I can't say that all students respond with delight to the thought of poetry writing. It's often met with at least a couple of outward groans, and maybe some inner sighs as well. But I can say that I have had the pleasure over the course of many years to watch the metamorphosis occur from sighs and groans to pleasure and pride! Poetry is, in fact, the perfect vehicle for students--anyone really--to express their thoughts, ideas and emotions in fresh new ways.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, we will be reading and writing poems this week. After those initial groans, I think that today's "line auction" successfully triggered some delight! Students were asked, as a "do now" activity, to write one line of poetry on a piece of paper and not share it with anyone. Then, once all lines were dropped in a basket, I held a line auction: when students heard a line they loved, they needed to shoot their hand in the air to claim it. And so the delight began as students considered their line as inspiration for a free verse poem; to let their minds take that line in any direction and to use the line anywhere within the poem. The wisdom that often emanates from children's poetry and their creative play with language then becomes the teacher's delight!
Mid-week I will launch a "chain poem" which is generated from a stream of consciousness list of words. The final poem will be inspired by French artist Francis Picabia who said, "Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction." Students will be challenged to craft a poem about a thought, idea, or belief that at some point changes direction, both in their minds and within their poems.
Though we've run out of time for a separate unit on poetry, we will engage in this week's intensive workshop and I will incorporate poetry into our Greek mythology unit which will begin after April break. This poetry writing will also tie into our field trip in late May to the Smith College museum, botanical garden, and Paradise Pond, where students will engage in learning activities related to the "Plastic Entanglements" exhibit. Our poetry writing and possible art project connected to the field trip is part of an international program called "River of Words" (see attached link), which I lead in collaboration with Smith professor Carol Berner, and former parent/teacher/poets Margaret Babbott and Nancy Allen.
River of Words Program
I'm so pleased to say that one of my students from last year, Trey Rivera, was nominated as a finalist in the ROW poetry contest! His poem will be published in digital and print volumes of all finalists' work. This was his poem:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10epnPWlLZ9FJ0MNOZcWutp9r3ts3hsN12h7r_OGW0E4/edit
Resources for those who didn't save the handout:
Literary Devices p. 1
Literary Devices pg. 2
Poetry Writing Criteria
Homework:
Mon-Tues: final draft "line auction" poem due (PRINTED to turn in!) WEDNESDAY
Wed-Thurs: final draft "chain poem" due (PRINTED) FRIDAY
Friday: work on "Our heads are round" poem; due Monday 4/22 (PRINTED to turn in)
Our Heads Are Round Poem Instructions/Example
Our Heads Are Round Brainstorming Chart
Please note: anyone traveling over break who cannot work on this poem can have extra time to complete it (just see me upon return to determine a due date).
