Mary Mexis Lumsden
msmml.bsky.social
Mary Mexis Lumsden
@msmml.bsky.social
Reader, Ontario educator, always learning. Always promoting CanLit. BTVS forever.
Good morning, Edusky peeps!
Has anyone read "Tackling tough texts" by Sarah Lupo et al?
Is it worth a read? Any info is much appreciated.
September 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Hey Ont Ed!! Day one is done!!
kermit the frog from the muppet show is standing in front of a red curtain .
ALT: kermit the frog from the muppet show is standing in front of a red curtain .
media.tenor.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM
nice.
August 8, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I saw something like this in a First Nations workshop. Would like to try this with the group I teach. We were told to deal with it like a Plinko game. Wonder if I can do that on a slide and we can watch the ball go down and create the poem. Would they be able to do one? Depends on the student.
A bit of a different ask today with our #PoemADayJuly by Layli Long Soldier: "Obligations 2"

⓵ what path do you take through this poem? why?
⓶ we love discussing/analyzing poetry—but what about creating our own? can you make one yourself?

(And post it?)

@thevogelman.bsky.social @heymrsbond.com
July 28, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This poem reminds me of those paintings (Bosch? Breugel?) where what seems like a momentous event is mundane. I think one was about the road to Cavalry. The last lines bring to mind, to me at least, the analogy of the frog in the slowly heating pot - we are unaware until it's too late. #PoemADayJuly
"On the day the world ends / A bee circles a clover,"

We're not quite at the day #PoemADayJuly ends—but we're close. And this poem as part of the final stretch feels essential, in more ways than one.

"A Song on the End of the World" Czeslaw Milosz

@heymrsbond.com @thevogelman.bsky.social
July 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I've been married for 31(!) years. I feel ALL of this. I'm tired of being the one who makes the plans. The last line emphasizes, at least to me, the kindness of strangers. I love the idea of presenting this without the title. My students would struggle as their cultures don't allow/expect divorce.
"but I said, No, I’m tired of being / the one who sums things up."

This is a new one for me, and as such I'm really excited to explore today's #PoemADayJuly: "The Day of Our Divorce Hearing" by Ruth Lepson

What do you notice? 👀
What do you wonder? 🤔

@thevogelman.bsky.social @heymrsbond.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
That line struck me too. I said to a class one (we were doing a unit on immigration) that often the first thing immigrants unpack is the reason they wanted to leave: "back home" hatreds, "back home" thinking, "back home" mores. My students got upset but then thought about it.
“My work: to do more than reproduce the toxic stories I have inherited and learned.”

Here is where today’s #PoemADayJuly becomes universal. Everyone experiences a measure of this in life. This line makes the more personal experiences alluded to in the poem resonate deeply.
"I was born mid-migration. I’ve made my home in that motion."

Oh my this poem by @joseolivarez.bsky.social has captured me before + once again is doing so—and I cannot wait to begin this third week of #PoemADayJuly with it:

"Ars Poetica" - José Olivarez

@heymrsbond.com @thevogelman.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This poem is heartbreaking. I couldn't teach this in my class as I have students that are refugees from war-torn places. Lines 28-37! Being somewhat irreverent, is it bad that I start hearing the theme to "Mission Impossible" at line 12? And that that's what this poem is describing? #PoemADayJuly
"They call us now, / before they drop the bombs."

We're beginning Week 2 of #PoemADayJuly with "Running Orders" by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha and, yes, this poem is so much and too much and, because of that so much and too much, very worthy of conversation.

@thevogelman.bsky.social @heymrsbond.com
July 8, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Didn't know this poem. Don't really know what a root cellar is either. However "what a congress of stinks" is so visceral. There's been quite a theme of death running through these poems. And now one about the persistence of life. So much imagery, as someone else said, you could easily draw this.
"Nothing would sleep in that cellar, dank as a ditch,"

For today's #PoemADayJuly, another shift: an older poem, a shorter poem, and a tone shift, too (perhaps? maybe not?)

"Root Cellar" by Theodore Roethke

(There's a lot going on in just 11 lines!)

@thevogelman.bsky.social @heymrsbond.com
July 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM
1/2 What a powerful poem! As a Canadian looking at this, it is almost prescient. All of those things that Hughes mentions in 1938 (!) are so glaringly clear. The same sentiments from Trump are making their way up here: separatism, the "wronging" of the white man, "back to basics" {cringe}.
"Let it be that great strong land of love / Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme" (7-8)

I would guess that most of us have read this poem. Some of us (*raises hand*) have brought it into our classrooms.

"Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes

Let's read it again. #PoemADayJuly
July 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Most of these are new to me. However, the Rios poem is particularly meaningful. My mom had a stroke in January, the giving is all I have right now. I give her time and patience, I give her encouragement and love, I hope I give her hope. That's what I give. #PoemADayJuly
Starting Tuesday: #PoemADayJuly with myself, @heymrsbond.com and @thevogelman.bsky.social 😎

The first seven poems listed here—we'll discuss one each day, and everyone is welcome! Building community by talking about poetry is a pretty cool thing, so let's do it!

docs.google.com/document/d/1...
July 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Is there a way to bookmark a post on bluesky?
Thank you in advance!
June 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Our school namesake, Marc Garneau, passed away yesterday. He was 76. Dr. Garneau was the first Canadian astronaut. He visited his namesake school almost every year. His last visit here was a year ago. May he rest in peace and touch the stars.
June 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
March is Greek Heritage month at the TDSB. For the longest time, Greeks didn't celebrate birthdays. Instead they celebrated "name days" to honour the saint they were named after. March 25 is the "evangelismos tis Theotokou" (annunciation of the Virgin Mary). Evangelia, Evangelo, Angelo all celebrate
March 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
March is Greek heritage month at TDSB. March 25th is a double holiday: the annunciation of the Virgin Mary and the start of the Greek war of Independence. If we were in Greece, this would be a holiday!
March 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
March is Greek Heritage month @ TDSB. The Olympic Games began in Olympia in 776 BC. Events were military skills: running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration (wrestling) and horse racing. Wars stopped during the games. Those at war couldn't compete.
www.olympics.com/ioc/ancient-...
www.olympics.com
March 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
March is Greek heritage month @ TDSB. One of the most famous Greek writers is Homer. He wrote "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". But HE didn't write anything. These stories were told orally. Eventually someone wrote them down. The Iliad is about the Trojan war, the Odyssey about Odysseus's return home.
March 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
March is Greek heritage month at the TDSB. A famous Greek food is FETA. Feta cheese is made with sheep or goat milk. Or the two combined. "Feta" means slice. It is best eaten with a drizzle of olive oil and oregano sprinkled over top. YUM! 😋Learn more about it here:
greekreporter.com/2024/06/05/t...
The Ancient Greek Roots of Feta, the Oldest Cheese in Recorded History - GreekReporter.com
Feta is the soft white “king” of Greek cheeses, renowned around the world. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times.
greekreporter.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
March is Greek Heritage month at the TDSB. Yesterday was international women's day. One of the most famous Greek women of recent times is Maria Callas. Besides her amazing voice, Callas hid Greek resisters in her home during WWII
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1C8...
Maria Callas - Puccini - O mio babbino caro
YouTube video by medici.tv
www.youtube.com
March 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
March is Greek Heritage month at TDSB. Today is "clean Monday", the start of 40 days of Lent. If we were in Greece, today would be a holiday. Read more about it here: greekreporter.com/2025/03/02/c...
@TDSB_GHM
Clean Monday in Greece: Everything You Need to Know - GreekReporter.com
“Kathara Deftera,” Greek for Clean Monday, commences the 40-day period of Great Lent, known as "Sarakosti" for the Greek Orthodox Church.
greekreporter.com
March 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
March is Greek Heritage month at the TDSB. One of the most recognizable Greek dishes is baklava - a phyllo and nut dessert covered in syrup. This version is called "politiko" (from the 'poli') but traditionalists do not put icing. Any nut can be used. Walnut is common because it's the cheapest.
March 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
March is Greek Heritage month at the TDSB. There is a saying in Greek, "there is no March without Lent". To help kids count down the 7 weeks of Lent, they can use "Mrs. Sarakosti" She has 7 feet, one for each week of Lent.
March 6, 2025 at 2:07 AM
March is Greek Heritage month at the TDSB. Greece has been a destination for travelers since time immemorial. One of the most recognizable monuments is the parthenon. The Parthenon is part of the Acropolis complex. Take a 3D tour!
artsandculture.google.com/story/HgWRXl...
Peek Inside the Parthenon in 3D - Google Arts & Culture
The changing fortunes of Greece's most famous structure
artsandculture.google.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
March is Greek heritage month at TDSB. Today is "clean Monday" - the start of lent. Lent lasts for 40 days and is mostly a vegan diet. If we were in Greece, today would be a holiday. Learn more about clean Monday here:
greekreporter.com/2025/03/02/c...
Clean Monday in Greece: Everything You Need to Know - GreekReporter.com
“Kathara Deftera,” Greek for Clean Monday, commences the 40-day period of Great Lent, known as "Sarakosti" for the Greek Orthodox Church.
greekreporter.com
March 3, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I don't know who created this, just sharing
February 23, 2025 at 6:48 PM