A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Write a 🎃 Halloween Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!

Aside

Make writing a Family Affair!

Find out how to write a Haiku poem & 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 to design a poster to go with the poem. Kids love illustrating their poems. They enjoy listening to poetry and to reading it aloud too. 

Reading and writing poetry is a fantastic way to improve creativity and critical thinking skills for people of all ages. Plus, it’s an outstanding way to foster foundational learning and literacy for children. It’s so much fun to read and write poetry together! The kids will love it and I know you will too. Whether at home or in the classroom writing and sharing poetry is a perfect way to celebrate any season—for any reason! 

What’s inspiring you this autumn?
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 🎃Tricks from the Writer’s Toolbox (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.

How to find “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 & Reading Poetry…

                                   🎃HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

                     ~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator

This post is shared in loving memory of our amazing kitty, Miss Midnight. ~Bette A. Stevens

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

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Written

on 10/17/2020

Comments on: "Write a 🎃 Halloween Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!" (70)

  1. Athira said:
    04/17/2021 at 10:12 pm

    Most welcome and thank you Bette..Stay safe!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Athira said:
    04/17/2021 at 3:20 am

    Your blog is amazing

    Liked by 1 person

  3. markbierman said:
    11/21/2020 at 8:38 am

    My youngest daughter and I are currently working on a book together. It’s so much fun.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Mabel Kwong said:
    11/07/2020 at 7:55 am

    I like your haiku, Bette. It’s very short, sharp and witty. Agree illustration is a good way to get kids more into poetry and writing. Hope you had a good Halloween and thank you for the resources.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      11/07/2020 at 6:18 pm

      Hi, Mabel. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely note. Reading and writing poetry with children is a most wonderful thing to do any time of year and a great way to celebrate. Wishing you and awesome autumn! 🎃 xo

      Like

      • Mabel Kwong said:
        11/08/2020 at 7:22 am

        That is so true. It is always wonderful to get children to read and write any time of the year and get into the spirit of any season. We’re in spring over here, heading into summer in Australia 🎃🌞 Take care, Bette 💛

        Liked by 1 person

  5. A Week of Halloween Haikus – Priscilla Bettis, Author said:
    10/30/2020 at 6:42 am

    […] tips and Anthony Renfro’s encouragement. Thanks, you two.:-)Author and poet Bette’s blog: here.Author and poet Anthony’s blog: […]

    Liked by 1 person

  6. roughwighting said:
    10/29/2020 at 4:02 pm

    What a wonderful cat haiku and I love your lesson on the rhetorical devices you used for your haiku. Thank you so much Bette! And here’s to the memory of your kitty Miss Midnight. 🙏 🐈

    Liked by 2 people

  7. karenringalls said:
    10/25/2020 at 6:59 pm

    Here is my Halloween Haiku: An unfriendly ghost, said boo to all the children, scaring boys and girls.

    A fun project. Thank you, Bette.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. AuthorJoePerroneJr said:
    10/24/2020 at 1:21 pm

    Witches with long nails,
    Hide in closeted darkness,
    Waiting to scare you!

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Darlene said:
    10/24/2020 at 9:28 am

    What a great idea!! Happy Halloween!

    Liked by 2 people

  10. DutchIl said:
    10/21/2020 at 10:58 am

    Thank you for sharing a part of your world and lovely words!… Happy Halloween!!… I am not a writer so I have no plan here, just let my fingers do the walking (typing/writing) and my heart do the talking!… 🙂

    Hope all is well in your part of the universe and all your tomorrows are filled with love and happiness!!.. 🙂

    Until we meet again..

    May the dreams you hold dearest
    Be those which come true
    May the kindness you spread
    Keep returning to you
    (Irish Saying)

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Teagan Riordain Geneviene said:
    10/20/2020 at 9:39 pm

    Bette, this is marvelous. Chin rubs to Midnight. Hugs on the wing.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Jennie said:
    10/20/2020 at 8:45 pm

    This is wonderful, Bette. Children will embrace haiku, especially at Halloween.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Jacqui Murray said:
    10/19/2020 at 9:39 pm

    That is wonderful. Definitely catches the spirit of the holiday.

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Grammy Writes said:
    10/19/2020 at 5:58 pm

    That’s a fun haiku! I’ll read it to my grandkids and challenge them to come up with one of their own. Happy Halloween!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/19/2020 at 9:10 pm

      Thanks, Grammy–you’re awesome! 🎃Let me know if you’d like to be featured with your Grands and their creation(s)… HAVE FUN & HAPPY HAIKU HALLOWEEN TO ALL! xoxoxo

      Like

      • Grammy Writes said:
        10/30/2020 at 12:24 am

        I did get the kids to write Halloween Haiku! The funniest one was by my 5 year old grandson:
        “It is Halloween
        I have a sticky eyeball
        I love scary ghosts”
        I have no clue about the “sticky eyeball”!! 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/30/2020 at 10:57 pm

      The “sticky eyeball” –great imagery! 👀 Happy Halloween to you and your awesome Grands! xo

      Like

  15. Barbara Franken said:
    10/19/2020 at 3:59 am

    How lovely this creation is, especially including the kids❤️ Happy Halloween, love Barbara x

    Liked by 2 people

  16. boundlessblessingsblog said:
    10/18/2020 at 11:14 pm

    Happy Halloween 🎃🎃🎃🎃 Bette. Inspiring and motivating post.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. marianbeaman said:
    10/18/2020 at 4:40 pm

    Long ago before college teaching, I taught 4 graders, and I remember how they enjoyed creating haiku. We put them on a bulletin board decorated with a Japanese theme, perhaps cherry blossoms. I don’t remember . . .

    I’ll post this on Facebook, Bette, and tweet this. Wonderful idea! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/18/2020 at 9:03 pm

      Thanks so much for helping shout out the challenge, Marian! 🎃 I have books, photos and memories galore. Poetry was a foundational touchstone for literacy in my classrooms… Appreciate your passion for passing that along. In our Covid-time when families have become more involved in the education of their children, poetry provides a perfect way to build relationships and promote a love of reading. I read with my great-grand Olivia (age 6) on Facetime and we’re having so much fun! 🧡💛💚

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Miriam Hurdle said:
    10/18/2020 at 4:39 pm

    Great inspiration for kids writing Halloween haiku, Bette. When my daughter was 6, she wrote a Halloween poem and we submitted it to an anthology. We bought the anthology and showed her poem to her. She was so excited and made her own poetry book with at least 20 poems. Kids like to be inspired.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/18/2020 at 8:56 pm

      How wonderful for you and Mercy to have experienced this together–making memories with our children is such a blessing! It is sure to inspire both of you to make more of those wonderful memories with your beautiful grands. Thanks so much for sharing! 🎃xo

      Like

  19. Msdedeng said:
    10/18/2020 at 1:34 pm

    I love, love your blog, Bette. This is a fun prompt I might take part in. Thank you so much for the follow. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  20. balroop2013 said:
    10/18/2020 at 12:23 pm

    This is a fabulous haiku! Thanks for the inspiration Bette, I too am trying to write a Halloween haiku now. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Baydreamer said:
    10/18/2020 at 12:19 pm

    What a great post, Bette, and I love your haiku. 🧡🤡👻👽😻

    Liked by 2 people

  22. D. Wallace Peach said:
    10/18/2020 at 11:34 am

    What a fun idea, Bette. Kids love Halloween and it’s a great source of inspiration. Your haiku made me laugh. My cats love those tasty spiders too. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/18/2020 at 8:46 pm

      Fur babies keep us laughing all the time… Middy’s love of spiders always reminded me of my own love for lobsters! No one will ever take her place, but we are currently fur-sitting for two of our Grand-kitties and their antics keep us going! 🎃

      Liked by 1 person

  23. noelleg44 said:
    10/18/2020 at 10:46 am

    That haiku is a winner- what fun! Wish I had time now to do anything but pack and pack!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/18/2020 at 10:53 am

      Hugs! 🎃 Take good care of you and enjoy many magic moments with your precious little grand! One of these days the two of you can write and read together!

      Like

  24. Sue Dreamwalker said:
    10/18/2020 at 10:17 am

    Lovely Haiku Bette… ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  25. -Eugenia said:
    10/18/2020 at 9:23 am

    Reblogged this on Eugi's Causerie I and commented:
    Sharing from Bette Stevens blog – Make Writing a Family Affair-

    Liked by 2 people

  26. -Eugenia said:
    10/18/2020 at 9:21 am

    What fun! Sharing! ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Jill Weatherholt said:
    10/18/2020 at 7:22 am

    What fun! Thanks for sharing, Bette.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. robbiesinspiration said:
    10/18/2020 at 4:04 am

    A great Halloween haiku, Bette.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. D.L. Finn, Author said:
    10/18/2020 at 1:23 am

    Great post and information, Bette:) fun children’s Haiku, sound line my cat.

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Jan Sikes said:
    10/17/2020 at 10:59 pm

    Excellent suggestion, Bette! Wendy Scott has a book of Halloween prompts that would come in handy for this. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 2 people

  31. Priscilla Bettis said:
    10/17/2020 at 9:25 pm

    I’m inspired. I’m going to write some Halloween haikus! RIP Miss Midnight.

    Liked by 2 people

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