Poetry: Reading & Writing Segue to Writing in Content Areas Dr. Judy Barbour Dr. Lucia Schroeder Dr. Marie Fero Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920 Contact: laschroeder@eiu.edu

What is a poem? A Definition A poem Rhyme salad Chopped by the word processor, Garnished with pictures, Sprinkled with adjectives, Tossed by a poet-chef. Lettuce, onions, tomatoes, images--- Gordon & Bernice Korman, The D-Minus Poems of Jeremy Bloom

No Child Left Behind Legislation is a Federal Mandate to Teach -- Comprehension Strategies P Vocabulary Fluency Intensive vocabulary development Phonemic Awareness Phonics Language

How do POETS define a poem? “. . . fireworks, packed carefully and artfully, ready to explode with unpredictable effects” Lilian Moore “ . . .a packsack of invisible keepsakes” Carl Sandburg “. . . Condensed, carefully selected language that explores anything with a fresh eye” Galda, Cullinan & Strickland “”Poetry can involve hearts and heads, evoking feelings and provoking thoughts and ideas about complex social issues.” Fifth graders in Mr. Damico’s class

What makes a poem a poem? Uses vivid language Unique view Poetic devices i.e. metaphor, simile, alliteration, onomatopoeia, etc Language patterns Creates images in the mind Evokes emotions

*intensive & extensive vocabulary *comprehension via noticing details, metaphor, nuisances of language *student interest and enthusiasm

poetry reading ←-→ writing ↕ quality writing in content areas

Reading & Writing Poetry Develops Vocabulary Exposure to new words Examples of creative descriptions Novel insights and ideas Multiple encounters

The Turkey Shot out of the Oven Jack Prelutsky and rocketed into the air, It knocked every plate off the table And partly demolished a chair. It ricocheted into a corner And burst with a deafening boom Then splattered all over the kitchen Completely obscuring the room. It stuck to the walls and the windows, it totally coated the floor, there was turkey attached to the ceiling, where there’d never been turkey before.

The Turkey Shot out of the Oven Jack Prelutsky It blanketed every appliance, it smeared every saucer and bowl, there wasn’t a way I could stop it, that turkey was out of control. I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure, and thought with chagrin as I mopped, that I’d never again stuff a turkey with popcorn that hadn’t been popped

Limericks Oh, there once was a teacher of math Who said, “Length is like measuring a path Tile squares cover tops And cubes look like blocks But volume’s like filling a bath. There once was a teacher of science Whose students were full of compliance. Predict and explore Strive to see more Curiosity out weighs reliance

Fibonacci Principle Esbensen, Barbara J. (1996) Echoes for the Eye HarperCollins

Try It, You’ll Write It Write a poem that would include vocabulary new to your students A Quatrain has 4 lines [not lions] a b a b rhyme scheme is most common; also a b c b The rain is raining all around It falls on bush and tree It falls on all the dried out ground And on the ships at sea. Thanks, Robert Lewis Stevenson

Quatrain Some word ideas might be: energize, cycle, tornado, humid, swirling, clockwise, velocity, muggy, blizzard Try a Quatrain 4 lines with a,b,a,b rhyme scheme & Vivid imagery

Reading & Writing Poetry Develops Comprehension Offers exposure to different writing forms and perspectives Involves inferring meaning Topic Succinct quality of poetry Encourages comparing & contrasting Train of thought

Free Verse: Color Doesn’t Matter She took my hand. It wasn’t her color. She eats. It’s not what I eat. But when she laughs, it’s how I laugh. And when she cries, it’s how I cry. And color doesn’t matter. Bruce Scott, Streator, Grade 5

I Think This is Where My Real Father Lives It’s near a river. I see a light in one of the rooms. Someone is pulling up the drive way with a car. The chimney is smoking. I see an oak tree In the back yard. As I get farther and farther away, I see a shadow in the distance, now gone.

Three sides that touch each other Haiku Triangle Haiku Three pointy corners, Three sides that touch each other A beautiful shape.

Try It, You’ll Write It Write a poem that would require the use of higher level comprehension strategies Haiku Composed of 3 lines 5 – 7 – 5 syllables Originated in Japan Traditionally relates to seasons or nature Encourages inference in order to understand Emphasizes succinct writing, imagery

Poetry patterns & rhythms are Haiku five syllables seven syllables Golden summer sun Turns glistening green grass, brown and white skin crimson

Social Studies--Diamantes Abe Lincoln president, smart producing, determined, loving important, active, patriotic, clever loving, sneaking, needing fugitive freedom-lover Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman fugitive, patriotic caring, loving, sneaking died, movers, active, helpers helping, working, strict explorer, westward Meriwether Lewis

Poetry Patterns ---Diamante Encourage compare and contrast: Noun 1 (N1) 2 adjectives for N 1 3 participles –ing or –ed words for N1 4 adjectives or nouns to fit N1 and N2 3 participles –ing or –ed words for N2 2 adjectives for N2 Noun 2

Reading & Writing Poetry Increases interest & enthusiasm Rhythm and Rhyme Novelty Humor Performance Train of thought

Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith. (2004) Science Verse

Lobster by Joy N. Hulm He’s upside down and inside out; He’s backwards and he’s sideways. His bones are out; his skin is in; He lives in ocean tide ways. He walks on hairy, spindly legs That smell and breathe and hear, And scurries backward in retreat Whenever danger’s near. His jaws chew sideways, but his teeth Are found inside his tummy; And while he gobbles fishy fare, His feet taste if it’s yummy. . . . in Cullinan, Scala, Schroder (1995) Three Voices: An invitation to poetry across the curriculum

Games Magazine published this poem by Leigh Mercer A Ratio in Rhyme A __ ___, a ______, and a score, plus three ____ the square root of _____, divided by__ ___ , plus ____ times eleven, equals nine ________ and not a bit more.

A Ratio in Rhyme A dozen, a gross, and a score, plus three times the square root of four, divided by seven, plus five times eleven, equals nine squared and not a bit more.

Shaped Concrete Poems or

Seven doesn’t take much time, Even though it is a prime. Here is all you have to do, First times 5, then add times 2! Greg Tang 2002 The Best of Times Scholastic

Words, Words, Words by Mary O’Neill Period When you come to the end of a written thought You just sign-off with a polka dot. Question Mark Symbol of all I wish I knew Polka dot under a curlicue . . . ?

Poetry ←-→ Content Writing Poetry Reading and Writing Emphasize vivid words Eliminate non-essentials, sentences optional Create images, encourage thought Content Area Writing Eliminate non-essentials,

Poetry ←-→ Content Writing For Content Area Writing Add Format - Introduction, Body, Conclusion Conventions: sentences, paragraphs SEGUE Free Verse

Free Verse The Eagle The constellation of the Eagle soars in the sky. When I look, it sparkles in my eye. It is as strong as the black hole as it grabs a fish shape in the sky. And then, I say, “Sigh boy, I wish I could fly.”

Real Snow from Out of the Dust by K. Hess The dust stopped, and it snowed. real snow. Dreamy, Christmas snow, gentle, nothing blowing, such calm, like after a fever, wet, clinging to the earth, melting into the dirt, snow. Oh, the grass, and the wheat and the cattle, and the rabbits, and my father will be happy.

Free Verse Try it, You’ll Write It Emphasizes creating an image or feeling by using words Line breaks provide emphasis Some are lists, some more story-like No rhyme scheme No structured meter

Enabling Writers *Stress creating a vivid image for the reader *Immerse students in examples *Model include 1 you wrote, [let them help revise] plan ahead, show and explain your thoughts and writing *Provide ideas – Use realia, brainstorm, respond to discussion, share an incident, a text, a dream, a picture

Describe this scene or a part of it using free verse. Use your verse as the basis for a descriptive paragraph.

Connecting to Writing Return to the Lobster Poem Write a prose description of a lobster Use vivid language to create the image Sight Sound Smell Feel

poetry reading ←-→ writing ↕ quality writing in content areas

*intensive & extensive vocabulary Enable *intensive & extensive vocabulary *comprehension via noticing details, metaphor, nuisances of language *student interest and enthusiasm

Sources: www.poetryfoundation.com www.readwritethink.org www.npr.org A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms by Paul Janeczko Poetry Workshop for Middle School by Michelle Ambrosini & Teresa Morrette Three Voices by Cullinen, Scala & Schroder A Jar of Tiny Stars NCTE, ed. B. Cullinen Space Songs by Myra Cohen Livingston