Every Wednesday at Assembly Ms. Lauer shares a poem with the whole community, then shortly after the assembly she posts the poem on her door for everyone to revisit (if they wish). This Wednesday’s poem was “History Lesson” – check it out. 

On a similar note, in sixth-grade Language Arts each Wednesday we explore a new poem, and we “vote with our feet.” First we put our poetic language on the board and review: onomatopoeia, simile, rhyme, alliteration, repetition, metaphor, personification, imagery, etc. Next we get some context about the poem: sometimes we brainstorm about a topic like rain or winter; sometimes we read a blurb or article or story; sometimes we watch a video or view an image; sometimes we tell stories around a topic like pets or friendship or stagefright. Then the poem comes. I project it and read it for the first time. Next we go through it and clarify words (especially allusions) and ask questions. After that we read it aloud a stanza at a time. Finally, we get out of our seats and “vote with our feet” on a continuum from like to dislike: “like it” by the closet; “not sure” by the heater; and “don’t like it” by the printer. Everyone explains their positioning and reasoning, and some students move as we discuss likes and dislikes.

There is always a gang of rhyme lovers who cannot like something that isn’t singsong. Today, however, while investigating a poem called “Disentangling a Whale,” a few members of the rhyme gang agreed that the subject (bycatch in fishing nets) is too important to brush aside. The topic was more compelling than the poem – what a realization! And that is why we have explored so many topics in our Poetry Wednesdays – racism, environmental degradation, the first view of Earth from the moon, falling leaves, childhood, the desert… 

Poetry is eye opening.