December 2025

Dear Reader,

GREETINGS!

Today is the second day of Christmas as I type this, marking time via the Twelve Days of Christmas between the celebration of Christ's birth and Epiphany on January 6th.

I like the practice of pausing to savor the holiday season even though the pausing and savoring will be a bit short-lived.... I'm typing in the semi-quiet before the thundering hoards of grandkids arrive (okay, they're 14 and 18, they're not that thundering anymore) and wanted to say a quick hello. Plus, offer an update on what to expect from me as I write to you each month in the year ahead.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON...

Here is a poem I shared with readers last month, in case you missed it. Reflecting on the Christmas season keeps this poem front of mind for me, I hope for you as well--Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us at all times, now and into the new year.

A NEW DIRECTION FOR A NEW YEAR

As many readers know, I am in a bit of a transition phase with my writing and online work as I ponder how best to be present on the interwebs and via your Inbox.

I first began writing online/blogging in January 2012 (fourteen years ago!) and many of you have been following my work since the beginning. (Hi Nancy! Hi Tresta).

For the last couple of years I moved my writing on Substack, connecting with poets and other folks about all things poetry. I decided in September to make shift to helping Home School families teach poetry by offering resources and inspiration via poetry lessons and curriculum.

This new direction melds two things I love and feel passionate about--my twenty plus years of teaching in Elementary and Middle School classrooms and the magic and wonder of poetry. That shift brings me back to writing this monthly newsletter and re-building a home on the internet via my website.

I want everyone to make friends with poetry via accessible activities and inspiration, offering curriculum, lessons and downloads to readers, whether they are parents, grandparents or teachers.

Here are some of the questions I can answer:

• Are you a parent (or grandparent) challenged with finding good poetry books for your kids?
• A homeschooler who wants to add a poetry unit to your curriculum but unsure where to begin?
• Then you’ve come to the right place to make friends with poetry!

Many of you participated in a survey a few months ago**--Thank you!--and provided fabulous feedback about how best to help you teach poetry to your children--I have a plethora of ideas percolating.

These ideas are formulated and will be available as free downloads as well as paid offerings, grouped by age (not grade level) via Primary Colors. (If you are a home educator you know best what your childrens' abilities are; 'grade level' does not always translate to age, in my opinion.)

I have taught in Elementary Classrooms as well as Middle School and have experience with Writer's Workshop in each of those grades, thus have a wide range of resources to offer.

At this time here's my current brainstorm about grouping resources--(keep in mind, storms can blow over and the sky could change drastically.....)

I'm pondering the following age levels for lessons, curriculum & resources via these Primary Color markers:

5-8 year olds--YELLOW

9-12 year olds--RED group

12-15 +--BLUE group

Also, if you are a homeschooling parent or home educator adjacent, will you email me with your thoughts on this grouping? I want to serve you the best I can!

Some of my brainstorms for free downloads and resources will include:

Annotated Poetry lists--The best poems for boys, Christmas and seasonal poetry for families and more

How to Make a Poetry Notebook

'Writing' with Pictures--aka Art Journaling or Prayers on Paper

How to Think Poetically

How to Write a Memoir Poem

Model poems to mimic writing your own, including first line writing prompts

Poetry 101 Download--What IS Poetry? What's a metaphor? How do I write a poem and where do I begin?

Lesson extension activities to use with poems in the public domain and picture book text (with authors' permissions)

These brainstorms are all subject to change as I discover what works best for you in your home school classroom.

RESOURCES NOT JUST FOR HOMESCHOOLERS

Even if you're not a home educator, you might know someone who is--and I would be grateful if you'd point them in my direction to find poetry resources for teaching their kids, once my marvelous new website is ready! (See note following.)

Also, as a parent and grandparent you can find resources for the best poetry books for children--there's something for everyone!

But first, a new website

Speaking of brainstorms, transitioning from my current home on the web to a completely new look with new navigation and so on; well, it's like staging a play--there is a lot going on behind the scenes!

The soft launch of my site will be (God willing) February 2nd--Candlemas--and I believe you'll find resources, information and inspiration to guide you in all things poetry--both as a reader and home educator.

I expect to be in touch with you all via my newsletter to announce this exciting new 'home' on the web, so please be sure to sign up for my email list via the button below.

Until next time.....

May you find the neverending light of Jesus in the wonder-filled days ahead... the light no darkness can overcome. Amen.

And will you send me an email with your comments or questions about this new direction? I want to serve my readers the best I can and I so enjoy reading your emails! Simply click here. ​

**P.S. I did my best to add each responder's name correctly to my email list; please let me know if there's an adjustment I need to make!

'Clam Lights' Gene Coulon Park Lake Washington, Renton, WA. jlc photos

Snow on trees, NYC, Wm. Johnson, Tacoma.

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