Chalkabration

 

Celebrate Chalketry!

Chalk and Poetry put together in illustrations and words for all to read, share, and enjoy. 

Back in March of 2012 my husband was outside with our children doing chalk on the driveway. He got the idea to write some song lyrics. This idea of writing words on our driveway spread. I started writing poems in chalk, then my husband started writing poems, and my children drew pictures. It was fun!

Then, I began thinking, what if  others shared writing underfoot? What if someone, somewhere wrote their favorite poem or an original poem and someone else stumbled upon it? Instant smiles is what I thought. Chalkabration was born and has become a celebration both grown ups and children look forward to. Chalkabration began at my first blog, Teaching Young Writers (click here to see an example). Since then, I started this blog, I Think in Poems. Chalkabration took a two-year hiatus and is being reborn here, April of 2017 at its new home. 

There are two ways to participate in Chalkabration. 
Read below for more information. 

Are you a classroom teacher?

Poetry is an art that should be celebrated! Here is a process to follow if you are doing 

Chalkabration with your class for the first time and need direction.

• Read poetry to your students leading up to the celebration.
• For younger poets:
• One of the easiest poems to write is a collaborative list poem. Choose a topic and have students list ideas and thoughts while you transcribe the words for the whole class.
• Make decisions as a group about a title, order of the lines, and if there should be stanza breaks.
• You are ready to write the poem outside (or inside on a chalkboard or black paper). Students can help with this or you can write the words. 
• Students can illustrate important details from the poem. 
• For older poets:
• You could still begin with a list poem as a starting point, collaborative or independent. 
• Students can assist by writing a line or their own original poem on a sidewalk or blacktop. Illustrations are a fun addition as well! Even for older students. 
• Photograph the poem(s) and illustrations.
• Share your chalketry via Twitter using #Chalkabration any time of the year. You could also create a blog post and share the link using the same hashtag.

Are you someone who loves poetry?
Or maybe you are a poet in hiding.

• From your favorite poet or from your own notebook, put a poem on a piece of ground somewhere (asphalt, sidewalk, maybe even a fence--just make sure it is appropriate and legal).
•  Illustrate it if you like with chalk too and take a photo! 
• Share it via Twitter using #Chalkabration or use it in a blog post and share the link using the same hashtag.

Chalkabration can be any day of the month and any time of the year! Poetry needs no schedule.