day 98: rhyming word dictionary

Ending our posts on National Poetry Month--((http://languagelady365.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-83-national-poetry-month-part-i-of.html ).

No poet is equipped without his or her handy rhyming dictionary! The one I have linked below is a thorough adult version. Very impressive.

There are rhyming word dictionaries (the one we have is softcover from Scholastic--and is very thorough for a student) for children as well.

Check this one out for adults: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Rhyming-Dictionary-Including-Poets/dp/0440212057

day 97: poetry handbook

More for National Poetry Month ((http://languagelady365.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-83-national-poetry-month-part-i-of.html ).

If you are interested in learning more about writing poetry or improving the poetry you do write, you might want to obtain the poetry handbook described below. I like trying different kinds than I normally write (which are nearly alwyas rhymed verse of fairly "normal" rhyme schemes--ABAB, AABBCC, ABCB, etc.). A handbook such as this one helps me learn about other styles--and challenges me to give them a try!

There are many handbooks out there--but the one below received rave reviews, is not too long, and is written by an award-winning poet.

Amazon.com Review: This slender guide by Mary Oliver deserves a place on the shelves of any budding poet. In clear, accessible prose, Oliver (winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for poetry) arms the reader with an understanding of the technical aspects of poetry writing. Her lessons on sound, line (length, meter, breaks), poetic forms (and lack thereof), tone, imagery, and revision are illustrated by a handful of wonderful poems (too bad Oliver was so modest as to not include her own). What could have been a dry account is infused throughout with Oliver's passion for her subject, which she describes as "a kind of possible love affair between something like the heart (that courageous but also shy factory of emotion) and the learned skills of the conscious mind." One comes away from this volume feeling both empowered and daunted. Writing poetry is good, hard work.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Handbook-Mary-Oliver/dp/0156724006

Tomorrow--tips on getting started writing or teaching poetry.

day 96: 2011 poet’s market

National Poetry month (http://languagelady365.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-83-national-poetry-month-part-i-of.html ) is coming to a close in a few days, and I haven’t gotten around to all of the poetry-related posts that I wanted to do, so I will try to squeeze them in here yet this week—and then we will get back to rise/raise. Honest!

First of all, I want to share a link to an awesome poetry handbook for those desiring to sell their poetry. It is put out by Writer’s Digest Books (lots of goodies from them!), those folks who put out the Writer’s Market and other “market” books for selling writing.

From the back of this helpful “sales” book:

*Features on the realities of poetry publishing, mistakes to avoid, identifying scams, giving great readings, and promoting your work.

*Information on workshops, organizations, and online resources that help poets perfect their skills and network with fellow poets and editors.

*Thorough indexes to make choosing the best potential markets easier.

*Access to all “Poet’s Market” listings in a searchable online database.

I haven’t sold a lot of poetry—just a few for review to Blue Mountain Art and a few here and there for Christian newsletters and magazines. However, I would love to have more time to spend on this (probably not happening since I am working on my thirty-fourth curriculum book right now!). For those who enjoy writing poetry, I say, go for it! Seeing your poetry published is extremely rewarding—and to be able to motivate, inspire, uplift, challenge, or humor someone through your words is incredible!

Here is the link for this book: http://www.amazon.com/2011-Poets-Market-Robert-Brewer/dp/1582979502

day 95: sit and set pop quiz—answer key

Sit and rise have I's--and lie does too.
"Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do.
Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose
When each one has an object after it to use.

1. She sat down and wept when she heard the news.
2. They sit down.(or sat)
3. They set the plants out.
4. They will be setting the clothes out beforehand.
5. Yesterday, he sat down to rest.
6. They will set the clothes out to dry.
7. He sits down.
8. He is sitting down.
9. They will be setting the clothes out beforehand.
10. She has set the clothes out beforehand.
11. They have sat down.
12. He has sat down.
13. They set the trap to catch the bear.
14. They are sitting down.
15. They will set the tent up at noon.

How did you do? :) Rise and raise coming soon!

day 94: sit and set pop quiz!

Sit and rise have I's--and lie does too.
"Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do.
Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose
When each one has an object after it to use.

Fill in the blanks below with the correct forms/tenses of sit/set.

1. She _________ down and wept when she heard the news.
2. They _______ down.
3. They _______ the plants out.
4. They will be _______ the clothes out beforehand.
5. Yesterday, he ________ down to rest.
6. They will ________ the clothes out to dry.
7. He _________ down.
8. He is ____________ down.
9. They will be _________ the clothes out beforehand.
10. She has _________ the clothes out beforehand.
11. They have __________ down.
12. He has ____________ down.
13. They __________ the trap to catch the bear.
14. They are __________ down.
15. They will ________ the tent up at noon.

day 92: april holidays

We will get back to our sit/set; rise/raise; lie/lay study next week. However, I am adding a new little feature to LL 365--the holidays for that month capitalized and punctated properly (well, relatively so!). Many holidays come and people wonder, "Do you cap Day in Thanksgiving Day?" "Do you show possession to Fool in April Fools Day?" etc. etc.

So...for April...a list of holidays punctuated and capitalized as correctly as I found! Note that different style guides (i.e. Associated Press vs. Modern Language Association, etc.) choose to punctuate and capitalize lesser known (National Kool-Aid Day!) or newer things (i.e. email ve e-mail) differently. In those cases, it is truly a style preference rather than a hard and fast rule. So....Happy April...I mean, happy April! :) And definitely, Happy Easter!


All Fool’s Day/April Fools Day

Daylight Savings Time

Palm Sunday

Passover

Good Friday

Easter

Easter Monday

Earth Day

Administrative Professionals Day

Arbor Day

Cancer Control Month

Alcohol Awareness Month

day 91: sit and set

Sit and rise have I's--and lie does too.
"Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do.
Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose
When each one has an object after it to use.

"Sit, Fido! Before I have to set you down myself!"

Remember these sit and set tips:

1. Sit has an I—and I alone can do it (it is not done TO something else).
1. I sit down.
2. Yesterday I sat down.
3. Before that I had sat down.

2. Sit means to recline or lower down to a sitting position—anybody or anything can sit, as long as it does it by itself (i.e. it is NOT set)
1. The chair sits in the corner empty, missing its owner.
2. She sat there and pouted all afternoon.
3. They are sitting down in protest.
4. She has sat there in tears all day.
5. They are sitting in the parlor.

3. Set does not have an I—it is done TO something.
4. Set must have an object following it—something that it is setting.
1. Set the table.
2. Set the baby down in her seat.
3. God set the stars in the sky.
4. Set the book on the counter.
5. We will be setting up decorations at noon.
6. The jello still needs to set . (It's like you are saying to set the jello!)
7. She sets the table as though a king is coming.

5. Set is the same base word for all of its tenses: set; set; set; sets; setting. That is why I recommend teaching this Wacky Word pair first (of the three).

Okay…the tenses for the three:

1, Sit

            a. Base form: sit—Today I sit down. (Remember—no object; down is an adverb here, not an object.

            b. Past simple: sat—Yesterday I sat down.

            b. Past participle: sat—Before that, I had sat down.

            d. Third person singular: sits—The dog sits in the corner.

            e. Present participle/gerund: sitting—I was sitting down.

2. Set

1. Base form: set—Today I set the vase on the table. (Object—vase)
2. Past simple: set—Yesterday I set the vase on the table.
3. Past participle: set—Before that I set the vase on the table.
4. Third person singular: sets—She sets the vase on the table.
5. Present participle/gerund: setting—I am setting the vase on the table.

Tomorrow is quiz day…so be ready! J