1. Poetry Mentors: Models for Reading & Writing
Jean Kanzinger
NWP TC 2012

2. Handouts & PPT at www.writerslocker.com
See the “Poetry Workshop” Page

3. Poetry Serves Readers and Writers
Reading
Writing
Decoding Poetry Takes Practice
Mentors
Dictation
“What do you notice?” approach
Writing Poetry Can Reinforce Understanding of the Genre
Apply “noticings” from models
Creative Expression
Demonstrates depth of student understanding
They must READ poetry to WRITE poetry,
and WRITING poetry strengthens their READING ability.

4. Decoding Poetry Takes Practice
Students need models
In addition to hearing poetry often, they need practice examining the language, structure and ideas of poetry
Frost Place Conference on Poetry & Teaching Lesson (sheet of paper)
Dictation
Start small – they will build endurance for it
Follow with “What do you notice?” and “What is the most important word?”
Write under the influence of the dictated poem.

5. Handwritten on Notebook Paper
Dictation Exercise
Handwritten on Notebook Paper

6. What do you notice?

7. The Red Wheelbarrow so much depends upon a red wheel barrow
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
by William Carlos Williams, 1923

8. Whatever must be learned is always on the bottom,
Learning
Whatever must be learned
is always on the bottom,
as with the law of drawers
and the necessary item.
It isn’t pleasant,
whatever they tell children,
to turn out on the floor
the folded things in them.
By Kay Ryan, US Poet Laureate

9. 5th Grade Imitation
The Red Wheelbarrow (1923) by William Carlos Williams so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens.

10. 5th Grade Imitation
The Red Wheelbarrow (1923) by William Carlos Williams so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens.

11. 5th Grade Imitation
The Red Wheelbarrow (1923) by William Carlos Williams so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens.

12. Types of Mentor Texts IDEA STRUCTURE CRAFT Example
This mentor text’s unique or interesting idea inspires a fresh or unique idea from writers.
This mentor text provides a structure writers can “borrow” to write about their own unique ideas.
This mentor text contains well- crafted writing techniques that can be analyzed and imitated by writers.
“Where I’m From” by Georgia Ella Lyons
Idea (How does a place contribute to who you are?)
Structure (See template)
Craft (“Noticings” exercise)

13. “Where I’m From”
IDEA Mentor – “Show me a poem and I’ll show you a prompt” (8) – Baron Wormser, A Surge of Language STRUCTURE Mentor – Inspires copy-change CRAFT Mentor – Which devices/techniques could you feature for your students? Which would they be able to detect? Name?

14. Using Collections of Poems to Reinforce Core Lessons
Poems & Noticings Handout