Welcome to Poetry Month 2018 at No Water River!
Please take a moment to peruse the how-to below, and then dive in! Happy writing — and thank you for helping to build our collection(s)!
Remember: The Community Collections are open indefinitely, so you can visit each post at your leisure to add your poem!
Today’s Guest…
is a poet, storyteller, and educator who has written over 200 books — including poetry, picture books, and novels — that draw on her rich multicultural background. Please welcome …
ALMA FLOR ADA
THE POEM
THE PROMPT
If you are bilingual, what are some of the things that knowing two languages allow you to do?
If you are not bilingual yet, why would you enjoy being able to speak two languages?
COMMUNITY COLLECTION 10: BEING BILINGUAL
WANT TO ADD YOUR POEM?
1. Paste it into the comment section below. I will gather the poems and add them to this post. OR
2. Email it to me at renee@reneelatulippe.com and I will add it to this post (graphics welcome)!
*****
Bilingual Benefits
Interpreted as well
Learning improve
Intelligence develop
New friends come
Gain two cultures
Unique experience
Acquire open mind
Learn double the joy
Mejia@2018
DIFFERENT EYES — DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Words Are My World
My Three Reasons
Bi-Lingual
BILINGUAL
THE POET
Alma Flor Ada (Camagüey, Cuba), Professor Emerita University of San Francisco, has devoted her life to advocacy for peace promoting a pedagogy oriented to personal realization and social justice. A Radcliffe Scholar at Harvard University, her numerous children’s books have received prestigious awards, including, among many: Christopher Medal (The Gold Coin), Pura Belpré (Under the Royal Palms), Once Upon a World (Gathering the Sun), Parents’ Choice Honor (Dear Peter Rabbit), NCSS and CBC Notable Book (My Name is María Isabel), International Latino Book Award (Love, Amalia; Dancing Home; and Yes! We Are Latinos), and the Virginia Hamilton Award (2012) for her body of work. In 2014 the Mexican Government granted her the prestigious OHTLI Award for services to the Mexican communities abroad. In 2018 she received the Life-Long Achievement Award from the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE).
Her professional books include: A Magical Encounter: Latino Children’s Literature in the Classroom and, co-authored with F. Isabel Campoy: Authors in the Classroom: A Transformative Education Process and Está linda la mar. Para entender la poesía y usarla en el aula (To understand poetry and share it in the classroom) and the poetry program Alegría. Poesía cada día (Joy. Poetry every day) published by National Geographic/Cengage.
Discover more about the author and her books at www.AlmaFlorAda.com.
THE BOOKS
MY NAME IS MARÍA ISABEL / ME LLAMO MARÍA ISABEL
Armed with her new blue book bag, Maria Isabel bravely faces her first day at a new school. But when she meets her new teacher, she is told there are already two other Marias in the class. “Why don’t we call you Mary instead?” her teacher suggests, unaware that Maria was named for both her grandmothers, a grandfather and her father. Maria’s inability to respond to “Mary” leads to more problems.
Simply told, this story combines the struggle of a Puerto Rican family’s efforts to improve their life with a shared sense of pride in their heritage. The author’s carefully drawn characterizations avoid stereotypes, thus increasing their appeal and believability. An essay involving a wish list gives Maria a chance to reclaim her name, and allows her teacher to make amends. Abetted by Thompson’s straightforward black-and-white drawings, this contemporary tale serves as a good reminder that no two names are really alike. Ages 7-10. (from Publishers Weekly)
LOVE, AMALIA / CON CARIÑO, AMALIA
Amalia’s best friend, Martha, is moving away, and Amalia is feeling sad and angry. And yet, even when life seems unfair, the loving, wise words of Amalia’s abuelita have a way of making everything a little bit brighter. Amalia finds great comfort in times shared with her grandmother: cooking, listening to stories and music, learning, and looking through her treasured box of family cards.
But when another loss racks Amalia’s life, nothing makes sense anymore. In her sorrow, will Amalia realize just how special she is, even when the ones she loves are no longer near? (from author’s website)
Margie is proud to be an American, born in the United States. Her parents were born in Mexico and so was her cousin, Lupe, who has come to stay with Margie’s family in California. At first Margie is excited, but that enthusiasm dissipates when Lupe is placed in her classroom. She doesn’t speak English, and Margie’s teacher expects her to translate for her. A couple of classroom bullies seem bent on belittling the cousins’ heritage. Margie is relieved when Lupe is transferred to a bilingual class, leaving a desk near her for the newest classmate, Camille. The girls become great friends. When they’re given a journal assignment, Camille models what it’s like to have a passion as she thinks, researches, and writes about dolphins. Lupe stays after school to learn folkloric dances, and the book concludes with a performance that helps Margie understand how American she is and how her Mexican heritage fits into her identity. This story will assist readers in embracing their own heritage and developing an appreciation for their classmates’ backgrounds. It’s an enjoyable offering (and a great read-aloud) that will capture readers’ attention and have them rooting for the cousins and their friendships and family relationships. (from School Library Journal)
Don’t miss a prompt! Save this calendar to your desktop.
CALENDAR OF POETS ~ APRIL 2018
“Bilingual/Bilingue” and prompts copyright © by Alma Flor Ada
Copyright on community collection poems held by authors indicated. All rights reserved.
Other post content © 2018 Renée M. LaTulippe or as indicated. All rights reserved.
Globe pics from Pixabay via Pexels (no attribution required)
Thank you so very much for this post. I read it early this morning and shared it with all my educator friends immediately. One of my friends is an ESL teacher with primarily Spanish speaking students. She’s such a perfectionist and such a great teacher that sometimes she gets down on herself for not seeing progress as fast as she would like. This poem really made her smile. You do the world so much good Alma Flor Ada! I’m so grateful to you as a Teacher Librarian AND a writer. I am not bilingual….but sometimes in poems….there are some words that just have to be in another language. French is the first language I go to….then, Greek since I have a tiny bit of experience with both. I will take your prompt and see what more I can do.
Thanks so much, Linda, for your words and for sharing it with friends.
This poem has been recited by an amazing group of children. Your teacher friends may enjoy it also, because the children do such a great job,
You can see it in Vimeo searching for Be Bilingual Alma Flor Ada, posted by Bancroft School
Thanks for all you do to facilitate “the magical encounter” between children and books! All best, Alma Flor
I enjoyed hearing your enthusiasm ringing through in your poem reading of “Bilingual. I’m not bilingual though I know un poco Español. My father knew Spanish very well and loved speaking it whenever he could. Perhaps I’ll be able to learn more of it one day. I liked your poem prompt too. Thanks for all you do, and all of your books!
Thanks so much, Michelle, for your comment. And thanks you for being you and enriching life with your presence. All best, Alma Flor