2020 Post #4 -- Beautiful Words and A Call to Write

by Molly Rickert

This activity is used to discuss word choice and tone. It can also be used as a warm-up to get students to write…anything…to begin class.

I read the poem "Drum Dream Girl" by Margarita Engle aloud to students and ask students to make a list of the beautiful words and phrases they hear. When we finish reading, we discuss the main idea of the poem: Who is Drum Dream Girl? How would you describe her and why?

Then, we compile a class list of our beautiful words. We notice the use of verbs and discuss how the use of verbs carries the main idea of the poem and the tone of the poem.

Students then respond to the poem. They are encouraged to respond in any way they would like (stream of consciousness, poem, narrative, etc.) I give them a few writing ideas/options:

• Choose a line and write about it in any way. 
• Create a poem about something you are passionate about, using the collected words and phrases where possible.
• Write about a time you were told you were told you couldn’t do something but persevered.
• Write about a dream you have and what you would do to accomplish this dream.

Further Reading:

Molly Rickert is a seventh grade English teacher in Bucks County. Follow her on Twitter @mrickertCB