poetry and tea.
Last week I borrowed a homeschooling idea from a friend.
Because that’s what we all do – right?
Earlier in the week, I invited the kids to meet me on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. at our kitchen table. They were invited to bring a stuffed friend, a happy heart and a poem to share.
I wrote it on our family menu board.
The Poet Tea.
And then it was three o’clock and the table was set and the desserts were stacked on the high platter.
The poetry books covered the table. Heavy on the Shel Silverstein.
We all tried chamomile lavender tea with a dash of maple syrup. (The kids preferred the chocolate milk in the end.)
We spent almost an hour. Sipping. Chatting. Laughing. Reading poetry. Bergen just couldn’t stop sharing. He was cracking up over his own poems before he could even begin to read them out loud to us.
I introduced the kids to some old classics I loved in high school. “She Walks in Beauty” and a couple of Shakespeare’s sonnets that are timelessly beautiful.
It wasn’t magic, but you know what – it was a perfectly lovely way to spend an afternoon with the neatest humans I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Cheers to many many more Poet Teas in this home.
10 Comments
shannon medlin
my daughter doesn’t read yet and her books aren’t poems {never thought of getting any of those} Do you have any suggestions as to how I could take this idea to her. TIA
laceykeigley
Even if your daughter cannot officially read she probably loves looking at the pictures.
You guys could simply have a Book Tea time where you both have a stack of books and enjoy the pictures while enjoying your treats. Pointing to pictures – looking at pages together – is still a wonderful precursor to actual reading. And every activity that promotes reading as an enjoyable pleasure is positive educational opportunity.
Our library has a great selection of short children’s poetry books filled with great art – you could read the poems with her that she picks out.
Julie
I adore this idea and will be borrowing it – because it is what I do too!
Pat Meeks
I want to go to your classes! You are an awesome teacher.
laceykeigley
Not all of my classes are this fun. 🙂
judy kay
Thanks for helping me feel better about the Shel Silverstein domination we have during our own poetry tea time. People cracking up laughing is better than boredom, right? Also. Your treats look way yummier than ours.
laceykeigley
Next week’s snacks might be cereal – there’s no consistency in the snack schedule. 🙂
Chelsea
Perfect.
Penny McGinnis
Lacey-
What a lovely way to share poetry with your children. I love that they brought their own and a fuzzy friend. You’re such a good mom.
laceykeigley
thank you!