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This week: Let Them Write Poetry! Edited by: Crys-not really here  
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Let Them Write Poetry!
Let's take a break from pounding out 50,000 words this month and talk about something slower and more deliberate: poetry. Poetry can be one of the more accessible forms of expression for young people. It can allow them to express their emotions in a low-pressure way. Unlike with fiction, they don't have to make things up; unlike with non-fiction, they don't have to totally tell the truth, either. Poetry can be nonsensical, confessional, biographical, or conversational.
I find that, if given the chance, most teenagers are willing to write a poem or song lyrics. Sometimes, they may need a simple subject suggestion or set of guidelines to get started, but once they do, they really take off. Here's one technique that I recently observed during a ninth grade English class:
The students are required to do a journal entry at the beginning of every class. Tuesday's journal topic was to make a list of "wonderful words," words that the student thinks are fun to say, or unusual, or mean something special to her. Wednesday's journal topic was to use those words (and only those words) to form a 20-line poem. The students were told to not worry if the poems made sense, just group words in ways that sound good. The results were amazing! When faced with the low-pressure task of "sounding good," the students wrote poems that were subtly profound or energetic and fun. Most importantly, they were genuinely proud of their work!
Introducing poetry to children of any age can be a valuable experience. I truly believe that the teacher who made us memorize "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" in third grade instilled a love of language in me, and I was very lucky that I had many other teachers who nurtured that love. For these teenagers, the process of creating a poem (and sharing it) instilled a little bit of self-esteem in them. I'd like to think that at least some of them will take that moment with them into their futures and continue to write.
I believe that we as adults should share our love of writing and reading with the children in our lives. Sometimes, all a child needs is permission to express herself constructively, and the world opens up to her.
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This week, I found a new comment on an old Poetry newsletter: "Teaching Respect for Poetry." Since it fits so well into my newsletter topic this week, I am including it here. Happy writing!
Feedback!
Wonderful piece on Teaching Respect For Poetry! Until I read these thoughts, I had no idea how much I owed to my 3rd Grade teacher (Mrs. Smith - really!) who had each and everyone of us memorize Hiawatha. Today, at 54 - and with the help of your commentary, I now know that I still live..."By the shores of Gitche Gume.."...yes, within that wonderful poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Thank you Mrs. Smith! Thank you to the author of "Respect for Poetry"! -Amber Rose 
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Poetry: November 02, 2011 Issue [#4690]
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