Teaching Poetry

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Home : 2006 : December : 27

Teaching Poetry
By MITeach

I also used to teach poetry in the way that you described. However, I found that most students hated reading and writing it and as soon as we were done with the unit, I didn't see them reading or writing any other poetry...except
for the dreaded acrostic.

This year I was introduced to the book "Awakening the Heart" by Georgia Heard. I am most of the way done with it and it is fabulous!! It talks about incorporating poetry throughout the year. Students are introduced to poems by having them explore different poetry books/poems. Then as you read poetry as a class they keep their own Personal

Poetry Anthology, collecting and recording poems that they really enjoy in to to keep.

As for the writing of the poetry, students find their "poetry heart", what really matters to them and what is important to them. As the book states, "Poetry is about recognizing and paying attention to our innermost lives - our memories, hopes, doubts, questions, fears, joys - and the image is the hook we find to hang the poem on." Then they experiment with imagery and through that fantastic poems are created.

Study of different poetry forms could definately be brought in, but the book talks about how having students immediately focus on form makes many feel that they are not smart enough to read or write poetry. Rather, if students have a comfort with reading and writing poetry, then when they later examine its form and rhyme, etc. they will appreciate and understand much more.

In this way, I'll be starting poetry when we get back, and we'll continue our study until the end of the year. I'm not sure if it will work for you, but I highly reccommend Georgia Heard's book for ideas.

Hope that helps!