Recently the Poem Gnome returned to check in with P about his reading (or lack of) over the summer. So far I have been underwhelmed by the results I’ve seen using my gnome friend, Pavel. P loves to keep an eye on Pavel, but the gnome doesn’t get him to read like the Elf on the Shelf got him into the Christmas spirit. I’m not saying the gnome hasn’t made any impact. It’s just not as much fun as I imagined it would be.
We’ve definitely read and written more poetry than we would have otherwise. P has really taken a shine to writing haiku. Pavel introduced him to the structure of 5-7-5 syllables and my mother taught him that haiku is intended to be about nature and uses juxtaposition (we’re still working on juxtaposition). While on vacation in Colorado he and my mom spent a good part of a morning reading poems from her book of (adult) poetry and then writing their own haiku.
And one written by my mom and I, inspired by P:
A few nights ago P was digging in his heels, trying to get out of reading a book to me, “If I read this will you ask the gnome to come back?” Not exactly the effect I was going for with Pavel, but you better believe I used that bargaining chip when he offered it! The Poem gnome has not been a success in the way I imagined it would be, but Pavel has been working a slower, more subtle magic.
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Missed the first Poem Gnome posts? Get caught up!
Poem Gnome: Summer Reading Fun
My toddler loves anything book related the others though, I don’t motivate but rather bribe. 🙂
Bribery seems to be the only thing that works lately…
A book of kids’ jokes (appropriate for his age/reading level) did the trick for a while. After my reading him a couple of jokes, he wanted to read them to us. So many laughs.
He read a chunk a Paul Bunyan book last night without so much resistance. There may be hope!
I was given this poem after I lost my job. It totally rebuilt my spirit and got me back on track.
It’s called a magic poem because of the way the words affect people, I just think it’s Super Inspiring.
http://www.bubblews.com/news/1662106-i-am-mrg-poem
It is inspiring! Sometimes that’s what it takes, the right words at the right time 🙂