EDLA 509 - Be Versatile with Verse: Poetry in the Classroom (3)

Even though we may not realize it, our lives are infused with poetry. Adults sing rhythmic lullabies to babies; children learn nursery rhymes and key concepts like the months of the year by chanting (“Thirty days have September, April, June, and November!”); and teenagers rock to the beat of their favorite songs’ rhythm and lyrics. Poetry has the power to inspire, transform, enlighten, and stir our emotions. 

From simple limericks to complex elegies, poetry can enrich English Language Arts instruction by exposing students to its unique literary features and demystifying the practice of interpreting abstract or symbolic verse. In this course, you will develop robust strategies for incorporating poetry into your teaching practice. You will learn how to help students understand the conventions of poetry, interpret different styles of poetry, creatively express their responses to poems, and write original poetry. In addition, you’ll learn to create a classroom environment where all students are comfortable sharing their own poetry and their personal responses others’ works.

Using the tools from this course, you will be able to fortify your English Language Arts curriculum and help students discover a lifelong appreciation for this unique literary form.