The Magical Mysterious Metaphor
*This course is intended for lower elementary students
Class Schedule
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
9:00-10:00 am PST
July 29th, July 31st, August 2nd, August 5th, August 7th, August 9th
Note: Classes are listed in PST, click below to convert time to your time zone.
Course Overview
For children who love to write, especially poetry. We will spend the class sessions working through ever more advanced forms of metaphor, starting with the basics and moving quickly up the scale of subtlety and complexity. There are at least five types of simile and thirty-two other types of metaphor, but there may be more (and that's just the verbal types -- there are also visual metaphors, which we may get to). In each class we will introduce one or more different types of metaphor, discuss them, look at lots of examples, sometimes play games with them, and then the students will write poems or short prose pieces that use that type. In the short time of class periods they probably won't have time to finish and edit their pieces, so some writing in between sessions may be needed, which should be a joy for kids who love to write.
**Note: This class is scheduled for an hour, but parents are asked not to plan anything for the hour after each class. That way we can run over if necessary, and also I can stay online after class if students want to stay to work on writing and get help or quick feedback.
Student Experience
Pattern Seeker
Creative Writer
Researcher
Literary Analyst
Your Teacher: Matt Berman
- M.A.T. in Philosophy for Children, Montclair State University
- B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education K-8 University of Connecticut
- Gifted Certification, University of New Orleans
- 46 years in education
Recipient of the NEH Teacher-Scholar Award, Matt Berman has been an elementary school teacher for more than 40 years, with certification in gifted education and degrees in education and philosophy for children. A nationally recognized expert in children's literature, Matt has written four books on the subject, and his reviews, articles, and columns have appeared in many journals, including Kirkus, School Library Journal, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has also taught children's literature at Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, and his reviews have appeared on numerous websites, including Common Sense Media, Disney Family, Family.com, iVillage, and the Child Lit Wiki. Matt has also been a consultant with the Joseph Campbell Foundation, as well as a freelance writer and editor, website developer, teacher trainer and consultant, photographer, communications director, and founding director of the Nueva Center for the Humanities.
