Dear CPitS Poet Teachers: I love this idea but it will require some coordination. Here's the gist:
For THE LESSON PLAN ANTHOLOGY:
We will need to
give the reader more best practices and background than is possible in the page-long lesson plan procedures.
Instead of an introduction by one or
two poet-teachers, why not have paragraphs by many of us?
Topics to include:
~on what poetry is ~ on inspiration ~ on helping stragglers and superstars ~ on
to rhyme or not to rhyme ~ on line breaks ~ on metaphor and simile and image ~ on music magic ~ on other poetry tools: onomatopoeia,
hyperbole, alliteration ~ on juxtaposition ~ on five senses ~ on rhythm ~ on
encouragement ~ on keeping going ~ on discussing poetry – what did you like?
not what does it mean! ~ on ___fill in blank___
What is your pet topic? Write a paragraph about it - not enough - but a start. May be part of a CRAZY quilt.
To ensure variety, and avoid too much duplication, post your preference here, so others can see.
Whether working with enthusiastic or reluctant writers, invite students to dedicate their poem to someone or even to write a poem as a gift. Writing for someone gives the poet a sense of purpose and creates an intentional audience. Asking students who they are writing for provides insight into the their worlds. When I have invited students to write a poem for someone (or something), energy fills the room, as if we are tapping into a continuum of poets past and present, their friends and families.
ReplyDeleteGwynn O'Gara tells me she would like to do a paragraph on student poets and cycles of silence.
ReplyDelete