Friday, July 29, 2016

Poetry & Our Library of Congress


Playing with maps @ Library of Congress 


This past week I had the privilege of attending a Library of Congress Summer Teaching Institute.

This free Summer Teacher Institute is offered annually. Applications are open to all teachers. I attended session #5 with an educator from Canada, teachers and  librarians from public schools, private schools and a large public library system. 

To say that I spent a week fangirling would be a hyperbole of understatement. I have colleague Kristy Beall to thank for putting the bug in my ear to consider applying for this summer's institute.

Twenty-seven participants in session five were led by the current LOC Teacher in Residence Tom Broder and the Education Outreach Department. They put themselves, their expertise as well as all the resources of the Library of Congress at their disposal.

I was struck by many ideas this past week….but the first day I came across Found Poetry from Primary Sources. SO COOL! 

Letter written by Susan B. Anthony & me 7/26/16
Even though the project I am working on is not poetry (I'll share more about that later), I kept coming back and back to these web pages….getting more and more ideas for my own writing.

I did my best to keep up with Teachers Write during this busy week. It was tough but not impossible.
Tuesday's quick-write prompt from kidlit author Madelyn Rosenberg was to capture a setting in ten words or short phrases. 
Main Reading Room -- bucket-list-wish fulfilled!


My Day at the Library of Congress
an Imperfect Reverso

My
Fragment of history
Lost map
Covered knowledge
Reverent learning
Teachers
Learning reverently
Knowledge revealed
Maps charted
Past of stories
Each piece
Ours.

(c) all rights reserved Linda Mitchell



 Many thanks to Margaret Simon, Educator and Poet extraordinaire for hosting this week's Friday Poetry Round-Up at Reflections on the Teche. You won't be sorry for stopping by and fueling your soul with some poetry. 


Meso-American Chocolate Vessel 650 BCE

11 comments:

  1. It sound like it has been a wonderful opportunity for you. Love the pics!

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  2. This sounds like a marvelous time, Linda, your work & finding those old poems. I'm glad you shared!

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  3. Wow, I saw some glimpses on facebook through the week, but it's nice to get more of the story here. What a fabulous, special time!

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  4. What a great experience of writing and learning! Thanks for sharing and capturing in a reverso-of-sorts.

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  5. Sounds fab and I like your refelctive poem, especially these lines:
    Reverent learning
    Teachers
    Learning reverently

    with the inversion of learning and reverent(ly) creating an awesome echo.

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  6. Your experience sounds terrific especially since it was located in such a grand place of learning. I enjoyed your poem and read through the writing prompt and responses from Teachers Write.

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  7. What an amazing experience, Linda. You're practically glowing!

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  8. Wow, that sounds like so much fun!

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  9. What a great experience and thank you for reminding me of this opportunity. I haven't attended one but it is on my list. Such an amazing resource,

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  10. This is something I would like to do!

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Friendly, positive comments and feedback are always welcome here. Please let me know I'm not just whistling in the dark!