Summer school students in Kirkland receive special poetry lesson

Published 10:23 am Monday, August 3, 2015

John Muir Elementary summer school students received a special visit from nationally known poet Janet Wong on July 22. Wong shared her children’s poems, stories about poetry and how to be a poet.

Wong brought a large brown alligator suitcase with special props inside. She had student helpers choose something from the case and she told a story or poem about the item. Students engaged as Wong read stories about food, family, and immigration. She read a story in Spanish, and stories about her own father. She also taught the teachers a special noodle dance. The students learned to speak Wookie.

Wong’s message to the children was clear. “Do you have an idea?” she asked. “Write it down. Don’t worry about making it ‘good’ – just try. The key is getting started. Getting those big wheels in your brain to move. If you sputter, if you stall, no problem. Wait a little while and start it up again.”

King County Library System librarian Jennifer Duffy arranged for Wong’s visit.