Write a Halloween Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!
Midnight—our fabulous, furry feline—inspired me to write BLACK CAT, a Halloween haiku (Haiku: a Japanese-inspired three-line: 5-7-5 syllable poetry form) and design a poster to go with the poem. Kids love illustrating their poetry. This Halloween post is shared in loving memory of our amazing Miss Midnight.
What’s inspiring you this Halloween?
Brainstorm your list and get writing.
Have fun—don’t forget to get the kids writing too!
Here are some Writer’s Tricks (literary devices found in every writer’s toolbox) I used to create BLACK CAT. These tools can set a mood— they make writing and reading memorable and fun. Check them out and see if you can discover where I used them in my poem.
Read on to find out more about these literary devices.
BLACK CAT
Black cat waits, watches…
Stalking tricksters in their webs.
Spiders are her treats!© Bette A. Stevens, Maine author
Three Writer’s Tricks (Literary devices) used in writing poetry and prose
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Consonance
Another literary device used by writers and poets is consonance—repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase. This repetition often takes place in quick succession.
Alliteration
You put your alliteration tool to work when words that start with the same sound are used close together in a phrase or sentence. The sound is usually a consonant and the words don’t have to always be right next to one another.
Finding “just the right words”
Abundant writing resources are available in print as well as online. Listed below are the two resources I had readily available in the classroom for my students (Grades 4-8). Paperbacks are inexpensive enough to have multiple copies on hand, and in my opinion they are indispensable.
- The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary by Sue Young
- Webster’s Thesaurus for Students by Merriam-Webster
Happy Writing and Reading Haiku
& Happy Halloween!
~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator
- Find out more about how to write haiku and other poetry at Reference.Com
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Comments on: "Have Fun Writing Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!" (44)
Here the information you included is very important to match the area of focus, besides we will be very happy if you regular set up like this post. Thanks in advance!!
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Glad you enjoyed the post, Mizan. Have a lovely day!
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[…] Honored to share a spotlight on author Alethea Kehas’s “Better World of Books” feature for my children’s picture book Amazing Matilda. Thanks so much for supporting authors and reviewing books of all genres that offer a vision for a better world, Alethea. You’re amazing! ~ Bette A. Stevens […]
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Lovely, Bette! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Kevin. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing!!.. had snow here on Halloween so at midnight were snuggled in bed with thoughts of sugar plums in our heads… 🙂 no black cats (or any cats) here, the resident field mouse is not overly fond of them… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May flowers always line your path
and sunshine light your way,
May songbirds serenade your
every step along the way,
May a rainbow run beside you
in a sky that’s always blue,
And may happiness fill your heart
each day your whole life through.
(Irish Saying)
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Thanks for stopping by for a visit, dear Larry! Your note got me chuckling… No snow here in Maine yet, but we’re expecting the first end of week. The Sugar Plums will soon be dancing here too. ❤ Have a blessed and beautiful week!
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Great stuff, Bette. Hey, we have a black cat, too! His name is Blackjack, and he thinks he’s the biggest, baddest thing on four paws. Fortunately, he doesn’t try this attitude on coyotes because it wouldn’t work out well. But he has no problem staring down and mixing it up with our German Shepherd. : )
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Love it! 🙂 I’m laughing like crazy… Foxes would run when Miss Middy was chasing! Have a great weekend, Cathleen. Oh the joy our fur babies bring. Missing Midnight, but so grateful we were blessed by her for twelve beautiful years. HUGS!
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Fabulous post, Bette!
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Thanks so much for your lovely note, Jennie. You brightened my day! ❤ xo
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You are most welcome, Bette. ❤️
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I’m going to a spooky book reading this Halloween. Should be fun!
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Awsome, Raimey… Have a SPOOK-tacular time! ❤
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[…] 5. https://4writersandreaders.com/2019/10/15/have-fun-writing-haiku-get-the-kids-writing-too-2/ […]
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I love your poem. You are an awesome teacher. May Miss Midnight rest in peace. ❤
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Thanks so much, dear Kymber. ❤ Sending lots of love your way… xo
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Halloween fun haiku, Bette and the first time I’ve felt in the mood for this occasion this year! Great advice about the books as learning aids … I bet your classroom aids were very popular! I have a couple of reference book and they are now held together with tape!
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Thanks so much for your sweet note, dear Annika! Kids love reading and writing poetry. It’s a great way to promote their love affair with words! ❤ Happy Halloween, dear friend.
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Reblogged this on BrewNSpew and commented:
Sharing a Halloween haiku and writing tips from Bette!
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Halloween Hugs & Kisses! ❤
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🎃 👻
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I love your Halloween poem and thanks for the tips! 🎃
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Thank so much for the visit, Eugenia! ❤
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My pleasure, Bette! 😉
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Such a fun Halloween haiku
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I need to get the grandchild writing haiku, Bette. He’s probably not quite ready for the writing devices, but he can count syllables for sure! Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
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He’ll love it, Diana! Just tell them these are “tools” or “tricks” — it’s all about SOUNDS and kids love them, they love to play with them. 🙂 Have a blast writing haiku with Tornado Boy! xoxo
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I will. 🙂
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Love it, Bette. Spiders do not survive our kitties:)
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This is wonderful, Bette! You’re a terrific teacher.
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Thanks so much for the lovely note, Jill! You made my day… ❤ xo
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Allah bless you
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Thank you, Fazbin. Blessings to you as well.
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Love it, Bette
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I didn’t realize Midnight had crossed the rainbow bridge. She will certainly be honored by this fabulous Haiku in her memory!
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Writing well takes work. Teaching our young to write well is a good thing too.
Have a fabulous day and week, Bette. ♥
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Thanks, Sandee! ❤ xo
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This is great, Bette. Thanks for the tips. Sharing.
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You’re so welcome, Robbie! Thanks so much for stopping by to check them out. Happy Writing! ❤ xo
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Fab poem and tips. May your sweet Miss Midnight rest in peace.
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Thanks so much for your sweet note, Priscilla. Miss Midnight came to us as a feral cat and lived in our barn for 6 months before we managed to lure her into the house. Blessed that she adopted us as her people parents … ❤
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Love it, Bette! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Harmony! ❤ xo
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