.   Writing about our "goodnesses" helps us hold onto them and also, I believe, makes us even more grateful.  For what are you thankful? 

One of my favorite things to do in writing is to bring inanimate objects to life through words, and I loved imagining my children's paper horses breathing and cantering around their bedrooms.  There is magic in everything, and in a poem...anything can happen! 

Today's Poetry Friday is over at Book Aunt...so giddy up on over and enjoy the ride.  Many congratulations to our hostess Kate Coombs whose upcoming poetry collection with Chronicle, WATER SINGS BLUE, will be out next Spring.

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