EMPOWERMENTPOETRY WORKBOOK

BY AMY PEREZ, MAE

Greetings!

We all can learn to write poetry and become a better person through it. You want your writing and poetry to be a reflection of who you are!

Through writing and poetry, we can find many interesting facts about ourselves that sometimes we do not take notice to. Writing poetry allows us to be free with our

words, our thoughts and ideas!

Mindfulness is a practice of paying attention to the present moment on purpose with kindness, acceptance and curiosity- no judgments or shame.

One of my favorite ways to practice mindfulness is through writing poetry and journaling.

I invite you to connect with your body, heart, mind, environment and the relationship you have with yourself and others.

This workbook is designed to get your creativity flowing, get you connected with yourself, your emotions and all that makes you, you!

I hope that this combination of presence and empowering poetry writing will serve to deepen your awareness of what is happening in your heart and mind, inspire

insight and empower you to create!

Give yourself 10 minutes, or 30 minutes every day and write.

Do it just for you and discover what lives within.

Wishing you mindful and calm days ahead,

Amy♥

EMPOWERMENT

X M E T J G U H F M E Y K W M E G V Y N S T R C F C H K A N G R C O W G E U C H N T Z D F R Y R B N E F S Z X E A B K M V T F E D C N D A K I P N G Y S H R O K C Y E R H L M T K R M T M U P M I U R E I E A S T S D P Y F X D O D K S G R U V L Q E K Y M O V E M E N T P O E T A V E L E P O F R F W P I U Y L D E A G Q O O X O D O C F N K D L L A Y Q W R X F R E Z U W H E L O J M D E P F T F E N E R G Y U P S P Y R K I T R O N O H L B H M P A G F P J

WORD BANKDEVELOPELEVATEEMPATHYENERGYFREEDOMFUELHONORMOVEMENTPOWERRENEWRESILIENCESTRENGTHSTRONGSUPPORT

VOICEWORDS

AffirmationsBy changing the words we tell ourselves, we can calm the negative chatter in our minds. We talk to ourselves in a more positive way. Rather than bring us down, affirmations are the practice of lifting us up!

First, pick out which affirmations you’d like to say out loud.Write them down, decorate index cards, and make it a fun activity to do with your family!

I am strong.

I am confident.

I am worthy.

I am capable.

I am kind.

I am brave.

I am a wonderful friend.

I am helpful.

I am unique.

I spread joy.

I am a good listener.

I am talented.

I am creative.

I am loved and am loveable.

Journal PromptsTAKE 10-30 MINUTES TO FREE WRITE!

1. What’s your personal definition of courage? Have there been times in your life

when you’ve needed to be courageous? Write about one of those times: what

was the situation and what did you do?

2. Complete the following sentences: “Every day, I am afraid of …” and “Every day,

I show courage by …”

3. What is something that you did that you are proud of?

4. Who supports you in your life? What does that support look like, feel like?

5. Write about something that you believe.

6. How do you deal with fear when you’re trying something new?

7. Sometimes new beginnings are energizing and exciting – how do you deal

with the drop in energy once things aren’t so new anymore? How would you

like to you persevere?

8. What would you say is your biggest strength?

9. True or False: “I know how to stick up for myself.” Explain your answer.

10. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

The Small but Mighty Haiku

What It Is: A haiku is a three-line, non-rhyming form of poetry that originated in Japan. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables.

What To Do: Read the haiku. Then, clap out the syllables in each line:

Spring is in the airFlowers blooming, rain fallingEarth comes back to life

Your Turn!Write 2 haikus below. Your first haiku is about what it means to be STRONG. Your second haiku is about what it means to be RESILIENT.

Title ______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Title _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

RESILIENCERead the following ACRONYM poem. On the next page, create your own poem about RESILIENCE. What does Bouncing Back mean to you? What does bouncing back feel like? Look like?Resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, or even trauma. (psychcom.net)

“Bounce Back!”

B – Bad times don’t last, and things get better.

O – Other people can only help if you share with them.

U – Unhelpful thinking only makes you feel worse.

N – Nobody is perfect – not you, not your friends, not your family, not anybody!

C – Concentrate on the good things in life, no matter how small.

E – Everybody suffers, everybody feels pain and experiences setbacks; they are a normal part of life.

B – Blame fairly – negative events are often a combination of things you did, things others did, and plain bad luck.

A – Accept what you can’t change and try to change what you can.

C – Catastrophizing makes things worse – don’t fall prey to believing in the worst interpretation.

K – Keep things in perspective. Even the worst moment is but one moment in life.

(positivepsychology.com)

BOUNCE BACK!

B – __________________________________________________________

O – __________________________________________________________

U – __________________________________________________________

N – __________________________________________________________

C – __________________________________________________________

E – __________________________________________________________

B – __________________________________________________________

A – __________________________________________________________

C – __________________________________________________________

K – __________________________________________________________

What does “Trying Your Best” look like for you? When have you tried your best?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FUN READS!The theme of the poem is that sometimes you have to do what you don’t want to get the best results. This involves courage, kindness, and strength.

Write a 7 line poem about a time YOU used your superpower of Courage & Strength. Make sure to use words from the word box below!

_____________________________________________(Title)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

CourageStrengthPower

ResilientStrongKindFreeVoice

ChooseLift

_ ________________________________________________________

_ ________________________________________________________

__________________

SPEAK UP! Raise Your Voice. Raise Awareness.

The power of voice and creative expression is a superpower. We

can use our voice and words as a means of calling attention to an

issue and bringing about changes we would like to see in our

schools and local communities.

What is one positive change that you would like to see in your

school, community, or world that would make it a kinder space?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

The Power of Spoken Word Poetry

You will create your own spoken word poem that calls attention

to an issue you feel passionate about addressing in your school,

community, or world.

Fill out the Spoken Word Map...

Directions: The purpose of this exercise is to help you generate ideas for your

spoken word poem.

1. What is an issue in your school or local community that you feel passionate

about calling attention to? What makes you passionate about this issue?

2. What would you like to say about this issue?

3. Who would you want to hear your spoken word poem? What emotion do

you want your audience to feel when they hear your poem?

4. What story or stories do you have that could help your audience

understand the message you want to convey through your poem?

5. What powerful image(s) can you use to help your audience understand the

message you want to convey through your poem?

6. Tap into your senses! What do you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste when

you think about the issue you are calling attention to in your poem?

a. See

b. Hear

c. Smell

d. Touch

e. Taste

★ Begin to draft your poem. If you are having trouble getting started,

prompt them to do a quick free write that takes ideas from their mind

mapping sheet.

★ Words do not need to rhyme!

★ Celebrate your Spoken Word! Read it aloud! Read it to your

friends/family!

© Facing History and Ourselves visit www.facinghistory.org

SPOKEN WORD DRAFT SHEET/BRAINSTORM

MIGHTY WRITERS WEEKLY WORD GAMEWeek of April 6, 2020

Hello Mighty word puzzlers! I have a list of words to unscramble this week that are related to feelings or characteristics of empowerment, which is the Mighty theme of the week. I have also included the solution to last week’s word scramble. How did you do? Unscrambling these words are sure to make you feel empowered to write about empowerment!

DLBO TTRHU DATYSE INTCAO RUSE

ALNP APSKE LOONTCR RACEL RUFETU NOTSGR

EVILBEE