Moraine Valley and Palos Park Public Library teach children to write valentine poems

Moraine Valley Community College collaborated with the Palos Park Public Library to help teach children how to write poems at the recent Poetry/Valentine Workshop held at the library.

“Part of my job is to do a project each month with 6- to 9-year-olds,” said Mary Lou Parsons, youth librarian at the Palos Park Public Library. “I wanted to do a valentine workshop and thought it would be fun for the kids to learn to write a poem.”

She contacted the college’s Speaking and Writing Center to see if a student would be willing to lead this workshop. Evie Roth, one of the center’s student writing consultants and an English major, agreed to lead it. Margaret Tenerelli, a departmental assistant for the center, also helped Roth and the librarians during the event.

Roth discussed poetry with the young participants and showed them how they could create a simple poem.

“Evie explained that poetry can just be your feelings and that a poem doesn’t have to rhyme,” Parsons said. “She brainstormed with the kids to come up with something they loved and descriptive words about that thing.”

After the children wrote their poems, they put it on a large paper heart. The library provided supplies, such as stickers and doilies, for the children to decorate their valentines.

“This was a new experience for me. I’ve never worked with that age group,” Roth said. “It showed me how smart kids are at that age. They are really creative. One kid said, ‘I’m going to write about a sandwich,’ and he drew one. It was a love letter to a sandwich.”

“It was interesting to see what the children chose to write about and who they chose to write their valentines for,” Tenerelli added.

Roth and Tenerelli, who wore T-shirts from Moraine Valley’s Speaking and Writing Center, were proud to spread awareness about the center, which provides free writing consultations for students and community members.

“It’s not tutoring,” Roth said while describing the service the center offers. “It’s more like a peer talking to a peer about the piece and suggesting ways to strengthen it.”

She explained that, in addition to helping students with their projects, the consultants can assist the public.

“We can help write resumes. Or if you’re working on a personal project, like a novel, we’ll look at that, too,” Roth said.

Parsons said the library appreciated the effort Roth and Tenerelli put into the workshop and how helpful they were.

“It’s great when one part of the community helps out another part of the community,” she said.

To learn more about Moraine Valley’s Speaking and Writing Center, visit morainevalley.edu/writingcenter.

Photo caption: Evie Roth, a student writing consultant from Moraine Valley Community College’s Speaking and Writing Center, helps children create valentine poems.