Letter from the Editor

I Am Rich Today With Autumn's Gold



The fall season bestows upon us a countryside glowing with the color of gold. Gold! The color of the precious fleece sought by the Greek hero, Jason; the final product that Rumpelstiltskin helped the poor peasant girl to spin from piles of straw; and the dream that led thousands of men and women to leave their families and homes, and race to California in the 1840's. These legends and stories inspire my hope that this autumn will bring something magical and wonderful to us all, for gold is indeed an enchanting color.

Surrounded by Mother Nature's gift of a beautiful golden autumn, what do you enjoy doing with your family and friends during a weekend or in your spare time?

Reading books at home
Taking a nap
Picnicking and people watching at the park
Gardening
Visiting the library or a bookstore (and getting some snacks!)
Cleaning up the house
Going to a birthday party
Doing some volunteer activities for local charity groups
Visiting the local farmer's market


Of course, the list can go on and on, depending on your schedule, your interests, and your family's needs. Here, we would like to share with you a plan for a family poetry reading session. We hope you and your family enjoy the magic of poetry in such a beautiful season.

Here Is How You Go About "Family Poetry Reading"

  1. Select a poem that your children and you will both enjoy. Ideal poems will be those with three or more stanzas/divisions so that each person can choose their favorite parts. For preschoolers or kindergarten-aged children, familiar nursery rhymes or Dr. Seuss books are also good choices.
  2. Each individual has a copy of the poem, if it is a short one. When using Dr. Seuss books or other longer poems, two people can share.
  3. Discuss with your children and plan for the following:
    1. Which stanza/division each person would like to read individually or with a partner?
    2. Which stanza/division may be good for the family to read aloud together?
    3. What kind of voices can be used to read a particular stanza/division?
    4. What was the poet thinking as she/he wrote this poem?
  4. Each person selects and reads his/her part a few times, before joining the group effort. You may also switch roles or change the tone or voices after a few practices.
Below is a poem from this issue of PCTO, entitled The Catchers--From a Frog's Point of View by Holly Swick. This poem can be shared with a family/friend group of three or more people.

THE CATCHERS--From a Frog's Point of View

By Holly Swick

[Reader #1]
Don't go outside my little one.
I know you think you'll have lots of fun,
But out that door there waits for you
A "catcher," yes the legends true.

[Reader #2]
But Mom, I am so bored inside.
Can't I go out? I will slip and slide.

[Reader #1]
Don't asked again. I said "NO."
You'll stay in here 'cause I told you so.

[Readers #1, 2, & 3 together OR Reader #4, the narrator]
Later when my mom dozed off
I jumped outside with one big hop.
"I'm free. I'm free," I yelled out loud.
I jumped and played. I felt so proud.

[Readers #1, 2, & 3 together OR Reader #4, the narrator OR Reader #5 another narrator]
Then I stopped, with fear I froze.
Before me a great big "catcher" rose.
It stood there tall with a net and cup.
Its big wide grin made me want to jump!
It reached for me, I could tell,
But then it stopped
When its own mom yelled. . .

[Reader #3]
Please step back, you might fall in.
That pond is deep and you can't swim.
Put your silly net away.
Oh, please don't catch a frog today!





I hope you like this activity and look forward to talking with you again next time.


back to Parents and Children Together Online Issue 8

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