1. POETRY Presentation for ENA 360, Children’s Literature

2. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF POETRY? Quick Write: Please reflect on your experiences with poetry in the elementary grades. Then write a response to this question: Did you enjoy poetry in the elementary grades? Why/why not?

3. VALUE OF POETRY Enjoyment Knowledge about Concepts Language Appreciation Vocabulary Growth An unobservant porcupine Backed up into its brother Since then they’ve been inseparable— They’re stuck on one another From, A Pizza the Size of the Sun, By Jack Prelutsky

4. VALUE OF POETRY (cont.) Identification (with people & feelings) My brother’s really stingy, he’s the lowest, he’s the worst. He never shares his lollipops unless he licks them first. From, A Pizza the Size of the Sun, By Jack Prelutsky Understanding and Acceptance of Feelings Insight into Selves and Others

5. WHAT MAKES IT “POETRY”? Economy of words Imagery Distinctive sound MUST be read aloud to be appreciated! Emotional impact Visual elements are often important (how it looks on the page)

6. RESEARCH ON CHILDREN’S POETRY PREFERENCES Terry (1974) found children prefer Contemporary poems over traditional ones Poems about familiar & enjoyable experiences Humorous poetry Rhythm of poetry Rhyme of poetry Limerick and Narrative forms of poetry best Terry also found: enthusiasm for poetry declines as children get older Teachers in grades 4-6 neglect poetry

7. RESEARCH ON CHILDREN’S POETRY PREFERENCES Fisher and Natarella (1982) found children enjoy… Rhythm Rhyme Alliteration Onomatopoeia

8. ELEMENTS OF POETRY: 1 st Element Rhythm The movement or beat created by the words as they are read Created by stress, number of syllables, and pattern of syllables (stressed and unstressed) Poetry Types with Contrasting Rhythm Limerick: Has a strong, structured rhythm or beat Free Verse: Has an irregular rhythm, unique to each poem Contribution of rhythm Enjoyment Mood Emphasis Dramatic effect Example: The Pickety Fence, by David McCord

9. ELEMENTS OF POETRY: 2 nd Element Sounds of Language, Rhyme End-of-line rhyme Within-line rhyme Alliteration (Repetition of initial consonant sounds Assonance (Repetition of vowel sound) Example: Henrietta Snetter, by Jack Prelutsky Onomatopoeia (Words that sound like their meaning) Examples: Weather, by Eve Merriam The bacon sizzled in the pan.

10. ELEMENTS OF POETRY: 3 rd Element Repetition What do poets repeat? Why do poets repeat? Examples The New Kid on the Block, by Jack Prelutsky (p. 83, your text)

11. ELEMENTS OF POETRY: 4 th Element Imagery (Use of figurative language that helps reader“see”, “feel”, “taste”…experience through the senses) Comparisons using metaphors and similes Dreams, by Langston Hughes Personification April Rain Song, by Langston Hughes Fog, by Carl Sandburg Hyperbole When Tillie Ate the Chili, by Jack Prelutsky

12. ELEMENTS OF POETRY: 5 th Element Shape Word placement on lines is carefully done to enhance meaning Overall visual appearance on page is important Type of poetry in which shape reflects topic: Concrete poems (“picture” poems) Examples of shape in poetry: A Flamingo, poem by J. Patrick Lewis (p. 93- text) I got a valentine from…

13. POETRY “PATCHWORK”-OPEN MIC POETRY READINGS Grab a Poetry Book and Browse Through it to find a poem you like Practice reading your poem to your peer Be ready to Read Aloud to the Class!