In 1999, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) proclaimed March 21st as World Poetry Day. Ironically, I didn’t know about World Poetry Day when I started writing today’s blog but I can’t think of a better way to tie in today’s story!
As part of the curriculum, 2nd graders have begun a poetry unit. Students are not only learning about the different types of poems. They are learning how imagery and word choice are used as an expression of emotions and deep feelings, or to express what they see in the the world around them. But these are not the only lessons we wanted students to learn. We also wanted to use this unit as an opportunity to expose the students to multicultural poetry.
Goodrich School is diverse in the languages spoken by students and their families. 2nd grade has several students who are fluent in speaking, reading and writing in Spanish. Students from Mrs. Morris’ and Mrs. Pippen’s classes were treated to a poetry reading by two of their classmates.
Students listened attentively as the girls recited poetry in Spanish and then in English to their classmates, from the book titled “From the Bellybutton of the Moon / Del Ombligo de la Luna”, by the Poet Francisco X. Alarcón. This book is a collection of 22 bilingual poems inspired by his childhood memories of when spent summers in Mexico.
One poem in particular that the students enjoyed listening to was titled "Bilingue", which was about a dog who barks in 2 languages. He barks "guau guau" in Spanish and "bow wow" in English.
Do you really think he barks in 2 different languages?
Click on this link to learn more about the Francisco X. Alarcon and watch a video interview. http://www.colorincolorado.org/videos/meet-authors/francisco-x-alarc%C3%B3n
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