Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

A (probably!) belated Happy Birthday to the Bard himself, William Shakespeare!  Shakespeare’s birthday is celebrated in modern times on April 23rd, however some experts believe that he was actually born on April 20, or another day entirely.  However, we do know that he was baptised in Stratford upon Avon on April 26, 1564, so his 450th birthday did occur sometime recently!  Shakespeare’s birthday comes in one of the last weeks of National Poetry Month.  EdWeekly offers this great list of 13 Ways to Celebrate Shakespeare's 450th Birthday.  

Want another way to enjoy poetry with your class?  In my collection of four first-grade leveled books Literature Topics - Leveled Books: First Grade Levels F - I your students will have the opportunity to explore different literature topics including a poem, two fables, and a folktale. You can also enjoy another favorite literary form of Shakespeare’s, the theater, with one of my original plays.  My reader play Trees – A Joy Forever! is also perfect this week for Arbor Day celebrations!

4/4/2014 Happy Birthday Maya Angelou, and the Beginning of National Poetry Month!

We are now officially in the month of April, National Poetry Month! The Academy of American Poets have held National Poetry Month is now held every April since 1996, a month in which, according to the Academy’s website “schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events."  

Today, is also the 86th birthday of the great American poet and author Dr. Maya Angelou.  She was born April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri.  Maya Angelou has written novels, including I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, plays, screenplays, and many volumes of poetry.  

Her poetry book Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1971.     

 Check out the Academy of American Poets website for 30 Ways to Celebrate for some inspiration to infuse your classroom with poetry.

In my collection of four first-grade leveled books Literature Topics - Leveled Books: First Grade Levels F - I your students will have the opportunity to explore different literature topics including a poem, two fables, and a folktale.