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Poetry Corner

For those of you who love poetry, meet here to discuss the poems you're teaching and effective methods of instruction!

Members: 310
Latest Activity: 1 day ago

Discussion Forum

Pat Keefe

Creative Poetry Writing with VanGogh paintings 4 Replies

Started by Pat Keefe. Last reply by Pat Keefe 1 day ago.

Maura Goodhall

Publishing? 1 Reply

Started by Maura Goodhall. Last reply by Rob Currin Jan 4.

Paul W. Hankins

A New Poem for Winter: "A Sled Called Torpedo" 4 Replies

Started by Paul W. Hankins. Last reply by Paul W. Hankins Dec. 15, 2009.

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Lyn Tiernan Comment by Lyn Tiernan on November 6, 2009 at 7:31pm
I am new to this group and in the first few minutes I've laughed, found some great ideas and resources and been inspired. I'm teaching poetry to year 12 at the moment. Last week I set an assignment for students to retell the poem 'Father and Child' by Gwen Harwood (well known Australian poet) from the father's perspective. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and quality of their work and the way this task led students to 'get inside' the poem in a meaningful and personal way. I forget sometimes the power of the creative task.
Laura Martingano Comment by Laura Martingano on November 4, 2009 at 7:16pm
I use Hip Hop Poetry and the Classics also, with my RP students (students with disabilities in a co-taught classroom). Students love their music, so when you can find a way to honor and recognize their music as having literaru valuem which it does, you are hitting a homerun, like the Yankees have been doing tonight ;)
Wendy King Comment by Wendy King on November 2, 2009 at 4:42am
Yes! That's it. Thank you so much Jo. I spent hours looking for this - don't know why I didn't bookmark it the first time I found it.
Jo Palmore Comment by Jo Palmore on November 1, 2009 at 5:44pm
Wendy, the site is Joe Scotese's A Way to Teach: http://www.awaytoteach.net. Truly a remarkable site!
Wendy King Comment by Wendy King on November 1, 2009 at 1:59pm
Help! Last year I found a wonderful idea on the internet. It had student creating powerpoint versions of poems - or maybe they were imovie versions. There were a couple examples and they were very creative. I've lost the link and I can't remember what they were called - maybe something like illuminated poems? elaborated poems? Does anyone know where I can find that again?
Layla Wirt Comment by Layla Wirt on August 14, 2009 at 4:59pm
I am looking for ideas that will allow me to teach some post modernism poetry in 1-2 days. I know it does not do the movement or genre justice, but I am afraid time is limited in a trimester schedule.
Joan Porter Comment by Joan Porter on April 27, 2009 at 2:24am
http://www.hiphopintheclass.com/

Sorry, this is the website.
Joan Porter Comment by Joan Porter on April 27, 2009 at 2:23am
Here is a resource that I quite enjoy, and the table of contents to give you and idea of the wealth of ideas found within the book:
Hip-Hop Poetry and The Classics

CONTENTS

Core Literary Elements
Alliteration

Interpretation Guide

WRITING EXERCISE

Allusion

Ain't I a Woman? by Sojourner Truth

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

For Women by Talib Kweli

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Epitaph

WRITING EXERCISE

Figurative Language

Haiku

Hyperbole

Interpretation Guide

WRITING EXERCISE

Imagery

Harlem: A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Juicy by Notorious B.I.G

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Irony

The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Meaning

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Me Against the World by Tupac Shakur

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Compare & Contrast

WRITING EXERCISE

Metaphors

The Weaver by Anonymous

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Respiration by Mos Def

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Mood

We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Hip-Hop Poetry and The Classics

A Roller Skating Jam by De La Soul / Follow Me by Sage Francis

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Onomatopoeia

The Congo by Vachel Lindsay

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Datskat by The Roots

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Pattern

If by Rudyard Kipling

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

How Many by Zion I

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Personification

Lodged by Robert Frost

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Mirror by Sylvia Plath / I Am Music by Common

Interpretation Guide

Compare & Contrast

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Rhyme Schemes Simile

WRITING EXERCISE

Sonnets

Another Sonnet for Stephan by Alvin Lester Sitomer

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Answer Key

WRITING EXERCISE

Symbolism

Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Three Strikes You In by Ice Cube

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Tone

The Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Francis Bourdillon

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Paid In Full by Rakim

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

WRITING EXERCISE

Hip-Hop Poetry and The Classics

Additional Poetic Resources

Reading Strategies

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Author’s Choice – Classic

The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Author’s Choice – Hip-Hop

Fight the Power by Public Enemy

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Otha Fish by The Pharcyde

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Lose Yourself by Eminem

Interpretation Guide

Student Worksheet

Recital Exercises

Memorizing and Performing

Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Oral Interpretations

Assuming an Identity

Performing Team Poems

How to Host a Poetry Slam

Activities

Acrostics

Autobiographical Poem

Simile and Metaphors

Create a Poetry Journal

Poetry Journal Grading Rubric

Hip-Hop Poetry Word Search / Word Scramble / Answer Key

AP Exam Success

Initial Strategy

Multiple Choice Strategy

Essay Questions Strategy

Sample Essay Prompt: William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18

Sample Essay Answer Rubric

Gifted and Talented Education

Differentiated Lessons

English Language Learners

Bridging Comprehension

Extended Writing Activities

Create A Diamante Poem

Food As A Metaphor For Ourselves

Rewriting For Meaning

Rewriting For Opposite Imagery

The Alliterative Day In A Life

Appendix

Glossary of Terms

California Language Arts Standards


I completed a Hip Hop Poetry activity with the Advanced 12 class, and had them write and perform their own hip hop poem, and with lessons on internal/slant/end rhyme, etc. they anguished their way to great projects. They now how a profound respect for the "classical" hip hop artists!
Kathleen Jensen Comment by Kathleen Jensen on April 19, 2009 at 6:28pm
Thanks, Matt. I love it. Creation indeed.
Matt Burns Comment by Matt Burns on April 19, 2009 at 6:15pm
Another baseball gem:


Assignment #1: Write a poem about Baseball and God
Philip E. Burnham, Jr.

And on the ninth day, God
In His infinite playfulness
Grass green grass, sky blue sky,
Separated the infield from the outfield,
Formed a skin of clay,
Assigned bases of safety
On cardinal points of the compass
Circling the mountain of deliverance,
Fashioned a wandering moon
From a horse, a string and a gum tree,
Tempered weapons of ash,
Made gloves from the golden skin of sacrificial bulls,
Set stars alight in the Milky Way,
Divided the descendants of Cain and Abel into contenders,
Declared time out, time in, stepped back,
And thundered over all of creation:
"Play ball!"
 

Members (310)

Teresa Joseph Scotese Meredith S Kim McCollum-Clark J. D. Wilson, Jr. Joan Porter Michael Salinger Jonathan Bowen Paul W. Hankins Pat Keefe Kate Marlow RHE Michael Umphrey Denee Tyler Matt Burns Jonathan Brubaker Beth Jeana Rock Gary Anderson Lynne Kelsey Daniel Sharkovitz Jeffrey Robert Nordgren Erin Breaux Melanie McDonald Anne Williams Carol Ann Scheese Stephanie Aspan Barry Wilson Mark Gardner Jeanette Lans
 
 

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