Saturday, August 22, 2009

HI-5s and HULA HOOPS



HI - 5's
and
HULA HOOPS

fun poems
for
all ages


HI–5’S & HULA HOOPS!

The Hi-5 Boys & the Hula-Hoop Girls….
Laughing and having fun!
They all “Hi-5” and “Hula-hoop”
until the day is done!

Hi-5’s and Hula-hoops!
Slappin’ hands and twirlin’.
Hi-5’s and Hula-hoops
Fun for boys and “girl-ins”!





WE RIDE THE BUS!

We ride the bus…
It will take us to school.
We ride the bus….
And we have a rule.

We stay in our seat…
No walking around.
We stay in our seat…
The rule says SIT DOWN!



RUN, RUN, RUN!

Run, run, run…
Here comes the bus!
Run, run, run…
No time to fuss!

The bus is here,
And you are late!
Run, run, run…
That bus can’t wait!




HERE COMES THE BUS!

Here comes the bus!
Do you not see?
Here comes the bus!
And it’s coming for me!

Here comes the bus!
It’s full of children, too!
Here comes the bus!
And it’s coming for you!




THE COCA-COLA CHICKEN!

The Coca-Cola Chicken…
Look at him struttin’!
The Coca-Cola Chicken…
He’s afraid of nuttin’!

The Coca-Cola Chicken…
He makes me smile!
The Coca-Cola Chicken…
I like his STYLE!



These are only a few of the poems and illustrations from a little booklet that came into being during my stint as the owner of a lovely little folk art gallery. I sold the original booklet and gave it away with purchases of Chris's art. I no longer sell the booklets or the art, so I thought I would share them with you:)



The opening page of the booklet includes these words and note from the author:

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!


Author’s Note: (from the booklet)
Many of these little poems came into being several years ago during my stint as the special education teacher at Dixie Elementary School in rural Russell County, Alabama. Most of my students had reading difficulties to the point of having lost all interest in even trying. So, after going through all of the “normal” routes, techniques, and material, I decided we needed to “jazz things up a little”…After years of failure, these children had already decided that they would never be able to read very well, so they had quit trying….Hence, I decided to create fun little poems with their spelling words for the week and write them on large tablets (as well as typing them on sheets to keep in their folders) that I placed on an easel. We practiced these poems for a week, and on Friday the children were graded on reading accurately with expression, etc. We would then go find audiences such as kindergarten classes, the principal, secretary, etc. to entertain with our reading. The children loved this! It built up their confidence, and they perfected their reading abilities without realizing that they were LEARNING!
(And they also learned their spelling words!)

Meeting Chris Clark and his wonderful art stirred up memories of these poems and prompted the creation of this little poetry book.
I think Chris’s art brings out the “child” in all of us!

ENJOY!


-Mug

5 comments:

  1. What a great idea. I've noticed with my students too that little poems and rhymes do the trick better than anything else.
    Have a lovely Sunday!

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  2. Those chicken pics are great. And the rhymes... such a fun way to learn. I still rememember " i before e except after c" & the planets & colors of the rainbow from acronyms ...hey - whatever works! :)

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  3. So true, Yiota! Happy Sunday to you, too! In fact, Happy Week! It's getting closer to school for you, huh?

    Yeah, MyStory, The chicken pics ARE gfreat! I guess you can tell he used cut-up coca-cola cans for the feathers, can tabs for the "Head feathers, and the can bottoms for the eyes:)
    ...and, yep, I still do the "i before e" with my students (and with myself!)...remember the rainbow and planet acronyms, too:)....as you said, whatever works!

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  4. I meant to tell you, I plan to use some of these with my new student :)

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  5. Oh, YAY! I'm flattered! Let me know how it goes:)

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