Poems by
Patrice Vecchione's students

The girl had a magic boy on her head.
She thought it worked
but it did not because it was broken.
She still went for a walk though.

Melissa Viratsko, age 6

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Mis manos
son el retoño
del futuro,
para mañana
mis manos.

translation:
My hands
are the sprout
of the future,
for tomorrow
my hands.

Francisco Pineda, age 7

...................................

The Puzzle of Life

The puzzle of life is complicated,
like an ordinary puzzle but harder.
You always put the pieces
with the flat edges together first,
giving support for my future.

Clifton Riley, age 8

...................................

On a tree
in the forest
of the mountains
far away
I carved the letters
of your name
leaving thoughts of you
along my way
and wonder who
will wonder what
the name I wrote
was meant to say

Sarah Laughton, age 13

“She taught us to listen to our hearts.”
—Margaret, age 6

“The thing I like about writing poems is the feeling and the flying of pencils and getting everything on paper.”
—Nathan Rivera, age 11

“Her very presence releases something for us and gives us permission for expression.”
—9th grade English teacher

Elementary, Middle and High School Workshops: Through her program, The Heart of the Word: Poetry and the Imagination, Patrice consults nationally, and has taught poetry along California’s central coast for over twenty-five years, bringing poets and poetry into the schools. Patrice also presents poetry performances. In addition to working with children, Patrice’s program in school offers teacher trainings, classes for parents, and family writing workshops. She consults in the area of curriculum development.

Through writing poems we can give voice to many aspects of our lives—our daily experiences, thoughts and feelings, our unique perceptions of the world. Writing poetry under Patrice’s guidance empowers students to see themselves as writers and to excel in written expression.

Teacher Workshops: Staff development workshops educate teachers in poetry uniqueness and how it can be the needed inspiration for children to love writing. Poetry is accessible to kids and can open the door for them to many forms of writing. Rarely do teachers get the opportunity to write for themselves—a workshop with Patrice provides that chance.

Parent Workshops: Since parents are their children’s first teachers, a workshop on how to support kids success and enjoyment of writing is most apt. How parents can enhance their children’s education in the area of writing is discussed.

Family Writing Workshops: Patrice’s family writing workshops bring together children and parents to write together. Ever written a poem as a whole family? Patrice performs poems and leads the group in writing explorations.

Teaching in Monterey County: Patrice has offered her poetry program at Robert Down Elementary School and Pacific Grove High in Pacific Grove, Captain Cooper in Big Sur and Chartwell in Seaside, and Creekside Elementary in Salinas, as well as for the Pacific Grove Public Library.