School Visits – A Ton of Fun!

I love to teach kids. For over thirty years I taught Early Childhood Education at a Career and Technical School to students who wished to become dynamic teachers. Then, I wrote about what I taught. Now, as a children’s author, I teach about what I write. 

Just this week, I had the pleasure of working with a great group of sixth graders at JT Lambert Middle School in Pennsylvania. What a blast! Thank you, Mrs. Symonies. Your kids were wonderful.

Introduction to Picture Books

Placement of rhyming lines

I taught three groups about poetry and one group the basics of writing their own picture books. I used my picture book, ROCK STAR SANTA, as an example of a rhyming picture book. 

Halloween Poetry Collection

And AN EYEBALL IN MY GARDEN as an example of a middle grade poetry anthology.

The poetry classes are making a sixth grade anthology for their class and the picture book group are getting their stories bound into hard cover books to be donated to a children’s hospital. What a great lesson in paying it forward!

Demonstrating "slant" rhyme

Rock Star Santa's rhyme & meter

I'd like to thank Mrs. Symonies's class for a wonderful day. 

This little poem seems to sum up my day with them It was great!

Mrs. Symonies Sixth Graders Rock!

by Gayle C. Krause

Thank you for having me at your school.

To work with you was really cool.

I loved the way you paid attention

to the poems I read and the books I’d mention.

Impressed with your participation,

our webbing and collaboration,

I must say I enjoyed the time

I spent with you, while teaching rhyme.

I won’t forget your Steeler tees

or crazy abominable talking trees.

Good luck with all your picture books.

Just don’t forget you need great hooks!

And for those of you writing rhyme

what kind of poem did I write this time?