Poetry in the Language Poetry in the Language ClassroomClassroom

James Whiting Ph.DJames Whiting Ph.D

Why Poetry Why Poetry

Fun Fun

InterestingInteresting

Rich Language Rich Language

Group and Individual Work Group and Individual Work

Four SkillsFour Skills

Authentic Language Authentic Language

UniversalUniversal

Why Poetry Why Poetry

Hands-onHands-on

Flexible, expandableFlexible, expandable

PerformancePerformance

Music Music

IntonationIntonation

RhythmRhythm

Connection to self and world Connection to self and world

Why poetry Why poetry

De-mystifies De-mystifies

Examines ambiguity Examines ambiguity

Poetry Poetry

Sensory workSensory work

Examination and awareness of detailsExamination and awareness of details

Analysis of poemsAnalysis of poems

Cloze activitiesCloze activities

Different types of poemsDifferent types of poems– Haiku, limerick, sonnet, free verseHaiku, limerick, sonnet, free verse

Group and pair poems Group and pair poems

  If you were only ______ inch tall, you'd ride a If you were only ______ inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school.worm to school.The _________ of a crying ant would be your The _________ of a crying ant would be your swimming _______.swimming _______.A _______ of cake would be a feastA _______ of cake would be a feastAnd last you seven days at _____,And last you seven days at _____,A flea would be a frightening ________, A flea would be a frightening ________,

If you were _____ inch tall.If you were _____ inch tall.

One Inch TallOne Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein

If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school.worm to school.The teardrop of a crying ant would be your The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.swimming pool.A crumb of cake would be a feastA crumb of cake would be a feastAnd last you seven days at least,And last you seven days at least,A flea would be a frightening beastA flea would be a frightening beastIf you were one inch tall.If you were one inch tall.

One Inch TallOne Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein

If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door,beneath the door,And it would take about a month to get And it would take about a month to get down to the store.down to the store.A bit of fluff would be your bed,A bit of fluff would be your bed,You'd swing upon a spider's thread,You'd swing upon a spider's thread,And wear a thimble on your headAnd wear a thimble on your headIf you were one inch tall.If you were one inch tall.

One Inch TallOne Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein

You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum.gum.You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb.hug her thumb.You'd run from people's feet in fright,You'd run from people's feet in fright,To move a pen would take all night,To move a pen would take all night,(This poem took fourteen years to write--(This poem took fourteen years to write--'Cause I'm just one inch tall). 'Cause I'm just one inch tall).

What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?Does it ______ upDoes it ______ upLike a raisin in the ________?Like a raisin in the ________?Or fester like a sore--Or fester like a sore--And then run?And then run?Does it __________ like ___________ meat?Does it __________ like ___________ meat?Or crust and sugar over--Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just __________Maybe it just __________like a heavy load.like a heavy load.Or does it _________ ?Or does it _________ ?

Dream DeferredDream DeferredLangston Hughes   Langston Hughes  

What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry upDoes it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?Like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore--Or fester like a sore--And then run?And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over--Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagsMaybe it just sagslike a heavy load.like a heavy load.Or does it explode? Or does it explode?

A note to a friendA note to a friend

You have been staying in a friend’s You have been staying in a friend’s apartment for several days. You couldn’t apartment for several days. You couldn’t help yourself and have eaten all of what help yourself and have eaten all of what remained of last night’s dessert. You feel remained of last night’s dessert. You feel very badly. You have to leave for the very badly. You have to leave for the airport before your friend comes home airport before your friend comes home from work. Write a note to your friend from work. Write a note to your friend explaining what you have done. explaining what you have done.

This is just to sayThis is just to sayWilliam Carlos Williams William Carlos Williams

I have eatenI have eatenthe plumsthe plumsThat were in That were in the iceboxthe icebox

and which and which you were probablyyou were probablysaving saving for breakfastfor breakfast

Forgive meForgive methey were deliciousthey were deliciousso sweet so sweet and so cold. and so cold.

This is just to sayThis is just to sayWilliam Carlos Williams William Carlos Williams

I have eaten the plums that were in the I have eaten the plums that were in the iceboxicebox

and which you were probablyand which you were probably

saving for breakfast. saving for breakfast.

Forgive me they were delicious so sweet Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold. and so cold.

HaikuHaiku

Three LinesThree LinesFive SyllablesFive SyllablesSeven SyllablesSeven SyllablesFive SyllablesFive SyllablesUnrhymed Unrhymed

Among the white hairsAmong the white hairsA solitary black oneA solitary black oneLife Refuses DeathLife Refuses Death

Irkutsk PoemIrkutsk Poem

____________ ____________ one word the topic one word the topic

_______ ________ _______ ________ two adjectives two syllables each two adjectives two syllables each

______________________________________Phrase starting with a prepositionPhrase starting with a preposition

____________________________________________Short sentence Short sentence

______________One word that describes the topic One word that describes the topic

Irkutsk PoemIrkutsk Poem

desertdesert

scorching, blazingscorching, blazing

far from citiesfar from cities

I stand here aloneI stand here alone

beautiful beautiful

ProverbsProverbs

Look before you leapLook before you leap

A Bird in the hand is worth two in the bushA Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Don’t count your chickens before they Don’t count your chickens before they hatchhatch

Too many cooks spoil the soup Too many cooks spoil the soup

Might makes rightMight makes right

Live and let liveLive and let live

Proverbs Proverbs

Finders keepers, losers weepersFinders keepers, losers weepers

Don’t cry over spilled milkDon’t cry over spilled milk

Good fences make good neighborsGood fences make good neighbors

Familiarity breeds contempt Familiarity breeds contempt

Better safe than sorry Better safe than sorry

You can’t teach an old dog new tricksYou can’t teach an old dog new tricks

Ignorance is bliss Ignorance is bliss

Color Color

As red as berriesAs red as berries

As black as inkAs black as ink

As green as a caterpillarAs green as a caterpillar

As blue as veinsAs blue as veins

Resources Resources

The Inward Ear: Poetry in the Language The Inward Ear: Poetry in the Language ClassroomClassroom. Maley and Duff, Cambridge . Maley and Duff, Cambridge University Press University Press

http://library.nakanishi.ac.jp/kiyou/http://library.nakanishi.ac.jp/kiyou/gaidai(30)/05.pdfgaidai(30)/05.pdf

http://www.njcu.edu/CILL/vol2/kasper.htmlhttp://www.njcu.edu/CILL/vol2/kasper.html

http://www.infoplease.com/http://www.infoplease.com/

ipa/A0903237.htmlipa/A0903237.html

Resources Resources

http://iteslj.org/links/TESL/Poetry/http://iteslj.org/links/TESL/Poetry/

http://www.eslcafe.com/search/Poetry/http://www.eslcafe.com/search/Poetry/index.htmlindex.html

http://www.tooter4kids.com/classroom/http://www.tooter4kids.com/classroom/poetry_in_the_esl_classroom.htmpoetry_in_the_esl_classroom.htm

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/http://www.poetryfoundation.org/

http://www.americanlifeinpoetry.org/http://www.americanlifeinpoetry.org/

http://www.favoritepoem.org/http://www.favoritepoem.org/