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Word Scramble Poem
Today’s prompt is inspired by Angelo Geter, AKA EyeAmBic, the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Rock Hill, SC. Before we dive in to the lesson, I want to share a couple of my favorite poems of his. In his collection More God Than Dead, he chronicles his journey into widowhood after tragically losing his wife, and deals with themes of grief,…
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Poetry paint swatches
This post is written by fellow LNC teacher Jessie Locke, who teaches 8th grade ELA. She is a graduate of Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), is in her 18th year of teaching, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She taught elementary school for 8 years, and has been in 8th grade since 2014. I can’t wait for my own children…
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NEW! March Madness Poetry Bracket 2024
I love using students’ interests in one thing (March Madness) to get them excited about another thing (poetry). Lessons like this visual reading lesson inspired by the the Super Bowl LVI half-time show is one of my most visited #TeachLivingPoets posts. My March Madness poetry bracket last year was a huge success, but I wanted to make an updated one…
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Poetry Portfolios: Teaching Poetry “From the Inside Out”
This post is written by Zach Czaia, a poet and high school English teacher working in Minneapolis, MN. His second poetry collection, Knucklehead, was published in 2021 with Nodin Press. Check out his Substack, “Teacher / Poet” here. The longer I teach English literature, the more convinced I am that to do justice both to the subject I teach and the…
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How Food Invokes Poetry – the miracle of abundance
By Kashiana Singh This post is written by Kashiana Singh. When Singh is not writing, she lives to embody her TEDx talk theme of Work as Worship into her every day. Her chapbook Crushed Anthills by Yavanika Press is a loco poetic journey through 10 cities. Her second full-length collection, Woman by the Door was released in 2022 with Apprentice…
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Poetry Literature Circles
This post is brought to you by Zach Czaia, a poet and high school English teacher working in Minneapolis, MN. His second poetry collection, Knucklehead, was published in 2021 with Nodin Press. Check out his poetry podcast, Open Your Hands on Spotify or Google Podcasts or follow him on social media @czaiazach. Some Notes on Literature Circles & Poetry Collections…
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Teaching Finna by Nate Marshall
This 10-day unit is created by Brian Hannon, Director of Secondary Curriculum for LMSvoice. He currently teaches AP Literature , AP Language , and Team-Taught English 11 in Alexandria, Virginia. Brian was the co-founder of the poetryN.O.W., and through his involvement with this organization, Brian went on to found the two largest youth poetry events in his area, the Hyper…
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Teaching “White Lies” by Tara Betts
This lesson was created by Brian Hannon, who is the Director of Education at LMSvoice, and teaches at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, Virginia. Tara Betts is the author of Break the Habit (Trio House Press, 2016) and the chapbook 7 x 7: kwansabas (Backbone Press, 2015). She is the Poetry Editor at The Langston Hughes Review and Founder of WhirlwindCenter. Betts is Poet…
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Hyperdoc for Rudy Francisco
Today’s post comes from guest author Kelly Lawlor. Kelly is a high school English teacher with 10 years experience teaching grades 7-12. She started her career in Pennsylvania where she graduated from college. Currently, she lives in Massachusetts with her family and 75lb. boxer. Kelly does her best to support, encourage, and challenge students through different hands-on learning opportunities. She…
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Teaching Joy Harjo: Full unit for An American Sunrise
As we continue to navigate teaching this year, we find hyperdocs to be one of the most useful and effective resources for teachers and students alike. Illinois educator Kristin Runyon has created a FULL unit hyperdoc for U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s An American Sunrise (W. W. Norton & Co, 2019). Click HERE to access the hyperdoc. Learn more about…
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For middles grades and elementary: Two poems by Michael Bazzett
Today’s post is by guest author Charles Ellenbogen, who is in his 27th year of teaching. He teaches high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and has recently published a teaching memoir, This Isn’t the Movies: 25 Years in the Classroom. For middle grades (7-9) “The Empty City” by Michael Bazzett From The Echo Chamber by Michael Bazzett, Fall 2021 Introduction Have…
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Run a Writing Marathon
The need for human connection has never been so achingly present for me as it has the past few months of sheltering in place. All teachers are missing their students, their moments with coworkers, and the daily work of the classroom. It makes me remember how important forging relationships and actively engaging with those young adults who cross our doors…
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Considering Elegy with Clint Smith and Danez Smith poems
Today’s post is by guest author Charles Ellenbogen, who is in his 27th year of teaching. He teaches high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and has recently published a teaching memoir, This Isn’t the Movies: 25 Years in the Classroom. This lesson is designed with distance teaching and online learning in mind. Simply share the link with your students, have them…
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“A Myth of Devotion” by Louise Glück
This is the fourth installment in a series at #TeachLivingPoets. The Poet Laureate Project features a different U.S. Poet Laureate each month during the 2019-2020 school year. Guest author Ann Cox highlights one or two of their poems, suggests activities to use these pieces in the classroom, and touches upon their contributions to the promotion of poetry in America. Ann…
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Ruffling Feathers with Kay Ryan’s “Home to Roost”
This is the third installment in a series at #TeachLivingPoets. The Poet Laureate Project features a different U.S. Poet Laureate each month during the 2019-2020 school year. Guest author Ann Cox highlights one or two of their poems, suggests activities to use these pieces in the classroom, and touches upon their contributions to the promotion of poetry in America. Ann…
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Annotating a Poem with Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “I am Offering this Poem”
This lesson was posted originally in the AP Literature and Composition Facebook group by Amber Buckley, who gave her permission to share it here. Materials needed: Place the index cards in piles, along with the large paper for students to come pick up. Index cards should not be in order. Ask for a volunteer to choose a card and read…
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Tri-Color Poetry Annotations
Today’s post is written by guest author Donna Vorreyer, a 35-year veteran middle school teacher and living poet, currently teaching her last year before retirement in grade 6. She has been a presenter for NCTE, IRA, and worked for many years as a workshop leader for the Illinois Writing Project. She has published two poetry collections with Sundress Publications, A House of Many…
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Exploring Ted Kooser’s “Abandoned Farmhouse”
Today’s post is brought to you by guest author Ann Cox. Ann Cox has over twenty years of experience teaching high school English, including AP Literature and Composition, Creative Writing, and Speech. She also spent several years as a teacher consultant for the Illinois State Writing Project. When she’s not working, Ann enjoys crafting, reading, and spending time with her family….
