Analyzing poetry can be a scary thing, for both teacher and student. There are so many terms to know and understand, and so few words in a poem! When it comes
These five palindrome poetry examples will engage and challenge your high school English students as they read top to bottom and reverse!
This is a fun and interactive digital magnetic poetry google slide presentation. Students can drag and drop the digital "magnets" onto the fridge to create a short poem. It's a fun little activity for any time of the year.I use this on Valentines day and encourage my students to share the completed ...
I love this poem. I love the imagery, the title, the metaphor, but most of all, I love how teachable it is. The poem has a great deal of mystery and room for debatable discussions about author’s intent, but it’s also accessible to students who might feel intimidated by poetry - or even just inti
Looking for lessons and ideas to teach paraphrasing to high school students? Read on for fun activities for English Language Arts class.
Getting students engaged in a poetry unit can be a challenge. Here are some fun poetry projects and activities to incorporate in your classroom to help spark
Great Ideas And Tips For Teaching Poetry. Poetry reveals many aspects of life that they may not get to experience or witness first hand. Poetry may speak some ‘truth’ about how others live and that helps build empathy with our students. Read on for 6 ways you can set your students interest ablaze for poetry! Grades 4-12 | Middle School ELA | High School English
Funny poems, classic poems, limericks, haiku, cinquains, quatrains. Free PDF w/all 77 poems. Plus lesson plans & worksheets.
Here are a few "slam dunk" sports-themed lesson ideas for English class. Vocabulary, reading, & writing are even more fun when sports are involved.
Help bring poetry to life for our older students!
Do your kids struggle with understanding metaphor? Perhaps they need to take the metaphor challenge!
Today I am excited to welcome Kim from English Oh My as our guest blogger. She has some great ideas for teaching students to comprehend poetry in a manageable way. Enjoy! Happy April, and Happy National Poetry Month! Poetry is a timeless genre, and it is a part of most English Language curriculum. When I tell […]
Interested in using slam poetry examples in your classroom, but not sure which poem would best? I've got you.
Your poetry unit is coming up and you are wondering how on earth you are going to get your students to love poetry as much as you do. For a select few of our students,
Whether your students love poetry or hate it – this blog post is for you! Check out these ideas to teach poetry for middle school students.
Engage students in meaningful poetry reading and writing activities. Here are SEVEN assignments both secondary teachers and students will enjoy.
Do your kids struggle with understanding metaphor? Perhaps they need to take the metaphor challenge!
Three quick creative writing activities for ELA secondary teachers to use tomorrow to engage students in critical and creative thinking.
Here's a freebie from my poetry fun and collaboration bundle! Includes standards-based analysis and discussion resources including: Poetry Choice Sign-Up Forms Instructions for Teachers Reading Poetry Aloud Student Handout Student Directions and Rubric Preparatory Analytic Worksheet Packet for Students Discussion Starter Coasters Reflection Sheets This creative and fun activity is from my bundle: Fun and Collaborative Poetry Activities and Games Bundle. Be sure to check it out!
During poetry stations, students move around the classroom doing various activities related to poetry. The station activity in this blog post has students read an engaging poem and respond to the poem in an unconventional way. If you’d like to replicate this activity in your classroom here are the s
Teaching slam poetry doesn't have to be boring! These 12 slam poetry ideas will help your middle school and high school students ROCK slam poetry...
Looking for lessons and ideas to teach paraphrasing to high school students? Read on for fun activities for English Language Arts class.
For many students writing can be intimidating and overwhelming. That's why it's essential to provide students with a variety of writing activities to make learning meaningful and rewarding. Here are a few of my favorite ways to make writing engaging for reluctant writers in your classroom. TIMED WRITING ACTIVITIES Timed writing activities challenge students to race the clock as they write as much as they can during a fixed time period. Students are encouraged to “just write.” There is no pressure for perfection. In fact, the only parameter is that they need to write for the entire time. The fun nature of timed writing activities help students develop confidence as they experiment with the writing craft. Here are a few challenges to try...*** In 5 minutes...make a list of 25 things you can do with a hula hoop. *** In 10 minutes...write a fan letter to your idol persuading them to send you an autograph. *** In 15 minutes...create a new kind of toy for toddlers that entertains busy toddlers. CLICK HERE for 15 more! WRITING HANDBOOK (with examples and prompts) Another way to support reluctant writers is to teach short, targeted mini-lessons to help build students' writing skills. When students are provided with more support and examples of writing, their own writing improves. As their skills develop, so does their confidence. When developing writing mini-lessons, I like to include:*** A specific topic like audience, voice, or word choice. *** Written examples of the skill for students to analyze. *** A writing prompt for students to practice the skill. Find 26 writing mini-lessons HERE. CREATIVE WRITING LESSONS Reluctant writers benefit greatly from creative writing lessons. Not only are creative writing lessons highly engaging, they're also a lot less intimidating than formal writing genres. Also, creative writing lends itself to sharing. When students share their writing they build a community of writers and develop their skills as they listen to each others' writing. Here are some of my favorite FREE creative writing lessons:*** Spooky Story Writing *** Myth Writing Lesson *** Limerick Writing Lesson ENGAGING WRITING UNITS An essential part of writing instruction is guiding students through the writing process as they create different genres of writing. In my experience, the ideal writing unit is 2 weeks in duration and includes step-by-step instruction for each aspect of the writing process. To make longer writing units appealing to reluctant writers, the key is to make the topics engaging. For instance, here are some engaging topics for different styles of writing... *** Descriptive Writing - Imaginary Pet Sketch (mystery animal) *** Persuasive Writing - Write a roller coaster advertisement *** Informative Writing - Create a historical news article WRITING MINI-LESSONS One of the best ways to help reluctant writers build their skills and confidence is with targeted writing instruction. I love mini-lessons that can be easily incorporated into writing workshop, writing units, writing centers, or everyday writing instruction. When developing writing mini-lessons, I try to make sure they are... *** Quick and targeted *** Fun and engaging *** Filled with practice Check out my 10 favorite writing lessons HERE. CHOICES Teachers have long known that choices are the key for engaging reluctant learners. The same holds true for writers. One of the easiest ways to motivate students is to give them choices when responding to writing. Grab this free choice board filled with writing prompts here. WRITING PROMPTS Reluctant writers need lots of opportunities to write. The more they write, the easier it will get. The easier it gets, the more success they'll feel as they write. There are lots of ways to use writing prompts in the classroom... *** Warm-up activity *** Homework assignment *** Learning station task Grab a FREE set of 20 fun writing prompts HERE. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you've found a few ideas for helping your reluctant writers transition into confident writers! Thanks for stopping by, Mary Beth P.S. Check out this blog post filled with 3 secrets to fantastic writing instruction.
Engaging students in blackout poetry is a great way to teach poetry and encourage creativity. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to teach blackout poetry.
When summer time finally rolls around, I can get back to reading. Reading is actually one of my favorite things to do, but when school is in session, there is just no time. I’m sure that’s true for most teachers. I always have a few books stored away on my wishlist or shelf just waiting […]
Starting off the school year with teaching short stories is a great way to engage the learners in your classroom as soon as you are ready to start instruction
Slam poetry lesson level high school is a solid 54-page-slide show that introduces students to poetry slams using engaging authors, ranging from classic poets, such as Maya Angelou to Tupac's "The Rose". Students watch controversial topics presented on stage by other youth. The final assessment is to choose a controversial topic and perform a poetry slam. The Unit includes: Multiple Lessons 12 video clips 11 poems Notes 9 Poetry Slam Performances If you enjoy this unit click HERE for my IB poetry unit. ******************************************************************************************** Related Products ⭐ Poetry Lessons/Poetry Slam Bundle/Answer Keys/Editable ⭐ Poetry MEGA Unit High School-54 Pages ⭐ Poetry Presentation Assignment ⭐ Poetry Presentation-Complete How To Present Poetry Unit For My Store Profile and Experience Click HERE Product keywords: Poetry lesson high school, poetry lesson middle school, poetry unit, poetry slam unit, poetry slam lesson, poetry slam lesson plan, lesson plan for poetry, lesson plan for teaching poetry, high school poetry lesson, middle school poetry lesson To visit my Teacher for Inclusion blog, please click HERE
Great Ideas And Tips For Teaching Poetry. Poetry reveals many aspects of life that they may not get to experience or witness first hand. Poetry may speak some ‘truth’ about how others live and that helps build empathy with our students. Read on for 6 ways you can set your students interest ablaze for poetry! Grades 4-12 | Middle School ELA | High School English
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Are you looking to make poetry exciting in your middle school classroom? Check out these ideas and tips to help you engage your students!
The British playwright W. Somerset Maugham once said “the crown of literature is poetry.” For the English teachers out there who have spent a good part of the year teaching complex novels, grammar rules and how to write a constructed response, this probably rings true! Teaching poetry can be such a treat. It’s fun to have the students interpret ever-deeper meanings from even the shortest of stanzas. And it’s satisfying to find just the right poem to complement the theme or unit you’re focused on right now – be it a rhyming bit about dogs to break up your reading of Where the Red Fern Grows or a more serious poem that pays homage to Memorial Day. The great thing about poetry is that it can be engaging, yet efficient; a couple read-throughs may take only a few minutes and can refresh your students on any number of skills, including close reading, determining central idea, interpreting figurative language, and citing text evidence. Or, it may simply open up a conversation. It’s always great to get the kids talking about literature! So, with all the poems to choose from and all the ways that they can be taught in the classroom where does a teacher start? Well, today, I thought I'd share with you my 5 favorite poems to read, analyze, and teach in the middle school classroom. "In Just" by E. E. Cummings This spring poem is told through the perspective of a child. It's the perfect example of Cummings's poetic innovations. In it, he plays with language, spelling, form, and punctuation. I love teaching and sharing this poem because it's fun and a wonderful way to illustrate how poetry is limitless. Students love discovering that all the typical rules that govern English Language Arts are thrown out the window with poetry. It's mud-luscious! Teach it with this Interactive Flip Book Resource. "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost Looking for a perfect way to combine literature and poetry? Well, look no further than Frost's poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay." You might already recognize it from The Outsiders. In the novel, Johnny Cade tells Ponyboy to "stay gold." This poem perfectly portrays the theme of the novel, but it works great in isolation, too. Its message that all good things must come to an end is relevant to so many experiences that our adolescent students are having. They'll love Frost's words and message. Help students analyze this poem and four others with this Poetry Analysis Unit. Great news! I've put together an exclusive free lesson for analyzing "Nothing Gold Can Stay!" Sign up below to receive the entire lesson plan, student resources and answer keys. Then, keep your eyes on your inbox because I'll be sending over 50 pages of more free poetry resources your way! Sign me up! "A light exists in spring" by Emily Dickinson I love a poem that makes students dive deep into its meaning and Dickinson's "A light exists in spring" does just that. This poem is complex enough for students investigate figurative language and tone before analyzing its meaning. I've also found that students love learning about Emily Dickinson. They're fascinated by the way she lived much of her life in seclusion. Pairing this poem with a study on Dickinson has always been a hit in my classroom. Celebrate this poem and Emily Dickinson with this reading comprehension learning centers and poem analysis resource. "Journey to Be" by Mark R. Slaughter Here's a contemporary poem that middle schoolers really relate to. It's "Journey to Be" by Mark R. Slaughter. His poem perfectly illustrates that life is about the journey and not the destination. I love sharing and teaching this poem with students at the end of the school year. It's a great read aloud. I've also used it as part of a journey-themed unit. Students love it! Teach "Journey to Be" with this collection of Journey Poems Analysis and Writing. You could even combine it with this FREE end of the year reflection book. "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes What's not to love about the message in Hughes's poem "Mother to Son?" I've taught this poem with students of all grade levels and they all love it. It's message of perseverance is not only important, but it's also so inspirational. This is a great one to share with students before standardized assessments or any time kids could use a little motivation. Help students interpret and analyze "Mother to Son" with this poetry analysis unit. Reading, sharing, and analyzing poetry with middle school students can be so rewarding. There's nothing like watching a class full of students discover a poem's deeper meaning and realize that poetry doesn't have to be intimidating. On the contrary, poetry can be super accessible and even fun! Don't forget... Sign up here: Sign me up! Thanks for stopping by, Mary Beth P.S. Download this FREE Poetry Catalog filled with resources to make teaching poetry fun and engaging. There's even an exclusive poetry writing lesson included. Yahoo!
Are you looking for more fun ideas for National Poetry Month? Check out our 20 Fun Poem Types You've Never Heard Of Blog & read to the end to snag a freebie! I spent my first couple of years teaching middle school ELA in downtown Los Angles. Those years were ripe with the creativity and energy of my own youth. One of my fondest memories of that time was a hip-hop poetry unit from authors Sitomer and Cirelli. The unit taught poetic devices like imagery, figurative language, and hyperbole with music selections from Tupac, Run DMC, Eminem, and poems by Frost, Hughes, and Kipling. My young students identified with the themes and appreciated the cultural relevance of the curriculum. Fast forward over a decade. I left LA, and now I am teaching American and British literature to juniors and seniors in college prep and advanced high school levels. I've gotten older and decidedly less energetic (gasp!), and I've started to lose that age connection enjoyed by many young teachers. There are some definite advantages to the experience and maturity, but there are also some definite drawbacks to losing the connection with youth culture. To bring back some of that connection, I recently decided to add music selections to my renaissance poetry unit for my 12th-grade British literature students. For each poem, we walked through content, scansion, poetic devices, and historical context. Then, I played a song with some relationship to the poem. We then discussed the connections between the poem and the song. I really enjoyed teaching this unit because it motivated critical thought around universal themes, and it was fun to experience pop music with my students in a meaningful way. As an added bonus, students were totally into the lectures because they were trying to guess which song I would play at the end. My unit had several renaissance poems, and I've picked out a couple examples to share with you below. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my ideas and your additions in the comment section! Poem: Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 Pop Song:
Need poems for middle school students? Here are 12 that are funny, quirky, interesting, and poignant. Perfect for teens and teaching poetry.
Looking for new poetry for your middle school and high school students? These 30 poems, recommended and tested by secondary ELA teachers in their own classrooms, are sure to engage and inspire your students during National Poetry Month or any time of year.
What are types of propaganda? Sharpen critical thinking and analysis skills. Ideal lesson for middle school. Includes a free slide show.
Activities, free resources, and ideas to teach how to write a thesis statement in middle school and high school English Language Arts!
A selection of understandable and well-known poems for middle school or high school students.
Looking for some fresh ideas for how to use the "I am" Poem in your secondary ELA classroom? Check out this quick post where I share a whole list of ideas for meaningful ways to add this poetry activity into your classroom today.
Are you on the lookout for dynamic and educational writing lessons that will captivate your students' imaginations? Do you wish you could find FREE writing lessons and activities for your classroom? If so, then you're in the right place! In this writing lesson roundup, I'm sharing a collection of 5 free writing lessons tailored for grades 4-8. These lessons are not only educational but also hands-on and interactive, making them perfect for any day in the classroom. Whether you're looking to spice up your regular writing instruction or need activities suitable for substitute teaching, these resources are designed to add a touch of excitement to your classroom. Check out these popular writing FREEBIES... 1. Free Story Cubes to Write an Adventure Story: This adventure writing lesson incorporates narrative story cubes to inspire students in crafting their adventure stories. The use of story cubes adds an interactive component, allowing students to roll the cubes and create unique story elements, enhancing the hands-on nature of the lesson. After students "roll" and plan, they'll write an adventure story worthy of sharing with classmates! Download the Free Writing Adventure Narrative HERE. 2. Free Spring Lesson: Spring Poetry Lesson and Craftivity: Explore the beauty of spring through poetry with this free lesson. It not only guides students in crafting poems related to spring but also includes a craftivity element. Students create kites with their poems. The combination of writing and a creative activity makes it engaging for students. (Oh, and there's even a parts of speech element to this freebie!) Click here for the FREE Sprint Poetry Lesson and Craftivity. 3. Free Writing Prompts Perfect for Daily Writing: This resource provides a collection of free writing prompts suitable for daily use. Teachers can use these prompts to spark creativity and encourage regular writing practice. The flexibility of daily prompts makes it ideal for supplementing writing instruction regularly. These prompts can be assembled into a paper chain to make them especially fun and festive! Grab 20 Free Writing Prompts Here. 4. Winter Myth Writing: Free Writing Lesson: Engage students in myth writing with a winter theme. Students get to spin different cards to help them develop key components of their myths. This lesson encourages students to create their own winter myths, fostering creativity and imaginative storytelling. The winter theme adds a seasonal touch to the writing experience. Check out the Winter Myth Writing Freebie HERE. 5. Free Limerick Writing Lesson (Digital and Paper Version): This lesson can be used to celebrate St. Patrick's Day or any day of the year. It involves teaching students how to write limericks. It offers both digital and paper versions, making it versatile for different teaching environments. The hands-on nature of limerick writing adds an interactive element to the lesson. Download the Free Limerick Writing Lesson HERE. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you've found a few writing lessons that you can add to your teacher toolbox. Here are all the links in case you missed any freebies! --- Adventure Story Writing Lesson --- Spring Poetry Lesson and Craftivity --- 20 Free Writing Prompts --- Winter Myth Writing Lesson --- Limerick Writing Lesson Thanks so much for stopping by! Mary Beth P.S. I LOVE creating writing resources. Find all my favorite writing units here.
Do you hate to teach poetry? Do you want your students to learn and enjoy poetry? Try these simple ways to learn how to teach poetry...
50 DIFFERENT SENTENCE STEMS AND QUESTIONS WILL KEEP YOUR STUDENTS TALKING AND ENGAGED!! These Cafe Conversation Cards were created to help students learn how to ask thought-provoking questions and engage with classmates for an academic purpose. Simply make enough copies for each group, have students choose a question or prompt and then sit back and enjoy listening to your students take over the class! When the conversation fades, students simply read off of the cards and fill in the blanks with their thoughts. The Cafe Conversation Cards are created with a "hip" brick and graffiti style, perfect for upper grades. The questions are unique and push students to make connections between a text and life, media, and culture. This packet includes: 8 Fiction Prompts 8 Non Fiction Prompts 8 Debate Prompts 8 Poetry/Song Prompts 18 Question cards that can be applied to any text +The document IS EDITABLE if you wish to add additional questions to fit your class
Great Ideas And Tips For Teaching Poetry. Poetry reveals many aspects of life that they may not get to experience or witness first hand. Poetry may speak some ‘truth’ about how others live and that helps build empathy with our students. Read on for 6 ways you can set your students interest ablaze for poetry! Grades 4-12 | Middle School ELA | High School English
