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Written by 1211kellie (158 comments posted) 29th May 2008 |
Josie, just tried the deep voice when reading this to Shannon (3.5) had exactly the same reaction as your grandson. Lovely gentle poem.  |
Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 29th May 2008 |
Good poem - and fantastic advice.
My youngest is now twelve - but I'll try to remember to try it on my niece and nephew the next time they come around to terrorise us.
Phil |
Hi Josie
Written by jean.day (2257 comments posted) 29th May 2008 |
| I have both granddaughters (aged 3 and 5) around for the weekend, so I will try out some of your poetry on them and report back. |
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 29th May 2008 |
| Goodness me - everyone will be busy trying my poems out. ha ha. Good. This is just the job. Thank you all very much indeed. What younger children like is, of course, very simple poems, but where they can see a picture and hear a particular voice. I say to Daniel: "Where is "Go Slow?" (And you have to say it very deeply and slowly). He runs to my book and goes straight to the page. I have a snail who has a banner attached to him, with the words "Go Slow"). You can see him on my website. Thank you all again. |
Written by mia_ms_kim (974 comments posted) 29th May 2008 |
I thought this was a good simple poem for adults.
Nathan (5) didn't laugh at this one, but he had a few comments. He likes running, so he thinks being fast is more fun than going slow. He can still hear the birds sing when he runs. He even mimiced bird sounds to convince me. Snails are like worms, they have no legs or hands, so they can't run anyway. Flowers grow too slowly, so you can't watch it grow.
It was an eye-opener for me. I can see how poems must be graded according to age-appropriateness.
Enjoyed my child's reactions to this poem!
Mia |
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 30th May 2008 |
| You know Mia, it is very difficult to first of all fix in your mind a target age and then try to write for them, thinking of the vocabulary etc. When writing for adults you don't have to do this. Yet, I see that some of these simple poems are being recommended for Key Stage 2 children by Literacy websites. I think it is because they are simple and the children are encouraged to think that poets CAN and DO vary their language for all age-groups. It gives children hope that what little poems THEY write can be worthwhile too. I'm so glad that Nathan is trying to write poems. I'm going to see three classes in a primary school next week, and this poem and The Little Butterfly I will definitely read to the very young children, some of whom will not yet be five years of age. I'll report back. |
I would have liked this as a child
Written by jennistar3 (21 comments posted) 2nd June 2008 |
it was nice and simple and something I could imagine being read to me by my parents and that I would have liked.
I can see this being read in nurser and primary schools.  |
Wonderful!
Written by Katanga (1163 comments posted) 3rd June 2008 |
Ah, Josie - I see you're putting some of your 'older' pieces on GW . . . Fantastic!
More, please!
Was it Confucius or some eastern mystic or other (or maybe Frankie Howerd? Ha!) who said that we need time to stop and watch the floweres grow? Ooooh!
You've captured a whole philosophy in a tiny child's poem - I am awe -full. Ha!
One tiny niggle - not a complaint:
For me it would add even more if you changed 'or' to 'and', giving:
Take time to hear the birds sing
And watch the flowers grow
Dunno!
Love it anyway!
Cheers!
John X
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Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 3rd June 2008 |
| Yes, you are right as usual John. Done. I think it is better too. I think of my daughter charging through our town to the riverside gardens and the swings with her two, and my dear little granddaughter just wanted to stop and get me to feel the silky petals of the tulips, and to point out the cherry blossom on the trees etc - but mother was still charging ahead and didn't notice them. Perhaps we need to go slowly as adults too. My little granddaughter tells me these things which she sees through her new eyes, and she thinks that they are perhaps the first time that I also have seen them. She hasn't yet learned that time breeds indifference to the wonders of nature. What a shame that it often does. No time to stop and stare. |
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