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Young Author’s Tea celebrates Frank Ohl poets
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The fourth- and fifth-graders of Mrs. Frank’s Frank Ohl classroom gathered on April 14 to celebrate their book of “Special Writings” being published. To share their writings, the students invited friends and family for treats and readings of their poems.
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Noah Logston wrote a poem about his family, where he praised them for making him be “the best person I can be.”
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Domonique Telfair praised her mom and grandma in her writing. She shared that they taught her about the importance of school.
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After their poetry reading, the Frank Ohl students celebrated their success with their classmates and friends. Reliving their best moments were Robyn Mowrey (standing, left), Becky Zebosky, Ryan Zebosky, Domonique Telfair, Reshauna Telfair, and Natalie Wagner (sitting).
By SARAH FOOR
There aren’t many fourth- and fifth-graders who can say they are published poets, but Joanne Franks’ Frank Ohl students recently joined that very elite club.
On April 15, the students invited friends and family to their classroom to enjoy food, drinks, and the reciting of poems, which they called “Young Authors Tea.”
The intimate poetry event has been held for the last four years and the project begins many months before with the exploration of the art of poetry.
“We work with the students a lot during this project, to let them fully explore this very different way to express themselves,” explained Franks.
During the project, the fourth- and fifth-graders worked on poems exploring seasons, their greatest memory, acrostic poems, and even finished an “about the author” blurb. The works were sent to a local publishing company, who printed the “Special Writings” for free, and principal Dennis Rice covered the cost of shipping and handling.
The students’ April 15 event was a coming out party as published authors.
As fifth-grader Natalie Wagner read her “About the Author” blurb, she shared, “What makes me a good person is that I’m a great friend.”
Domonique Telfair read a poem about two special people in her life, her mom and grandmother.
“I love my grandma because she helps me with school work. My mom and I work together because she is going to school just like I am, and she is graduating this year,” Telfair shared with the small crowd.
Franks appreciated that the project gave her students pride and confidence in their work.
“There’s a great satisfaction in seeing their name in print. The book is a great keepsake for the kids and it really teaches a deep love for writing,” the teacher shared.