A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Have Fun Writing Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!

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Write a Halloween Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!

Black Cat HALLOWEEN Haiku BAS 2019

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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Written

on 10/15/2019

Comments on: "Have Fun Writing Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!" (44)

  1. mizan said:
    02/22/2020 at 12:12 am

    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!!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I Review Amazing Matilda: A Monarch’sTale by Bette A. Stevens for A Better World of Books #bookreviews #childrensbooks | Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author said:
    11/13/2019 at 2:36 am

    […] 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 […]

    Liked by 1 person

  3. kevin cooper said:
    11/04/2019 at 11:39 am

    Lovely, Bette! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  4. DutchIl said:
    11/03/2019 at 12:32 pm

    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)

    Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      11/03/2019 at 7:55 pm

      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!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. cathleentownsend said:
    11/01/2019 at 8:24 pm

    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. : )

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      11/01/2019 at 9:46 pm

      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!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Jennie said:
    10/28/2019 at 9:00 am

    Fabulous post, Bette!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. raimeygallant said:
    10/19/2019 at 11:50 pm

    I’m going to a spooky book reading this Halloween. Should be fun!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Kymber said:
    10/18/2019 at 9:47 pm

    I love your poem. You are an awesome teacher. May Miss Midnight rest in peace. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Annika Perry said:
    10/17/2019 at 3:54 am

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/17/2019 at 7:15 pm

      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.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. -Eugenia said:
    10/16/2019 at 9:47 am

    Reblogged this on BrewNSpew and commented:
    Sharing a Halloween haiku and writing tips from Bette!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. -Eugenia said:
    10/16/2019 at 9:45 am

    I love your Halloween poem and thanks for the tips! 🎃

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Annette Rochelle Aben said:
    10/16/2019 at 7:35 am

    Such a fun Halloween haiku

    Like

  14. D. Wallace Peach said:
    10/15/2019 at 3:33 pm

    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. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. D.L. Finn, Author said:
    10/15/2019 at 3:27 pm

    Love it, Bette. Spiders do not survive our kitties:)

    Like

  16. Jill Weatherholt said:
    10/15/2019 at 3:25 pm

    This is wonderful, Bette! You’re a terrific teacher.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. fazbin said:
    10/15/2019 at 1:43 pm

    Allah bless you

    Liked by 1 person

  18. fazbin said:
    10/15/2019 at 1:43 pm

    Love it, Bette

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Mae Clair said:
    10/15/2019 at 1:25 pm

    I didn’t realize Midnight had crossed the rainbow bridge. She will certainly be honored by this fabulous Haiku in her memory!

    Like

  20. Sandee said:
    10/15/2019 at 11:50 am

    Writing well takes work. Teaching our young to write well is a good thing too.

    Have a fabulous day and week, Bette. ♥

    Liked by 1 person

  21. robbiesinspiration said:
    10/15/2019 at 11:11 am

    This is great, Bette. Thanks for the tips. Sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Priscilla Bettis said:
    10/15/2019 at 10:06 am

    Fab poem and tips. May your sweet Miss Midnight rest in peace.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/15/2019 at 3:55 pm

      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 … ❤

      Like

  23. harmonykentonline said:
    10/15/2019 at 9:42 am

    Love it, Bette! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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