31 Letters Literacy Project: Day 24 - "Words that make today TODAY"

Day 24 of our 31 Letters Literacy Project is all about words that make today TODAY.

Today’s letter is inspired by the poem TODAY that we bumped into on Day 24 of 365 Days of Literacy for Kids:

TODAY by Frank O’Hara

Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!
You really are beautiful! Pearls,
harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! all
the stuff they’ve always talked about

still makes a poem a surprise!
These things are with us every day
even on the beachheads and biers. They
do have meaning. They’re strong as rocks.

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The poem TODAY is made up of completely unrelated words, but words that all add up to the whole of TODAY… words that make today and the poem TODAY a great surprise! It almost feels as if the poet is looking around him and re-discovering the joy of stuff and the words that bring the stuff to us. Pearls, harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins!

Look around you TODAY and see and feel the words that make your today TODAY.

Make a list of the words that make your today TODAY. Write a letter to your kids/grandkids/special kids telling them all about your words. Remember, Literacy is all about Words.

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Here is my TODAY letter today to my grandchildren:

March 24, 2011

Dear ____________________,

Hi, my little darlings! Have you ever stopped to think how many words we use in one day? One TODAY?

Which words make your today TODAY? Ever since I woke up TODAY, I’ve been writing down words that make up my TODAY. It sounds complicated, doesn’t it? But it’s not. Watch…

velveteen flower
afghan
Always kiss me goodnight
pearl earrings
Imagine
hat box
ROOMS
coffee cups
silver sugar spoon
The most important thing is family
markers
glass frogs
BEACH
Barcelos Rooster
BAR HARBOR
drumsticks
Votes for Women
rainbows
THE EARTH LAUGHS IN FLOWERS
apples
crystal chandelier
Count Your Blessings
blue & white vases
acorns
running shoes
Easter eggs
tiny teapot
piggy cookie cutters

Wow. The day is just beginning and I have all of these wonderful words of TODAY!

Each of these things has its own little story. Each of these things is beautiful and joyous. Each of these things still surprises me every single day. Even TODAY!

Take a look around you and write a list of words that make your today TODAY! It’s very, very fun! Then we can share our words… and the stories of our words! Maybe you can draw some of your words or take photos of them!

Love forever and ever,

Grandma Couto