POETRY AS THE
SUPERHERO GENRE:
Packing a Powerful Literacy Punch
INTRODUCTIONS
POETIC
#1
Everyone is a poet!
Find text – in your wallet, pocket book,
handouts.
Create a poem based on what you found.
Use words from the text of your choice.
CONNECTION TO THE ELA STANDARDS
Where is poetry in our ELA standards?
USING POETRY TO PRACTICE
LITERACY SKILLS
ELEMENTARY
Vocabulary (RL.4 & L.4)
Foundational skills (phonics, phonemic awareness, rhymes, fluency, etc.)
Structure of text (RL.4.5)
MIDDLE:
Dialogue revealing aspects of character (RL.8.3)
Form and Structure (RL.7.5)
Point of View (RL.6.6)
Impact of rhyme and repetition of sounds (RL.7.4)
HIGH SCHOOL:
The beauty of language (RL.11-12.4)
The cumulative impact of word choice (RL.9-10.4)
Theme (RL.2)
Figurative language (L.5)
CLOSE READING AND POETRY
There is no single way to closely read a poem. Each poem reaches the reader
in a different way - sometimes it is the voice, often it is the imagery, or even the
word choice that can trigger a connection.
Don't be polite.
Bite in.
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that
may run down your chin.
HOW TO EAT A
POEM
It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.
You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.
For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.
Eve Merriam
USING POETRY TO PRACTICE
FLUENCY
"Poetry touches the heart as well as the mind. Students delight in the words,
phrases, and various literary devices of poems.
Because it is meant to be read aloud, with all its rhyme, rhythm, and repetition
fully articulated, poetry is a natural for building reading fluency. Just as
teacher-led read aloud should be a regular part of curricula, so should poetry
reading. However, it is a genre that is all too often neglected."
-Tim Rasinski
USING POETRY TO IMPROVE FLUENCY
Choral Reading
1. Choose a poem rich with detail
and dialogue.
2. Read the poem aloud and model
fluent reading for the students.
3. Ask the students to use a marker
or finger to follow along with the
poem as the teacher reads.
4. Re-read the poem and have all
students in the group read the
poem aloud together with
expression or assign parts.
Radio Reading
1. Students silently read a poem then
engage in a whole group discussion.
2.Students are assigned a stanza in
the poem and practice reading on
their own.
3.Students form groups and perform
their assigned reading with
appropriate expression.
POETIC
#2
POETRY COFFEEHOUSE BUILDS FLUENCY
"Poetry Coffeehouse" takes on many names... "Open Mic", "Spoken Word", "Poetry Slam"
Performing helps students learn prosody, the ability to read with expression to make meaning.
• Poetry Parade
• Poetry Day
• Poetry Theatre
STEPS AND TIPS FOR
PERFORMANCES
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Choose a location conducive to poetry reading
Determine rules - be specific!
Choose judges and make a rubric
Establish an atmosphere for active listening
Advertise well
Have pre-slam activities
Get classmates, parents, and community to participate
Resource for hosting a
poetry performance Access it HERE
POETRY AND PERFORMANCE!
Speaking and Listening skills can be addressed with reader’s theater-style
recitation or a poetry slam!
THE POETRY PROJECT
Josephus Thompson III
USING POETRY TO IMPROVE FLUENCY
Fluency Development Lesson (FDL)
1.
Teacher reads an engaging poem aloud to students with appropriate
expression.
2.
The teacher re-reads the poem illustrating disfluent reading.
3.
The teacher points out difficult vocabulary that may inhibit fluency.
4.
The teacher pairs students. One student reads the poem to his partner
three times with expression (repeated reading).
5.
After the third read, the students switch roles.
6. Students perform their poems with other classes, parents, staff, etc.
POETRY AND MENTOR TEXTS
Top Ten Reasons to use Poetry as Mentor Texts
1. Students love the sound of language.
2. Poetry can help us see differently, understand ourselves and others.
3. There is a place for poetry in all areas of the curriculum and it can bridge
reading/writing.
4. Poetry is a great equalizer.
5. Poetry enhances thinking skills and promotes personal connections.
6. Reading poems aloud captures the ear, imagination, and soul of the listener.
7. The playfulness of language is apparent in poetry.
8. A poet helps us see things in new ways. That's the essence of good writing.
9. Poetry helps broaden children's experiences.
10. Poetry can be the voice that names the events we live through.
A How-To for Poetry Mentor Texts
1. Select a poem that inspires a new idea, structure, or craft worth
trying.
2. Read it (Read it like a reader - What does it say?)
3. Analyze it (Read it like a writer - How is it said? What techniques
did the author use?)
4. Emulate it (Write like the writer - What did this author do that I can
do?)
5. Reflect (Did this technique work in MY writing?)
POETIC
#3
Poetry Foldable
POETIC
#4
• Look closely at details
• Note colors and textures
• Look at the painting as a
whole - or • Focus on an important detail
• Let the poem interpret the
painting but be sure there is
"evidence"
A Sunday onLa GrandeJatte
Georges Seurat 1884
Ideas from Print, Cut, Fold
http://printcutfold.com/activities.html
Fan Deck
3-D Tower
Students write a title
and text on each fan
blade held together
by a brass brad.
Students write text and
display graphics on four
panels of the tower.
Diorama
Contrast Square
Students use this freestanding diorama that
has a horizontal and
vertical surface for text
and images.
Students show the
contrast between two
concepts, ideas, or
people.
Postcard
Students design and
write a postcard to
themselves from
another perspective.
POETRY BOOKS TO REMEMBER
MORE GOODIES
POETRY ACTIVITIES AND
RESOURCES
5 Reasons Why We Need Poetry in Schools
Sonnet Central
Calling on the Muse: Exercises to Unlock the Poet Within
Five Ideas that Work: Positively Poetry
LOOKING FOR MORE?
https://livebooklet.com/elaccssapoetry
WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED WITH
POETRY:
Why read a poem a day? Listen to this great story from NPR.
• A Poem a Day – sends you just that - a poem each morning
accompanied by some thoughts from the poet!
• Poetry 180 - a poem a day for American high schools, hosted by former
Poet Laureate, Billy Collins.
• Poetry Daily - a great site of contemporary poetry that includes
information about the poet.
• Poem of the Day - is sponsored by the poetry foundation and offers great
classic and contemporary poems read by poets and actors - delivered
every day!
POETIC
Poetry is…
#5