CLASS POETRY

This is a fun way to have students learn poetry. The teacher reads and discusses a variety of poetry from different authors. Then list a few of the poems on the board for the students to vote on, making sure there are enough lines for each student to have one. The teacher types up the poem and hands out the line(s) to the students they are responsible for. I sent it home to be memorized. After the students have memorized their part, have them write their line(s) on writing/art paper, get it proofed by the teacher, and then illustrate/color the concept of the line in detail, filling in all the space. Wow, you have a cute class book, or a nice web page! BUT WAIT...when you are standing in a line with your class (don't we all), start the poem. Encourage the dramatic and let the fun begin. Soon you will notice some of the students will be able to recite the entire poem, with little effort on your part. If your students are interested, begin another poem, letting them have a bigger say in the choice, since they know the process. Remember to put their paper in their Journal/Memory book at the end of the year. 

The page on the bottom is taken from "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out". The page on the top is from "Sick". Both poems were taken from WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein.