My name is Steve Vanderhei and I am a 7th grade literacy teacher in Marion, Iowa. This year I put together a March Madness Poetry Tournament. It was a success, although it was the first time I did something like this. I have lots of ideas of how to make it even better next year.

I wanted you to know that in my 3rd block your poem ‘Same Song’ won. The championship game was ‘Same Song’ vs. ‘Why Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog’ by Taylor Mali.
‘Same Song ‘ won 13 to 9.

Some of the other poems that ‘Same Song’ beat along its path to the Block 3 Championship were:
‘The Snow Man’ by Wallace Steven
‘Fire and Ice’ by Robert Frost
‘Sick’ by Shel Silverstein
‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare

I thought you might like hearing about the success of your poem and that your poem connected with my 7th graders.

Pat is still smiling!

My Own True Name