Published Authors | Desmond and Oliver

 Congratulations to talented writers Desmond and Oliver, who have both had their work published in the latest issue of Toitoi. 

Desmond wrote a wonderful poem titled, 'boy in the city' (page 5) and Oliver's flash fiction piece (page 69) is titled 'My Poor Forehead'. 

Oliver and Desmond's work was selected by the editors from hundreds of submissions made by students in years 1-8 from all over Aotearoa New Zealand. What a wonderful achievement to become published authors at such a young age!

Both boys will receive two copies of Toitoi to enjoy with their families, and we have copies in the Russley School library as well as a set for classroom use.

To be Published!

We wait with bated breath for the next issue of Toitoi... two Russley students had their work selected from hundreds of submissions from schools all over Aotearoa. They will be published in Toitoi 25, which will be out at the beginning of Term 4.

Congratulations to:

Oliver Kitchingman - for his flash fiction story titled: 'Ma Poor Forehead'

Desmond Kiddie - for his cool poem titled: 'boy in the city'

List Poems

 We have been experimenting with List Poems. We each picked a category - some chose a colour, some chose 'tiny things', some chose 'fast' or 'slow' things. 

We brainstormed to come up with a list of objects that fitted into that particular category. We then added some detail to each object. An adjective (describing word), a verb (action word), or perhaps a simile. 

I learn so much from my wonderful writers... they never cease to amaze me with their wealth of knowledge and experience, and their unique way of looking at the world. I love the way they weave these treasures into their writing.

This week I learnt that a John Deere 9R-540 tractor has a 13.6 litre engine and that the super giant star called Rigel is 860 light years from Earth! I absolutely love the simile from Desmond, comparing lines in a school exercise book to human veins. Brilliant!

Check out some of our list poems, hanging on the wall in the Writing Club Room:

Black:

a grippy tyre

a grippy tyre rolling

soft creased leather shoe

matariki night scaring me

smooth ink writing poems

my shadow copying

a cook racing car dashing

frizzy, long hair

by Antonio

Fast:

racing cars, smoking tyres

slender cheetah sprinting

Isuzu truck, roaring like a tiger

John Deere 9R 540's loud 13.6 litre engine

motorbike spinning its muddy wheels

blinking, winking, a pounding heart

speedy Sophie Pascoe

freestyling 200 metres

by Hayden

Slow...

newborn baby, wiggling tiny fingers

frustrating traffic jams in the city

soft shell turtle eating a goldfish

tiny snail slithering

difficult maths test in room 8

green and blue Earth rotates

by Gemma

Yellow:

buttered popcorn popping

sunflowers rising

like calm dancers

.

bees buzzing

hot fire sizzling

like loud lions roaring

by Daisy

Fast:

no traffic jams

cars racing

camouflaged cheetahs, black spots

strong wind

small leaves swishing

like waves

blinking people

beating heart

tough athletes sprinting

to the finish line

by Elise

Blue:

clear sky

oceans, smooth as plastic

Rigel, super giant,

860 light years from earth

straight lines in schoolbooks,

like veins

by Desmond