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6. Creative Communicator

Students communicate clearly and express themselves

creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools,

styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

Students:

a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the

desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix

digital resources into new creations.

c. communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by

creating or using a variety of digital objects such as

visualizations, models or simulations.

d. publish or present content that customizes the message and

medium for their intended audiences.

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Syllable counting is an imperative part of writing a correctly formatted Haiku! Click on the link to evaluate your own syllable counting skills. Try clapping, or resting your hand on your chin to see how many times your mouth opens.

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Have you ever heard of writer's block? Sometimes, the hardest part of writing poetry is deciding what you're going to write about. When it comes to Haiku poems, many Haiku's have a foundation in nature! Click on the link to get some inspiration to start your Haiku poem.

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I participated in a haiku workshop recently at Vancouver's Cherry Blossom Festival in Vandusen Gardens. Poet Michael Dylan Welch led us on what he called a "haiku walkabout" to capture seed ideas for a haiku poem. Michael is a tech writer by day, and told me he was once hired for a job because of his Haiku writing. His employer figured his skills in Haiku would enhance his writing.

Michael told us that in Japan, friends get together for haiku-writing walks called ginkos. At the end of the walk they relax over a few drinks, compare notes, generate poems, and give each other feedback. That sounds like a terrific way to spend an afternoon, and I hope next year we can do the same.
"The objective in haiku, is not to write about the idea, which is an abstraction, but to write about what caused the idea, to evoke a sensory or emotional experience in the reader."
- Michael Dylan Welch
Haiku Checklist

Michael gave us his haiku checklist to help us create poems and he has kindly given me permission to share it with you. For haiku inspiration, look closely at everything around you in nature, at home, at school, and at work. Write your haiku first, letting yourself be free and creative. Then ask the following questions about your haiku to help you improve them.

1. How long is your haiku? It's usually good to write in three lines of about 10 to 17 syllables. In English, haiku don't have to be in the pattern of 5-7-5 syllables-the following questions are much more important.

2. Does your haiku name or suggest one of the seasons-spring, summer, fall, or winter? In Japanese, a kigo or "season word" tells readers when the poem happens, such as saying "tulips" for spring or "snow" for winter. This is one of the most important things to do in haiku.

3. Does your poem make a "leap," by having two parts? In Japanese, a kireji or "cutting word" usually cuts the poem into two parts (never three). Giving your poem two fragmentary parts is also one of the most important things to do in haiku.

4. Is your haiku about common, everyday events in nature or human life? To help you do this, describe what you experience through your five senses.

5. Does your poem give readers a feeling? It can do this by presenting what caused your feeling rather than the feeling itself. So others can feel what you felt, don't explain or judge what you describe.

6. Is your poem in the present tense? To make your haiku feel like it's happening right now, use the present tense.

7. Did you write from your own personal experience? When you write other kinds of poetry, you can make things up, but try not to do that with haiku. Memories are okay, though.

8. How did you capitalize or punctuate your poem? Haiku are usually not sentences (they're usually fragments), so they don't need to start with a capital, or end with a period.

9. Does your haiku avoid a title and rhyme? Haiku are not like other poems, which may have these things. Haiku don't have titles and rarely rhyme.

10. What can you do with your haiku? Can you illustrate them, collect them in a notebook, or display them? You could write haiku in your journal every day, enter them in a contest, publish them, or share them at a poetry reading or online.

With practice, you won't need to ask yourself these questions about your haiku. Japanese haiku master Basho said to "Learn the rules and then forget them." What I believe he meant was that it's good to internalize the rules (or targets, as I like to call them) so thoroughly that you no longer have to think about them, the way a chess grandmaster no longer thinks of making bad moves. Have fun with your haiku and enjoy noticing life more closely through your five senses!

Our Haiku Walkabout

The theme Michael chose for us to focus on was "Signs of Spring" and he asked us to use our senses to capture our experiences as we walked along garden paths.
My snippets from the walkabout
The scent of hyacinth
Sounds of the flute
Squish of stepping in mud
Being almost warm
Tightly wrapped buds
Gossamer blossoms
From these snippets, I created two haiku poems:
Tightly wound buds
slowly unfurl into
gossamer blossoms

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Sounds of the flute
perfumed by hyacinths
I am almost warm

These were good reminders that creativity is a physical activity, something easily forgotten in a push-botton tech world. Awakening your senses will refresh your creativity.

See also:

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Looking for Creative Inspiration? Go on a Haiku Walkabout -Here's how

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I participated in a haiku workshop recently at Vancouver's Cherry Blossom Festival in Vandusen Gardens. Poet Michael Dylan Welch led us on what he called a "haiku walkabout" to capture seed ideas for a haiku poem. Michael is a tech writer by day, and told me he was once hired for a job because of his Haiku writing.

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TOUCH this image to discover its story. Image tagging powered by ThingLink

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TOUCH this image to discover its story. Image tagging powered by ThingLink

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-Collaborative peer editing (Google Docs, Padlet, Flipgrid)
-Team writing to improve and practice skills
-Recursive writing practice to edit and refine writing
-Digital portfolio swaps--peers will edit and present each other's portfolios to promote classroom unity and the full development of writing skills and comprehension
-Writing critiques of each of the created styles (expository, argumentative, and creative/poetry) using pieces from mainstream authors, writers, and poets

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-Homework assignments listed (technology listed in homework post)
-The creation of a blackout poem, a haiku, and a 4-5 line poem (using various collaborative platforms: Google Docs, Padlet, Flipgrid, Thinglink, and Google Meet)
-Poetry identification (Google Forms)
-Poetry recitation (Flipgrid and Google Meet)
-Collaborative poetry writing (Padlet, Google Docs, Nearpod)

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Below is a video describing the advent and components of poetry, including various types, genres, artists, and categories.

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Below is a video describing how to create a blackout poetry journal using five different techniques.

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5 Ways to Create a Blackout Poetry Journal

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Below are tips and tricks for learning to write poetry (and how to improve it once it's written).

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Posted by Melissa Donovan on September 22, 2015 ·

Poetry writing is the most artistic and liberating form of creative writing. You can write in the abstract or the concrete. Images can be vague or subtle, brilliant or dull. Write in form, using patterns, or write freely, letting your conscience (or subconscious) be your guide.

You can do just about anything in a poem. That's why poetry writing is so wild and free: there are no rules. Poets have complete liberty to build something out of nothing simply by stringing words together.

All of this makes poetry writing alluring to writers who are burning with creativity. A poet's process is magical and mesmerizing. But all that freedom and creativity can be a little overwhelming. If you can travel in any direction, which way should you go? Where are the guideposts?

Today's writing tips include various tools and techniques that a poet can use. But these tips aren't just for poets. All writers benefit from dabbling in poetry. Read a little poetry, write a few poems, study some basic concepts in poetry, and your other writing (fiction, creative nonfiction, even blogging) will soar.

Below, you'll find thirty-six writing tips that take you on a little journey through the craft of poetry writing. See which ones appeal to you, give them a whirl, and they will lead you on a fantastic adventure.

36 Poetry Writing Tips

1. Read lots of poetry. In fact, read a lot of anything if you want to produce better writing.

2. Write poetry as often as you can.

3. Designate a special notebook (or space in your notebook) for poetry writing.

4. Try writing in form (sonnets, haiku, etc.).

5. Use imagery.

6. Embrace metaphors but stay away from clichés.

7. Sign up for a poetry writing workshop.

8. Expand your vocabulary.

9. Read poems over and over (and aloud). Consider and analyze them.

10. Join a poetry forum or poetry writing group online.

11. Study musicality in writing (rhythm and meter).

12. Use poetry prompts when you're stuck.

13. Be funny. Make a funny poem.

14. Notice what makes others' poetry memorable. Capture it, mix it up, and make it your own.

15. Try poetry writing exercises when you've got writer's block.

16. Study biographies of famous (or not-so-famous) poets.

17. Memorize a poem (or two, or three, or more).

18. Revise and rewrite your poems to make them stronger and more compelling.

19. Have fun with puns.

20. Don't be afraid to write a bad poem. You can write a better one later.

21. Find unusual subject matter - a teapot, a shelf, a wall.

22. Use language that people can understand.

23. Meditate or listen to inspirational music before writing poetry to clear your mind and gain focus.

24. Keep a notebook with you at all times so you can write whenever (and wherever) inspiration strikes.

25. Submit your poetry to literary magazines and journals.

26. When you submit work, accept rejection and try again and again. You can do it and you will.

27. Get a website or blog and publish your own poetry.

28. Connect with other poets to share and discuss the craft that is poetry writing.

29. Attend a poetry reading or slam poetry event.

30. Subscribe to a poetry podcast and listen to poetry.

31. Support poets and poetry by buying books and magazines that feature poetry.

32. Write with honesty. Don't back away from your thoughts or feelings. Express them!

33. Don't be afraid to experiment. Mix art and music with your poetry. Perform it and publish it.

34. Eliminate all unnecessary words, phrases, and lines. Make every word count.

35. Write a poem every single day.

36. Read a poem every single day.

Have You Written a Poem Lately?

I believe that poetry is the most exquisite form of writing. And anyone can write a poem if they want to. In today's world of fast, moving images, poetry has lost much of its appeal to the masses. But there are those of us who thrive on language and who still appreciate a poem and its power to move us emotionally. It's our job to keep great poetry writing alive. And it's our job to keep writing poetry.
What are some of your favorite writing tips from today's list? How can you apply poetry writing techniques to other forms of writing? Do you have any tips to add? Leave a comment!
About Melissa Donovan
Melissa Donovan is a website designer and copywriter. She writes fiction and poetry and is the founder and editor of Writing Forward, a blog packed with creative writing tips and ideas.

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Posted by Melissa Donovan on September 22, 2015 · Poetry writing is the most artistic and liberating form of creative writing. You can write in the abstract or the concrete. Images can be vague or subtle, brilliant or dull. Write in form, using patterns, or write freely, letting your conscience (or subconscious) be your guide.

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Students will use...
-Padlet
-Google Classroom
-Google Forms
-Google Slides
-Thinglink
-Prezzi
-Flipgrid
-Nearpod
-Google Docs

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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6W1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

6W1a: Introduce a precise claim, acknowledge and distinguish the claim from a counterclaim,
and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

6W1b: Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources
while demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

6W1c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to argue a claim.

6W1d: Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among
ideas and concepts.

6W1e: Provide a concluding statement or section that explains the significance of the
argument presented.

6W1f: Maintain a style and tone appropriate to the writing task.

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-Poetry writing on Padlet
-Poetry recitation on Flipgrid
-Poetry identification on Google Forms
-Haiku writing on Thinglink/Nearpod
-Blackout poetry on Google Docs
-Quatrains/cinquains on Voki
-Write and recite your final poem using Padlet and Flipgrid to include in the culminating portfolio.

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6W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, descriptive details and sequencing. 6W3a: Engage the reader by introducing a narrator and/or characters. 6W3b: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. 6W3c: Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another. 6W3d: Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events. 6W3e: Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.

6W4: Create a poem, story, play, art work, or other response to a text, author, theme, or personal experience.

6W5: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply grade 6 Reading standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.

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6W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

6W2a: Introduce a topic clearly; organize ideas, concepts, and information using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; 6W2b: Develop a topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples; include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when useful to aid comprehension.

6W2c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary to explain a topic. 6W2d: Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
6W2e: Provide a concluding statement or section that explains the significance of the information presented.

6W2f: Establish and maintain a style appropriate to the writing task.

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How do I create my own expository, argumentative, and creative writing pieces using various strategies and styles?

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-Learning to write different text types using multiple strategies and formats
-Developing writing skills to move flexibly through various writing types
-How do different types of writing require different strategies and skills?
-How do we identify and describe each writing type?
-What elements can I include to make these different writing products?
-How do I evaluate my writing and the writing of others?

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A writing portfolio that contains at least one example of each type of writing (expository, argumentative, and creative) using skills and strategies learned through the various resources presented on Google Classroom (Google Forms, Padlet, Google Slides, Google Docs, Quizziz, Thinglinks, flipgrid recitations, etc...)

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Expository Writing
Creative Writing
Argumentative Writing

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Ashley Mehale
Sarah Espinal
Rebecca Ponce
Laurie Bocca
Michelle Monahan
Kristin Crudele
Michael Clark