Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and Other School Poems for Two Voices by Betsy Franco

 Franco, Betsy, and Jessie Hartland.  Messing around on the Monkey Bars and Other School Poems for Two Voices. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780763631741

Author, Betsy Franco, has put together a collection of 19 performance style poems that tells about events in a school day. From the classroom to the ride on the bus, each poem is an energetic highlight of school life. Franco includes, at the beginning of the book, an explanation on how to read the poetry aloud. Each poem is divided into “voices” and is coded in bold or italic print to distinguish each person’s part for recital. While the poems can be enjoyed alone, they are obviously meant to be enjoyed as a performance to make them more of an impact.

 

My favorite poem, of Franco’s, includes a wonderful musical rhythm when performed with two students or when a basketball is used for the “bounce” parts.

Backboard Rap

bounce, bounce
bounce, bounce Dribble, dribble,
bounce, bounce Pass to Trish.
bounce, bounce Shoot a basket.
bounce, bounce Hear the swish!

bounce, bounce Dribble, dribble,
bounce, bounce Pass to Vin.
bounce, bounce Hit the backboard.
bounce, bounce Up and in!,

bounce, bounce Dribble, dribble,
bounce, bounce Take a shot!
bounce, bounce There’s the buzzer.
bounce, bounce Yeah! We’re hot!

bounce, bounce
bounce, bounce
bounce

Several of Franco’s poems require noise, onomatopoeic style. Poems include taps, snorts, grumbles, bounces, vrooms and boings. These playful uses of words/sounds add to the appeal.

Illustrator Jessie Hartland’s illustrations add to the whimsy of the poems. Her drawings look like those created by elementary students with the use of bright colors, misshapen forms and over-sized heads on petite bodies. These drawings let you know right away this book is fun and perfect for young students.

Along the lines of the above poem, ones that encourage physical activity would be great for any recess/P.E. class. Jump Rope Jingle is an excellent choice to encourage physical activity through jump rope chants.

Have jump ropes available and ask students to share any jump rope chants they know. Have them demonstrate how they work with a jump rope to model for students who may not be familiar with them.
On large poster-board or chart paper, post Jump Rope Jingle somewhere visible so that students may read through it, first on the floor for practice and then introduce it as a double-dutch activity. It will take practice, but rest assured the students will love it!

Voice 1
Voice 2
Chorus voices

Jump Rope Jingle

Come on in.
I'll jump with you.
It's double fun
to jump with two.

Jump, jump,
spin around.
Jump, jump,
slap the ground.

Turn to the east.
Turn to the west.
Choose the one
you like the best.

Jump, jump,
A, B,
C.

Jump, jump,
1, 2,
3.

Turn in circles.
Keep the beat.
Feel the rhythm
in your feet!

Encourage students afterward to develop their own jump rope jingles to share!