If you’re needing an easy and fun poem form to explore with your students, definitely add the ode to your list of upcoming poem ideas. Discuss the form and its classical roots, but then shift the focus to the contemporary form so students can readily apply it to their experiences.
Category Archives: Creative Writing
Book bento instructions and tips
Now that the semester is almost over, are you in need of a quick way to alternatively assess student reading? If so, try book bentos!
How I taught The Jungle in one week
If you’re like me and don’t have a lot of time for Upton Sinclair’s 402-page The Jungle, try this “one week, one chapter, one-pager” approach.
Three poems for Veterans Day
Try these three poem ideas for Veterans Day with your middle and high school students.
Taylor Mali’s Metaphor Dice
Metaphor Dice are excellent tools for inspiring evocative, poem-worthy ideas. The words set the stage for deeper, extended critical thinking. My poetry students loved them!
Nine poetry ideas for high school
If there’s one thing poetry can give you it’s this: variety. I hope these poetry ideas will inspire you to try these within your own larger poetry unit, or simply as a refreshing creative writing activity.
Poetry Lesson: The Cinquain
Two weeks ago, in my new high school poetry class, I introduced my students to the cinquain. These short, concise, and beautiful little poems were a hit and a success and, as I heard my students reciting their own cinquains, I knew I would have to fill you in on this poetry idea.
My new high school poetry class
Four weeks into the new school year, my new poetry class is quickly becoming my FAVORITE class of the day. Here’s what we’ve done so far… but know that we are just getting started, so stay tuned. Read on…
A New Poem Activity for The Wanderer
While our study of The Wanderer included some note-taking, reading the poem aloud, and completing a close-reading activity, I wanted us to go one step further to get more out of this beautiful verse. So when I read about something called the “Ubi sunt” motif present in The Wanderer, I took notice… especially when I considered how it might be a way for students to better connect personally to this poem.
Back to school: Four icebreaker poetry ideas
Get to know your students with these poetry mentor texts School is starting soon in most locales of the United States and teachers are busy gearing up to find interesting. low-stakes ways to get students writing. Poetry is always a no-fail way to encourage students of all ages to get back in the swing ofContinue reading “Back to school: Four icebreaker poetry ideas”
ELA Brave and True by Marilyn Yung 