Southridge 4th grader’s poetry to be published in annual anthology
A few of Mrs. Lindsey Riehle’s fourth-grade language arts students were puzzled as she held up a sign featuring a bold, multi-color “Congrats” during a recent Zoom meeting.
As one student commented they really had no idea what the sign was about another inquired, “You’re pregnant?!”.
“I don’t know,” another said.
“You all are published poets,” Riehle tells them to instant cheers.
“Mom, I’m a published poet now,” a student yells as she bounces down the hallway still in the video chat.
The group of students’ work will be featured in an upcoming publication of the annual Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans. The anthology features work from students of all grade levels from across the country.
This is the fourth year Mrs. Riehle has had her students submit work and each year a few of her students have been published. In November, the 50 students from her two language arts classes submitted their pieces. They just recently learned that 15 were selected for the 2020 anthology.
Here’s the video.
Mrs. Riehle, a Southridge graduate, learned about the anthology while attending the University of Evansville. “A dear professor/mentor of mine shared the resource with me,” she explained. “It wasn’t until I became a teacher myself that I realized how much of a challenge writing was for students.”
According to Riehle, she feels that creating and submitting work that could potentially be published teaches them to be bold and try new things. “Even if their work doesn’t get accepted, they should still be proud of their efforts for trying,” she added. “Overall, it teaches them that trying is gratifying; it won’t always be recognized, but that’s okay.”
To prepare for the project, Riehle shares work from past anthologies to help students to get ideas for potential subjects. “This year some wrote about sports, some wrote about their moms, some wrote about their inner, deep feelings, and some wrote about quarantine,” she said.
Farming was also a big subject.
“I let them choose whatever they wanted because that’s not for me to judge the topic or anything,” she said. “And it was whatever was on their heart and whatever they were feeling.”
Some students wrote several poems but only one can be submitted per child. While Riehle didn’t choose which poems were submitted, she admits she may have nudged them towards submitting a certain piece. did give them a little help.
“In the end, it’s their work and their decision on which one they want me to mail in,” she said.
The annual anthology is usually printed in the spring and parents will be able to order copies to keep. Riehle will order one for her expanding collection and likely when it is available — usually in May — she will hold a celebratory moment with the students.
She plans on continuing the tradition with future classes. “I feel like traditions are special,” she explained.
Those traditions can become something students look forward to in upcoming classes.
“I want students to be inspired & excited to come to my classroom and learn,” she said. “If they know this is something special that I incorporate into my lessons each year, then maybe they’ll look forward to 4th-grade language arts.”
The 15 students whose work will be published are Diego Ramos, Yohan Serrano, Elizabeth Poehlein, Sarah Snider, Sophia Dekemper, Addy Grommer, Wyatt Menke, Shawn Humbert, Ellie Abarea, Bentley Merkel, Rodrigo Mares Sifontes, Audrey Whitehead, Audrey McAninch, Miguel Calderon, and Kalvin Speed. Riehle’s nephew, Brock Riehle, who attended Nancy Hanks, was also accepted into the anthology for a poem he wrote about his aunt.
Here are some comments from the published poets in Mrs. Riehle’s class.
“I was really excited and surprised that I was chosen. I have always wanted to be a published author!” (Sophia DeKemper–4th grade student at Huntingburg Elementary)
“It made me feel proud that I wrote something that was worth reading. Also happy to represent my school.” (Audrey McAninch–4th grade student at HBE)
“I was so excited & happy!” (Addy Gromer–4th grade student at Huntingburg)
“I was really excited & surprised!” (Shawn Humbert–4th grade student at HBE)
“It made me feel happy and excited and surprised. I cried a little and when I told my mom that I wrote the poem about her, she cried a little too.” (Kalvin Speed–4th grade student at HBE)
“I feel amazing for being published. I feel like it is a really big accomplishment that I have done. I am really excited to see my poem in a book!” (Ellie Abarea–4th grade student at HBE)
“I felt so happy and was so excited because I really wanted to be in there!!!” (Diego Ramos–4th grade student at HBE)
