Dear Joe,

  Greetings again!  Since I last wrote with samples of my classroom poetry, I have had another wonderful "Joe Larke poetry" writing success which I just have to share with you!

  In addition to teaching children in a Montessori setting in public school, I also am a Montessori teacher trainer and have just completed another teacher training here in Brownsville under the direction of  SWTC and UTB.  The exciting experience I had was when I introduced the teachers to your  poetry writing style and the ease with which it can be taught and learned by students.  In order to show the teachers just how easy it is to do,  I gave each of them a poetry pattern sheet to write a quick poem after  I demonstrated writing one using the technique you taught my students when you were in my class in April.  The teachers at first thought they couldn't do it, but to their surprise and delight they wrote wonderful poems with ease.  The group was amazed and thrilled to see just how easy it is to do and how they, with this little bit of encouragement and experience , could share this skill with their students.  I only wish I had asked them to share their  poems with me so that you could have enjoyed this moment of joy with us as well.

  I must say again, Joe, what a great gift your poetry writing formula is for me  and now all these teachers as well.  Not one of them before had tried to write poetry with their students but all said they now felt at ease about returning to class to unlock the door of poetry writing for their students.  Thank you from all of us.

  Once again, I look forward to another visit with you in our school.  My students and fellow teachers will continue to share their work with you when we return to school.  God bless you in this wonderful work that you do.  If anyone doesn't believe how easy it is to teach, just have them contact me!  Hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,
Janet R. Schooley
Montessori  2nd-3rd  Teacher
Gonzales Elementary Brownsville ISD.