Fourth Grade Students Use "Golden Shovel" Method to Write Poems

Fourth grade students at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy completed their poetry unit this month. Using the “Golden Shovel” method by Nicki Grimes, students wrote their own poems using the opening line of Langston Hughes’ poem, The Dream Keeper.

The Golden Shovel method of writing poetry guides students through the writing process with each word of the first line of the inspirational poem used (in this case The Dream Keeper) serving as the last word of each line of their own poem. A few samples are offered here formed from the line “bring me all of your dreams." 

Students will continue creating additional poems in Global Awareness and English Language Arts that will lay the foundation for each student to have a finished anthology of their work. Students will share their work with the school community at the end of the month through a poetry slam-like event.

Thank you fourth grade for showing us that words have power!