Writing into the Day

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Rhina P. Espaillat, “Weighing In.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about what love means to you. How do you express love to yourself? What would your life look like if you loved your body? Think about three things that you love about your body. Is there a difference in the way people are treated based on their weight? Do you remember the first time someone made a comment about your body size? How old were you? How did your parents/caregivers talk about bodies? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Jacob Saenz, “Evolution of My Block.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about the pathway to gangs or other peer pressure induced situations. Why do you think our society glamorizes violence and gangs? Are you working against this in your family and circle of influence? Think about how people get recruited into gangs and what could we do to fight it in our cities? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by J. Patrick Lewis, “1938.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about 2020. What are the memorable events of 2020? How has 2020 been different than other years? If you had kids, what would you tell them about this year? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Jacqueline Woodson, “Flag.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about your non-negotiables. In my classes, I always joke about how time is a non-negotiable for me. You can never get back time you've lost. What are your non-negotiables? What are some things or beliefs you care about that you would never want to compromise? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Welcome monsters and ghouls to the final episode of my spooky new series of Writing into the Day (until next year, of course!). This series will feature texts that certainly go bump in the night and you may want to keep your lights on for some of these spine-chilling reads! Today's Spooktober podcast will be featuring a poem by Eugene Field. As I read this poem, I want you to think about the personification of the wind. The wind is characterized by the author as having human-like qualities. Why might the author have done this? What does this personification contribute to the tone of the text? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Welcome monsters and ghouls to my spooky new series of Writing into the Day. This series will feature texts that certainly go bump in the night and you may want to keep your lights on for some of these spine-chilling reads! Today's Spooktober podcast will be featuring a poem by Mary Howitt. As I read this poem, I want you to think about how the Spider tricks the Fly into his web? What is this story trying to teach us? Have you met your own real life Spider? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Welcome monsters and ghouls to my spooky new series of Writing into the Day. This series will feature texts that certainly go bump in the night and you may want to keep your lights on for some of these spine-chilling reads! Today's Spooktober podcast will be featuring a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar. As I read this poem, I want you to think about the subject of this poem. Why is the speaker so focused on the tree? What tone does the speaker's description of the tree evoke? Why is there such an emphasis on the haunting of the oak tree? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Welcome monsters and ghouls to my spooky new series of Writing into the Day. This series will feature texts that certainly go bump in the night and you may want to keep your lights on for some of these spine-chilling reads! Today's Spooktober podcast will be featuring a poem by Robert Graves. As I read this poem, I want you to think about moments, especially moments where you felt scared or experienced some sort of pain. Think about how the people in these experiences can sometimes become warped by those feelings; you can learn to subconsciously associate them with those emotions of fear or pain. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Welcome monsters and ghouls to my spooky new series of Writing into the Day. This series will feature texts that certainly go bump in the night and you may want to keep your lights on for some of these spine-chilling reads! To start off my special Spooktober edition of Writing into the Day podcasts, today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Siegfried Sassoon. As I read this poem, I want you to think about ghosts and the possible purposes of ghostly hauntings. In this poem, Graves writes about his former friends from the war and how they seem to “haunt” him. I want you to think about HOW Graves' friends seemingly haunt him and WHY he cannot stop thinking about them. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Seamus Heaney, “Blackberry Picking.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about a summer memory. I remember in the summers I would pick violets from the lawn. My little self would sit in the shade of a big oak tree for hours, painstakingly weaving the tiny blossoms into a crown. I was convinced the tiny, delicate, petal crown could make me a fairy. How did you spend your summer months? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Jacqueline Woodson, “Commercial Break.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about something you believe some people don't understand. This could be a subject you have strong opinions on, something upsetting that happened to you, or a time you had a misunderstanding with another. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Claude McKay, “To One Coming North.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about your hometown. How would you describe your home to others? What sort of imagery might you use to paint a picture? If you moved away, what are some things you might miss? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Carole Boston Weatherford, “You Go to My Head.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about pride. How do you show pride? Appreciating your accomplishments and boasting about your greatness can seem like a delicate line to walk. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. Don't forget to like and subscribe. Also, check out my hashtag msmreadytoread and follow me on Instagram at ms_martins_class for more writing into the day and fun lessons that are sure to engage you and your kiddos. Thanks for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Pat Mora, “Old Love.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about losing someone you love and the feelings that accompany that. I remember when I lost my grandfather. I remember the uncertainty, the unexpected numbness. I also remember specific, seemingly unimportant details like the color of the curtains or the paleness of his skin. Have you ever lost someone? What do you remember? How did the experience make you feel? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Joan Graham, “Nature Knows its Math.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about math. Yes, you heard me right. If any of you know me, I have never been the biggest fan of mathematics. However, math is a fundamental part of our world and can greatly help us place things into perspective. I want you to think about how math affects your life. How does math manifest outside of math class? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Jen Bryant, “And Later.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about the title of the poem. Authors may choose titles for a myriad of reasons. The titles could emphasize a particular theme or connect back to specific words or phrases throughout the poem. Titles might also help the author's audience piece together ideas in a way that creates a fuller picture of the poem. That being said, think about why the author might have chosen this particular title. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Nikki Giovanni, “The Song of the Feet.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about your feet. Yes, you heard me. Your feet. Often overlooked considering how much we depend on them, how much they help us every single day, and go places we need to go. They quite literally carry us throughout life. Think about why this author chose to focus or sing a song about their feet. Think about the perspective being shared throughout this poem and think about the role feet are playing. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Ilya Kaminsky, “We Lived Happily During the War.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about responsibility and your role in our society. There are issues in this world that may or may not always affect you. Is it your duty as a human being to help out others? Even if their problems stem from an issue that you have never had to worry about? Where do we draw the line between helping our fellow human in need and taking care of yourself? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. Don't forget to like and subscribe. Also, check out my hashtag msmreadytoread and follow me on Instagram at ms_martins_class for more writing into the day and fun lessons that are sure to engage you and your kiddos. Thanks for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Margarita Engle, “Kinship.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about your family, perhaps your family history. We all come from different places, cultures, religions, and people. What parts of your ancestry are you particularly proud of? Do you know where you come from? How does our ancestry contribute to who we are as a person? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. Don't forget to like and subscribe. Also, check out my hashtag msmreadytoread and follow me on Instagram at ms_martins_class for more writing into the day and fun lessons that are sure to engage you and your kiddos. Thanks for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Jane Hirshfield, “The Promise.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about control. What areas of your life do you have complete control over? What areas of your life do you lack control? What sort of promises can we keep? What sort of promises are out of our control? Keep these ideas in mind as I read. Don't forget to like and subscribe. Also, check out my hashtag msmreadytoread and follow me on Instagram at ms_martins_class for more writing into the day and fun lessons that are sure to engage you and your kiddos. Thanks for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by A. A. Milne, “Wind on the Hill.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about how a child perceives the world around them. The innocence of youth and the questions you used to ask about nature: how the rain falls down or why the leaves change color. Think about your own daily observations about the world around you. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Shel Silverstein, “Sick.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about a time you didn't want to go to school. What sort of excuses did you come up with? Why didn't you want to go? How did you try to convince your parents or guardians? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Rudyard Kipling, “If.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about balance and how you try to keep it in your life. Think about the effect of how the author compares and contrasts different opposites. What point do you think he could be making? Why might he be doing this? What wisdom is being imparted here? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's podcast will be featuring a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “Solitude.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about your relationships with people and their relationships with you. Think about when you are having a good day. Are your friends happy to be around you? Think about when you are having a bad day. Are those friends still there? Do you find that people prefer to keep company with you during the high and happy points in your life but find that true loss and sadness are often experienced alone? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about who you are and how you feel about it. Sometimes, we can be overcome with insecurities from seeing all these people who fit the ideal version of what society deems as beautiful. Do you find yourself comparing yourself against other people? Think about your insecurities and where they come from. Also, think about the effect of the author's use of repetition in this poem. Where she places words and what words or phrases keep coming back. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, “The Invitation.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about what your passions are, what you long to do, what makes you feel alive. Think about fear from doing something and whether you have embraced that fear or let it control your actions. Think about how you make your impact on the world and what legacies you plan to leave behind in your wake. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Maya Angelou, an esteemed female poet, “On Aging.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about age. You might be young and fearless, but imagine this: one day you will grow older and wiser, but with this age and wisdom you lose things you cannot imagine losing when you're young. Your long full hair begins to thin. Your white, strong teeth, begin to weaken. Your sharp, able mind, slowly loses its memories. How does it feel to think about withering away and losing yourself and your autonomy piece by piece? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by a high schooler named Kasi, “The Mask.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! This particular poem references suicide and self-harm, but is a relevant and important subject to address with young audiences. Please keep this in mind during the podcast. As I read this poem, I want you to think about the masks that you wear. The mask might not be literal, but rather it can be feelings you hide or beliefs you carry with you that you fear no one will understand or support. The mask could be hidden emotions, how you really feel and what you allow yourself to feel. Think about how you hide parts of yourself or think about others you know who do. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Mary Hunter Austin, “Rathers.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! Austin often writes with a natural focus as she was largely involved in Native American preservation movements. In this poem, the author shares animals they would rather be in a poem that almost reads like a song. As I read this poem, I want you to think about who you are and who you would rather be. You could also consider what qualities you have and what qualities you would rather have. I also want you to think about the way the poem reads and how the words sound together. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Langston Hughes, “Mother to Son.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about difficult times or challenges you have encountered. Have you ever received or taken advice that helped you keep going? Has anyone ever been there for you during a troubling or challenging time? This mother uses the metaphor of life being like a staircase to give her son some advice. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by one of the most celebrated and inspirational African American poets of all time, Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about the tone or the author's attitude toward the subject or audience of this poem. Angelou's life included much of the racial inequity and turmoil towards African Americans in this country. Think about the topics she addresses in this poem, and think about how her words make you feel. How does her tone in this poem affect you and how you feel about these subjects? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Kimberly L. Briones, “An Ocean of Memories.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about your family and how you would describe them. This author uses many metaphors where she compares her family to different objects or animals. Think about how you would describe your family or how your family might describe you. Keep these ideas in mind as I read. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Nikki Wilfong, “Life Without You.” Have your pen or pencil out and be ready to write! As I read this poem, I want you to think about whether there is anyone in your life that you feel you couldn't live without. A friend, a family member, a sibling, a mentor, or simply someone special to you. This author uses similes, a comparison using like or as, to describe the concept of living without their special someone. Try to imagine how these similes make you feel. Are they effective? Are they painting a picture in your mind about how important this person is to the speaker? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Charles Bukowski, “Nobody but You.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about your life. Do you feel like there is something holding you back? Do you feel stuck or helpless in your circumstances? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support

Today's Writing into the Day podcast will be featuring a poem by Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” As I read this poem, I want you to think about change. With all the recent turmoil surrounding the COVID 19 cases in the world, how has your life changed? How does this make you feel? Is there a beauty tied to temporary circumstances? Think about where you look for the silver linings or where you try to be positive about the challenges in your life. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writingintotheday/support