"Fourths of Me" by Armenda Elkins

Here is a "poem movie" for Betsy Franco's poem, "Fourths of Me," created by graduate student Armenda Elkins. Watch it here.

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the seventh grade section, week 30, for the theme, "Rhyme, Repetition & Rhythm."

"Breaking the Spell" by Debbie Levy

Here is a "poem movie" for Debbie Levy's poem, "Breaking the Spell," created by graduate student Anna Darst. Watch it here.

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the seventh grade section, week 27, for the theme, "World of Words."

"Safe in My Shell" by Ann Whitford Paul

Here are actually TWO "poem movies" in one for Ann Whitford Paul's poem, "Safe in My Shell," created by my graduate student, Dana. Dana very creatively offers a "literal" interpretation of the poem featuring the shy and retiring turtle, followed by a pensive "human" look at another meaning of the poem. Ingenious!

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the eighth grade section, week 6, for the theme, "On the Ground."

You MUST check out the amazing poet videos over at No Water River, too. Blogger and PFAMS poet, Renee LaTulippe, does brilliant work here. She's gathered a bunch of our amazing PFAMS poets reading their PFAMS poems-- thank you, all-- and even has Mary Skelly's classroom involved. See what amazing poetry work those kids are doing too!

Finally, don't miss the Poetry Friday party that PFA/PFAMS poet Robyn Hood Black is hosting over at Read, Write, Howl. See you there!

"In the School Band" by David L. Harrison

Here is a "poem movie" for David L. Harrison's poem, "In the School Band," created by graduate student Amanda Butler. Watch it here.

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the eighth grade section, week 2, for the theme, "More School."

"The Run" by Avis Harley

Here is a "poem movie" for Avis Harley's poem, "The Run," created by graduate student Katy Brandeland. Watch it here.

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the eighth grade section, week 3, for the theme, "Fun & Games."

"Fixer-Upper" by Terry Webb Harshman

Here is a "poem movie" for Terry Webb Harshman's poem, "Fixer-Upper" created by graduate student Blaire Beathard. Watch it here.

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the seventh grade section, week 12, for the theme, "House & Home."

"Your Appendix is a Mystery" by Allan Wolf

Here is a "poem movie" for Allan Wolf's poem, "Your Appendix is a Mystery," created by graduate student Brienna Ayers.

This poem is featured in The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School in the sixth grade section, week 18, for the theme, "The Human Body." Brienna's film is a fun example of what kids themselves might try as they interpret poems with digital tools.

Poem Movies

Coming in April: Homemade digital films that offer artistic interpretations of several of the poems in The Poetry Friday Anthology (6-8). 

Graduate students enrolled in my "Poetry for Children and Young Adults" class at Texas Woman's University have created "poem movies" for selected poems from The Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School. Each student chose one poem from the anthology and then interpreted it in a short, original, one-minute digital film-- sometimes with input from young people themselves (and with the poet's permission, of course).

I'm so proud of them! They created a wonderful variety of mini-movies offering great examples of how digital technology can be used to interpret and promote poetry for (and with) young people. One student (go, Dana!) even made TWO films-- one offering a literal interpretation of a poem (about a turtle) and the other with a more abstract look at the "shells" we create for ourselves-- highlighting the same poem text for each.  All these "poem movies" will be posted one-a-day during National Poetry Month (April). Enjoy!