1. Ode to a Kindergarten Rug By N. Winchel CHORUS (TO REPEAT- The group chants when narrator points to the group. This chorus can usually be said after each or every other stanza. ) Variations: I also wrote this not only as a poem, but as a children’s song or chant. You can set this to any children’s tune, made up song, or current song. Please notice the rhythm of the language. One can also teach music theory and show 4/4 time (connection to quarter notes, half notes, triplets), tapping while chanting the lyrics, using random sounds (ba,da) to show the bouncing, repetitive rhythm of the poem, together while teaching scooping and reading fluidity. Themes also taught in this poem are the concept of rhyming words, the alphabet, acrostic poems, writing in the voice of an inanimate object, and I’m sure this may apply to many other creative lessons at every grade level. © 2009 abcteach.com

2. For the upper grades, they can create their own song or rap, or poem, in the voice similar to this poem. They can express all the things that they miss about their early grade experiences and what they love about their current educational experience. Of course, the lower grades, can do these same lessons and apply the poem to learning their alphabet, comparing the writing style to other child authors (Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Robert Munsch (poems), David Ezra Stein, Jordan Sonnenblick, Dav Pilkey), comparing to other text (Jordan Sonnenblick’s Dodger and Me, Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller, or Mark Teagues’ Dear Ms. Larue: Letters from Obedience School/ Link /also see interview from Reading Rockets) and exploring more creative ways of writing.SeussSilversteinRobert MunschpoemsDavid EzraJordan SonnenblickDav PilkeySonnenblick’sDodger and Me ArnieDoughnutLinkinterview

3. Hey!!! Another idea- Have the children fold 4 or 5 sheets of paper in half to create a booklet, comic book, and/or book with illustrations. Be Creative!!!!! Have them write the lyrics wherever they’d like in whatever style or font (fancy, loopy, plain). Then either on the facing page or involved with the fancy text, have them illustrate each stanza of the book. Give them examples of other books with funny illustrations so that they may brainstorm with more creative ideas. Tell them to GO!! And BE CREATIVE!!!

4. Another CREATIVE Project could be creating a cover and binding the book: Child Author David Ezra Stein has a great website and class project that shows children and teachers what they need to create a mini-book that is bound (Snappy Book). Please note that you will need 1) Card- stock paper, 2) masking tape, 3) a scissor, 4) string and…….5) your story!!!!!!AuthorDavid Ezra Steinmini-book that is bound

5. ……And Another Idea: What About A Role Play? This is self explanatory. Have a group of students create a play in front of class as the students and as the rug. The person playing the rug acts as narrator. Then film it and add some multimedia to it.

6. Research Teacher Tube and Google: Find songs about a special subject that you like or would like to learn about. Leadership Skills/ Taking Turns… The teacher can choose the narrator by the one that shows positive and expected behavior. The child can then model and instruct the actors and the chorus (other students) through the chanting of the chorus.

7. ….. Also, 1) Circle the Rhyming Words: Try to have the children, circle the words that rhyme. 2) Customize: Substitute names for people in class and have them create a new stanza or edit a stanza. Change the teacher’s name. 3) Rhythm Count/Syllable Count: Have children count the syllables, (clapping hands, rhythm eggs, tapping table, sticks, drums, tapping heads lightly) and rhythm of each sentence. Then have them count the rhythm of childhood song sentences (Twinkle, Twinkle). Can you take out a few words to have the poem to fit your song? 4) Vocabulary: What words you know? What words you don’t know? What words can be edited or deleted? 5) Vocabulary: Find an adjective in the poem that can be changed for the better. Give three options that a more descriptive and fit the rhythm. If it doesn’t fit, change the rhythm. 6) Fluidity: Model the rhythm by underlining where you pause and accent. Show students how it sounds if done incorrectly, vs. correctly. Then have them do the same in small groups explaining to a friend. http://www.icant believeitsnotbutte r.com/turnthetub around link

8. - see the voki message - my daugter reading the poem - 60 secs- funny avatar-More Ideas - Must check out voki.com and jing.com for your future classes- use of web pages -: Fw: Ode in PowerPt 2003- rug Hope you enjoy it Wed, March 24, 2010 10:17:24 PM From:Neil Winchel View ContactTo:sfier@touro.edu Cc:neil winchel The ppt template I used several times in different classes- I like the education apples theme. Feel Free to use it. I just cut a paste from my original text or word document.- and change the slides to fit the topic. The text and ideas just came free flowing.. I didn't do it for this presentation, but you can add great animation of the phrases/ bullets flying in. And you can record your voice and playback - to provide a book on tape. One thing that I would like to add is a voki avatar- www.voki.com www.oddcast.com - that one can create an add to a website- it is an avatar or animated charachter- that one can enter in text and or call and record a voice for 60 seconds- and have voki charachter read the text in a funn y voice or your voice. take a look a at the voki site.www.voki.comwww.oddcast.com Also, take a look at Jing.coM (www.jing.com)www.jing.com hese 2 websites are sites suggested by Touro;s Dr Stein- here youre able ( with a computer and a mic - to make video tutorials of keystokes / lesons on the your computer- you can then send links to email or a website) If I can get my voki to work, I ll let you know-- tHIS IS THE VOKI EXAMPLE- ITS a pretty funny and educational tool sent you a Voki message ! Click the link to hear a special voice message from your friend using a cool Voki character: http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=358e3b115f0b3f6a8e654ef3e34bfe55&mId=440993 Mar 24, 2010 Don't forget to return the favor. Sign up so you can send them one back! 2007 www.voki.com. All Rights Reserved.link http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=358e3b115f0b3f6a8e654ef3e34bfe55&mId=440993www.voki.com

9. Oh yeah!!!! ( Talking in an informal voice) - - I would also add a mini lesson in Iambic - pentameter Tetrameter Main article: Iambic tetrameterIambic tetrameter –Lo, thus I triumph like a king, –Content with that my mind doth bring. (Edward Dyer, "My Mind to Me A Kingdom Is")Edward DyerMy Mind to Me A Kingdom Is –'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves –Did gyre and gimble in the wabe. (Lewis Carroll, "Jabberwocky")Lewis CarrollJabberwocky [edit] Pentameteredit Main article: Iambic pentameterIambic pentameter –To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. (Alfred Tennyson, "Ulysses")Alfred TennysonUlysses –Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? (William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)William ShakespeareSonnet 18 (Although, it could be argued that this line in fact reads: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Meter is often broken in this way, sometimes for intended effect and sometimes simply due to the sound of the words in the line. Where the stresses lie can be debated, as it depends greatly on where the reader decides to place the stresses. Although in this meter the foot ceases to be iambs but trochees.)trochees –A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse! (William Shakespeare, Richard III)William ShakespeareRichard III [edit] Heptameteredit –I s'pose the flats is pretty green up there in Ironbark. (A. B. Paterson, The Man from Ironbark)A. B. PatersonThe Man from Ironbark Key: Non-bold = unstressed syllable –Trochee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trochee)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trochee –Should you ask me, whence these stories? –Whence these legends and traditions, Trochaic meter is also seen among the works of William Shakespeare:William Shakespeare –Double, double, toil and trouble; –Fire burn and cauldron bubble.[1][1] Perhaps owing to its simplicity, though, trochaic meter is fairly common in children's rhymes: –Peter, Peter pumpkin-eater –Had a wife and couldn't keep her. Often a few trochees will be interspersed among iambs in the same lines to develop a more complex or syncopated rhythm. Compare (William Blake)William Blake –Tyger, Tyger, burning bright –In the forests of the night *****SOUNDS LKE TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR ( MOST RHTHMIC SONGS LOOK LIKE THIS COMBINATION OF TROCHEES WITH SOME IAMBS IN BETWEEN If I really understood it!!! But it sounds a lot about what I was speaking about regarding rhythm and stressing the first beat vs the 2nd beat or syllable- is that the idea!!! Have a good night From: "sfier@touro.edu" To: Neil Winchel Sent: Wed, March 24, 2010 3:13:33 PM Subject: Re: Fw: Ode in PowerPt 2003- rug Hope you enjoy it Thank you! This is great. When do you find the time to do all this? You're amazing! Dr. Sharon Fier Professor of Graduate Education Inquire and Inspire until you Expire! > My ode to a rug - enjoy >________________ >ode (1542k bytes)

10. AC_Voki_Embed(200,267,"50f2ad50edbecb610 7e9e63208ead3bc",2322221, 1, "", 0); Get a Voki now! AC_Voki_Embed(200,267,"50f2ad50edbecb610 7e9e63208ead3bc",2322221, 1, "", 0);</script<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhss- d.oddcast.com/voki_embed_functions.php"> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">AC_Voki_Embed(200,267,"50f2ad50edbecb610 7e9e63208ead3bc",2322221, 1, "", 0);</script

11. 7) Finish It: Add your own twist!!! 8) Edit It: What happens to the rug next? In 4th Grade? In 5th Grade? Did the rug feel the same in 2nd Grade? 9) Act It Out: Write a script. Perform in class. 10) Play Music: Add Music to your Performance. 11) Poem / Song Analysis- Connection? As I review the lyrics, I am noticing a similarity of many styles from many poem styles and songs. I am making a self to text connection. (E.g. Style: Dr. Seuss, Song: I Never Promised You A Rose Garden, Poem: The Night Before Christmas, Song Style: Cats in The Cradle). What connection might you as the reader have to the poem/chant/song?

12. 12) Songs: What other songs deal with School and Education? (Sam Cooke, Simon and Garfunkel) Don’t Know Much About.. What A Wonderful World This Would Be? Research the Web for lyrics and share them with the class. Research the history and meaning of the song. Talk about the artist. Make your own customized lyrics. (School Days, Schools Out, Me and Julio ) Link to Google, Songfacts, Top 10 Pop Songs about School Children Songs for Teaching, Poems for Teaching, Top 10 School Day Oldies and the greatest lyrics site, Songfacts Also Please see aGooglePop SongsSongsPoemsSchool Day Songfacts Link to What a Wonderful World Video1 Sam Cooke Video2 Herman’s Hermits Audio and History of Simon and Garfunkel History of Sam Cooke - "Wonderful World" (sometimes referred to as "(What a) Wonderful World", but unrelated to the Louis Armstrong song "What a Wonderful World") is a soul song that was written in the late 1950s by soul music pioneer Sam Cooke, along with songwriters Lou Adler and Herb Alpert.hat a Wonderful WorldVideo AudioHistory

13. Materials needed: Music accompaniment, A creative way for kids to express rhythm (Easy: hand clapping, Creative: egg shakers) Internet Access (if needed) Printed out lyrics Creative Costumes (if role playing) Other Examples of Creative Books A Great Imagination !!!!

14. Ode to a Kindergarten Rug By N. Winchel ALSO - Can be sung as a BLUES song. So get out your guitar!!! Chorus: (Teach this to your audience and have them repeat.) Rug time, Rug time - Oh ! It was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - Oh ! It wasn’t such a long time. (2x) or Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

15. Stanza 1 I am the lonely rug, all solitary and bored. At one time I was merry, and now I am ignored. Oh!!! How I look back on, Oh!!! I beg your pardon. As I think of those days- as “a rug in Kindergarten” The third grade all sit - in chairs at their tables. As Ms. Crabtree reads from Test Prep,- and Aesop’s Fables. They are told to sit quietly (SHHHH!!!!!) - and don’t move (CREAK!!!) in your seat. Through – Multiplication and Fundation drills – that they nervously (AHHH!!! UMMM!!) repeat. (What are other words that show sounds?) Chorus:

16. Chorus Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

17. Next Stanza I was the one who helped them – learn their ABC’s. The Alphabet around my edges- and a map’s geography. All 50 States including Hawaii and Alaska, Texas, Maine, Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Nebraska. (What States Rhyme?)

18. Next Stanza Helen was on H, Joshua was on J, Laura’s spot was L,Kay’s spot was K. Roy was on R, Ellen was on E, Will’s spot was W,Zachary’s spot was Z. (What other letters rhyme?) ( ***Also you can substitute the names and letters of your classmates as long as it rhymes and fits) Chorus:

19. Chorus Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

20. Next Stanza They would all come together to listen to a book, Read aloud by Ms. Crabtree- n’ keeps them in line – with a stern-friendly look. They would all come together- many dittys (songs) they would sing, “ If You’re Happy and You Know It” -& “A Few of My Favorite Things”. Tunes about The Seasons, The Months, and The Days of the Week. As they sat at the rug, and at the SMARTBOARD they would peek. Their voices sound so reminiscent, as I hold back my tears, Gosh!!! Voices sounding more mature, Now, its been close to 3 years. Ms. Crabtrees’ still their teacher, the 3rd grade she now teaches, I try to make out their familiar voices- my ears- their sound reaches. (Why does the author use the phrase ‘n?) Chorus:

21. Chorus Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

22. “It’s been nearly 3 months in 3rd grade – in the corner of this room, Where the custodian sometimes stops by and says hello with a vacuum or a broom. But the kids like Helen seldom visit, they must stay at their table and chairs, Staring at the blackboard- some with blank stares. Chorus:

23. Chorus Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

24. “Oh Hooray Yes !!! I hear the voice of Helen with an H and Joshua- They’re walking nearer. Wait a minute!!! Sounds like Ellen with an E – their voices sounding clearer.” Bringing books like Charlotte’s Web and Sarah, Plain and Tall, Oh!!! How I hope they’re coming- I hope so!! One and all” (What are other expressive words like “Wow” that we can substitute?) Chorus:

25. Chorus Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

26. “Yippee!!! It’s Joshua with a J as he says “Okay!!- and finds his favorite spot to go, -And a new student to me and the class- whose name I do not know. Helen with an H assures me, She says “I’m back old friend, for a silent read”……… My Suggestion: Ms. Crabtree must have heard my crying pleas, I am so glad I planted the seed (Now, its time for you to add or finish the story? What rhymes with read? (seed, feed, bead,deed, greed, heed,lead,need,seed,Indeed,agreed,freed…) Add a sentence- Add a stanza- Add a few stanzas- What happens next? Add another episode. (My Suggestion: Ms. Crabtree must have heard my crying pleas, I am so glad I planted the seed

27. We can also look at the lyrics to get ideas of things that rhyme and count by rhythm and syllables. (What A) Wonderful World Herman's Hermits Written by Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler - as recorded by Herman's Hermits (released May 29, 1965) - entered the Billboard Top 40 the week of June 5, 1965 and stayed for 8 weeks, peaking at #4 the week of July 10, 1965 - cover version of Sam Cooke's #12 hit from 1960 Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books Don't know much about the french I took But I do know that I love you And I know that if you loved me too What a wonderful world this would be Don't know much about geography Don't know much trigonometry Don't know much about algebra Don't know what a slide rule is for But I know that one and one is two And if this one could be with you What a wonderful world this would be Now I don't claim to be an A student But I'm tryin' to be Oh maybe by being an A student, baby I can win your love for me Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books Don't know much about the french I took But I do know that I love you And I know that if you loved me too What a wonderful world this would be ------ lead guitar ------ But I do know that I love you And I know that if you loved me too What a wonderful world this would be

28. Chorus Rug time, Rug time - (t’was) / was such a fun time. Rug time, Rug time - (t’wasn’t) / wasn’t such a long time. (2x)- sing to the tune of “ Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

29. WORDS THAT RHYME Bored Pardon ABCs Alaska J E Book Sing Trigonomety Ignored Kindergarten Geography ? Rhyming State ? K Z Look Things Geography

30. BE CREATIVE