EDUA 5430 Poetry in the Classroom
BE VERSATILE WITH VERSE: POETRY IN THE CLASSROOM
Poetry is ever-present in our lives and isn’t just found in collections or literary magazines. Adults sing rhythmic lullabies to babies; children learn nursery rhymes and key concepts like the months of the year by chanting ("Thirty days have September, April, June, and November!"); and teenagers rock to the beat of their favorite songs’ rhythm and lyrics. Poetry has the power to inspire, transform, enlighten, and stir the reader’s or listener’s emotions.
From simple limericks to complex elegies, poetry can enrich the teaching of English Language Arts by exposing students to its unique literary features and demystifying the practice of interpreting abstract or symbolic verse. In this course, the teacher will learn robust strategies for incorporating poetry into his or her teaching practice. The teacher will learn how to help students understand the conventions of poetry, interpret different styles of poetry, creatively express their responses to poems, and write original poetry of their own. After finishing the course, the teacher will be able to fortify his or her English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum and help students discover a lifelong appreciation for this unique literary form.