Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm at least half Irish (mostly on my mom's side) and have always loved this holiday. I love green and I love kisses, so it's pretty fun.

As a teacher, I try to incorporate the holidays into my class in the most meaningful way possible. No cheesy worksheets here, I like doing things that will improve my students' skills, while addressing the special time of year. For example, for Valentine's Day, my favorite activity is having the kids write persuasive love letters or make poetic greeting cards. Today, I did something new and I just love it.

First, we learned a little bit about Irish poet William Butler Yeats. Then, we listened to an audio recording of Yeats himself reading his poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." The recording I found is super old and really great because he gives some background on his inspiration behind the poem, which helps the students so much with their analysis.

The Lake Isle Of Innisfree

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

Photo by Simon Crowley from here.

This is such a perfect poem for me to be reading today. It is so calming and peaceful and I just love it. 

I made corned beef and cabbage last year, but we have some lasagna leftovers we should eat tonight, so we'll

probably just eat at home and go down the street for a Guinness or two. 

What are your St. Patrick's Day plans?