WEEK FIVE
Poetry Reflection
The past few semesters of school have really changed my viewpoint on poetry in the classroom. Before, I kind of felt like poetry was a "filler"; something cute and fun to do, a break from more rigorous units. Now, I can confidently say that I was so wrong about poetry! I now have an appreciation for poetry that can go across all different grade levels and abilities. One of my favorite things about poetry is that it allows for students to be creative through their choice of words, which is my favorite form of creativity, at least at the moment. I am not inclined to visual creativity (ex: art, organization, planning), but I love to use my sense of humor and writing style to express my creative side. I can sense a lot of kids feel this way, and that words can be an outlet for explaining their outlook on the world.
Growing up, I read lots of Shel Silverstein. I can sill remember my favorite poem from Falling Up. I memorized it, I was so proud of myself! I will post it below!
I had Shel's books at home, but honestly I don't remember ever reading poems at school. I vaguely remember there sometimes being a poem at the end of a reading in a textbook story, following up with the theme, history etc. I know that poems were included on the EOG's, so I am sure that we looked at poems so we could feel comfortable being test on them... Most of my poetry reading was done at home.
As far as writing poetry, I can only remember learning how to write a haiku. I know this is a short and sweet explanation but I can't really remember ever writing poems at school.
When considering teaching poetry, I have never been in a classroom where poems were taught. My friend is a 4th grade teacher in Union County, and she says that poetry is a huge part of their curriculum. I am looking forward to teaching poetry for the first time in the next few weeks!
I know I've read a good poem for when I can come away from the poem feeling an emotion of some sort, that leads to curiosity and the need to know more. This can be sadness, joy, confusion... It all depends on the poem and what I can take away from it. I love that poems can challenge us to become curious! I love reading poems that invite me to learn more about something, whether thats a person, place.. Poems should challenge us to be better friends, teachers and humans!
When I think about creating a poetry environment in my classroom, the word "acceptance" comes to mind. I want the students in my class to feel as if they could write poems that are deep, surface level, serious, silly... There is no one way to express yourself! I think cultivating this type of classroom comes with (1) writing a variety of poems (2) celebrating all types of poems, written by authors and students alike!
