Bronxville News

Author Empowers K-5 Students to Write Poetry
Bronxville, NY

Kindergarten through fifth graders shared their love for poetry with acclaimed children’s book author and poet Janet Wong in a three-part virtual experience on April 9, 16 and 23. 

“Janet connected with the students in fun and engaging ways,” Assistant Principal Rakiya Adams said. “During her visits, she met with each grade level, discussing her experiences and journey as a poet, and shared how her first poem was rejected by a publisher, demonstrating the importance of perseverance.” 

As part of the poet-in-residence program, Wong read and talked about a variety of poems and engaged the students in writing exercises for metaphor and simile poems. In addition, fourth and fifth graders were challenged to write their own poems and participate in a workshop, where Wong provided them with constructive feedback to help expand their skills as writers. 

“If there’s one takeaway from Janet’s visits that she has instilled is the idea that poetry is all around us,” Adams said.

The program was supported through the Lecture Series PTA committee.