Ten Things I Know To Be True
"Everyone can make a list." -Sarah Kay
I was recently listening to a podcast in which two teachers were discussing how to get middle and high schoolers interested in poetry. They referenced a TED talk given by Sarah Kay and I immediately knew I needed to find that TED talk. I was captivated, fascinated, and intrigued the whole fifteen minutes.
Sarah's method for making poetry approachable is to start by making a list. She asks her students to make a list of ten things they know to be true and ten things they should have learned by now. Something unique always shows up on those lists. Something with a story behind it. Suddenly the student who "doesn't have anything interesting to say" has a starting point for a poem.
You know where this is going, right? I had to make my own lists. First up, is ten things I know to be true.
1. Coffee tastes better when drank with a friend, or acquaintance, or stranger, (anyone, really.)
2. Flannel sheets were created for single, lonely Eskimos living in the North Pole, not happy, married couples living in Maryland.
3. A book can change your life.
4. I came out of depression a stronger, better person.
5. I have finally found the best biscuit recipe.
6. I miss going to the library.
7. Marriage keeps getting better.
8. I'm looking forward to going on a run tonight.
9. God is good.
10. I can cry over a death in a novel but never at a real funeral.
Now, the question is, which number deserves its own poem? I have an idea... why don't you all decide for me?! Leave a comment telling me which one you want me to write about. My next post will be a poem about the number with the most votes. This should be fun. :)
I was recently listening to a podcast in which two teachers were discussing how to get middle and high schoolers interested in poetry. They referenced a TED talk given by Sarah Kay and I immediately knew I needed to find that TED talk. I was captivated, fascinated, and intrigued the whole fifteen minutes.
Sarah's method for making poetry approachable is to start by making a list. She asks her students to make a list of ten things they know to be true and ten things they should have learned by now. Something unique always shows up on those lists. Something with a story behind it. Suddenly the student who "doesn't have anything interesting to say" has a starting point for a poem.
You know where this is going, right? I had to make my own lists. First up, is ten things I know to be true.
1. Coffee tastes better when drank with a friend, or acquaintance, or stranger, (anyone, really.)
2. Flannel sheets were created for single, lonely Eskimos living in the North Pole, not happy, married couples living in Maryland.
3. A book can change your life.
4. I came out of depression a stronger, better person.
5. I have finally found the best biscuit recipe.
6. I miss going to the library.
7. Marriage keeps getting better.
8. I'm looking forward to going on a run tonight.
9. God is good.
10. I can cry over a death in a novel but never at a real funeral.
Now, the question is, which number deserves its own poem? I have an idea... why don't you all decide for me?! Leave a comment telling me which one you want me to write about. My next post will be a poem about the number with the most votes. This should be fun. :)
Ummm, hard to choose! So maybe a poem about each one? 😂 But if I had to pick, maybe 2,4,5 and 7.
ReplyDelete8.
ReplyDeleteYou bettah Belize it.
Most of them sound interesting, but I think I'd pick #3.
ReplyDeleteAll of them! Please! :) Like maybe... one every other day. LOL But for sure #2, #4, or #10
ReplyDelete#2 😂
ReplyDeleteAll of them☺
ReplyDeleteWhat I know to be true is that writing is therapeutic for me and the thing I most shrink from is the thing I most need to write about!
I have a hunch your conclusion to #2 is the same as mine. What we really need is a sheet set that is half flannel/half cotton☺
Also #8. I have a love/hate relationship with running.
I keep checking back to read the poem about the sheets�� but maybe the poem just isn't taking shape...or maybe youre wishing for more votes? I'll vote for 7...very true��
ReplyDeleteMarj G
Hmm it didn't show my emojis. The first was a laughing face. The second, a thumbs up :-)
ReplyDeleteMarj G