Teaching ‘textophobic’ students

Aim: To provide some practical examples and ideas to help teaching of lower ability ‘fear texts.’ Particular focus on teaching Year 10 and 11 students poetry.

Task

1)What is this song about….?

Remember: Use PEE.

Starter

Agenda

1) Lyrics as poetry.

2) Benjamin Zephaniah. 1) Challenge: what is poetry?2) Investigate personal expression in

poetry.3) Topical/controversial poetry: Beauty.

• Annotation made easy.

Lyrics as Poetry

WALT: Explore song lyrics and how meaning is conveyed.

WILF: Analysis of chosen song lyrics.

Starter

1) Why have you chosen these particular lyrics?

2) What do you think is the main message behind the song?

Remember: All song lyrics and poems are written by someone

and for a reason.

Poem or Lyrics?

Got no time for grand philosophyI barely keep my head above the tideI got this mortgage, got three kids at schoolWhat you're saying is the truth, but really troubles me insideI'd change the world if I could change my mindIf I could live beyond my fearsExchanging unity for all my insecurityExchanging laughter for my tears

1) What is the main message being expressed?

BLACK EYED PEAS LYRICS:"Union"[Chorus](One for all, one for all)(It's all it's all for one)Let's start a union, calling every humanIt's one for all and all for oneLet's live in unison, calling every citizenIt's one for all and all for one

We don't want war- can't take no moreIt's drastic time for sureWe need an antidote and a cureCoz do you really think Mohammed got a problem with JehovahWe don't want war – imagine if any prophet was aliveIn current days amongst you and IYou think they'd view life like you and I doOr would they sit and contemplate on whyDo we live this way, act and behave this wayWe still live in primitive todayCoz the peace in the destination of war can't be the wayThere's no way, so people just be a woman, be a manRealize that you can't change the world by changing yourselfAnd understand that we're all just the sameSo when I count to three let's change

[Chorus]

Got no time for grand philosophyI barely keep my head above the tideI got this mortgage, got three kids at schoolWhat you're saying is the truth, but really troubles me insideI'd change the world if I could change my mindIf I could live beyond my fearsExchanging unity for all my insecurityExchanging laughter for my tears

[Chorus]

I don't know, y'all, we in a real depositionIn the midst of all this negative conditionDivided by beliefs, different sink and religionWhy do we keep missing the point in our mission?Why do we keep killing each other, what's the reason?God made us all equal in his visionI wish that I could make music as a religionThen we could harmonise together in this missionListen, I know it's really hard to make changesBut two of us could help rearrange this curseUtilising all the power in our voicesTogether we will unite and make the right choiceAnd fight for education, save the next generationCome together as oneI don't understand why it's never been doneSo let's change on the count of one

It takes one, just oneAnd then one follows the other oneAnd then another follows the other oneNext thing you know you got a billionPeople doing some wonderful thingsPeople doing some powerful thingsLet's change and do some powerful thingsUnity could be a wonderful thing

[Chorus]

Choose a line that has the greatest impact on you. Why?

Marking Rhyme Schemes.

Got no time for grand philosophy

I barely keep my head above the tide

I got this mortgage, got three kids at school

What you're saying is the truth, but really troubles me inside

I'd change the world if I could change my mind

If I could live beyond my fears

Exchanging unity for all my insecurity

Exchanging laughter for my tears.

A

A

B

E

E

D

B

C

TaskMark the rhyme scheme in one verse of your song.

Look at the words that rhyme.What effect is created in connecting these particular words?

Close analysis of chosen song lyrics

1) Choose the line/s that have the strongest effect on you. Why?

2) Complete

I think that poems and song lyrics are similar/different because…

The line “………………’ has the strongest effect on me because…

Benjamin Zephaniah

WALT: Investigate personal expression in poetry.WILF: Expressing your opinions in poetry.

Dis Poetry by Benjamin Zephaniah(from 'City Psalms')

Dis poetry is like a riddim dat drops De tongue fires a riddim dat shoots like shotsDis poetry is designed fe rantin Dance hall style, big mouth chanting,Dis poetry nar put yu to sleep Preaching follow me Like yu is blind sheep, Dis poetry is not Party PoliticalNot designed fe dose who are critical.Dis poetry is wid me when I gu to me bed It gets into me dreadlocks It lingers around me head Dis poetry goes wid me as I pedal me bikeIve tried Shakespeare, respect due dere But did is de stuff I like.

What does Zephaniah think about poetry?

Do you think this is a poem? Why? Why not?

Who’s Who

“I used to think nursesWere women,used to think policeWere men,used to think poetsWere boring,Until I became one of them.

I used to think thievesWere _______,I used to think adults Were _______,I used to think teenagersWere _______,Until____________.

What is the rhythm ?3

3

3

3

Now it is your turn….Try to express your misconceptions.Keep to the rhythm.

stereotype

Vegan Steven

There was a young vegan called Steven,

Who just would not kill for no reason,

This kid would not eat

No cheese or no meat

And he hated the foxhunting season.

3

Rhythm and rhyme schemes of a

3

2

3

2

A

A

A

B

B

limerick

Task: Writing your own limerick

Success Criteria

I have used the rhyme scheme AABBAI have used the rhythm 33223It is amusing!!!

Examples of opening lines:

There was a young girl from Yate

There once was a boy called Fred

Give yourself a grade:

1= C2= B3= A

Beauty

WALT: Explore the concept of ‘beauty’

WILF: Open and honest answers. Mature debate: Only one person talking

at a time.

How do you see yourself?

• Describe yourself in three positive words.

• Write a short paragraph about yourself where you explain a little more – why have you chosen

these words?

What about how you see others?

• Write down five positive words that describe your ideal person.

• Write a paragraph describing your ideal person, where you explain a

little more – why have you chosen these words?

What makes a person beautiful?

Discuss and feedback:

Beauty is about how you beholdmore than silver more than goldif I say I am beautifulit means beauty is accessible,beauty is about how you greetde everyday people dat you meetyou are beautiful so all rejoiceyour beauty is a natural choice.

My sister is a beautiful girlshe don't want to be Miss Worldher value is not prize moneymore value than a pearlmy sister is a beautiful girlhuman delightshe could be out of sight but she would rather stay and fight.

Her legs are firm and strongbest for self-defencemy sister kicks like wildfireso cause her no grievanceshe won't walk the platformto upsex people's lustand you can't get the number of her height, age or bust,she don't want to go to the marketto be viewed like a slavethe viewing time is overput de judge in the grave,she don't need to go to the market'cause she's already wonbeauty contest no contestshe don't need to run.

I talk 'bout people in society who judge you by your looks, den,give you a number dat is written in a book, and, lustful eyesfrom all around come to look at you, and, day judge your lifetimeby a quick interview.

My sister is a beautiful girlBut she don't want to be Miss Worldher personality cannot be rewarded by no judge or earl.

My sister is a beautiful girlShe needs no contestand you can't put her with another judging who's the best.And you cannot judge my sister's heartBy looking at her breasts.

Miss World http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/poetry/outloud/

Miss World. Real beauty?

What is your opinion of beauty pageants such as Miss World?

Unhealthy U.S. body images affect world beauty standards

Task

Read the article.

Write a short summary of the writers argument.

Plenary

Write your own dictionary definition of beauty.

Beauty:

• ‘_____’ represents the army or men working for the dictator.

•These words show the violence of Akanni’s arrest.

•The poet uses personification. He describes the ________as having a ‘______’ like a person or animal.

Stanza One Stanza Two

•Danladi’s arrest is made to sound violent and sinister through the words…

•This could be a long term of imprisonment or death. By using these words the poet makes Danladi’s fate unclear.

Stanza Three

Stanza Four

•Here, the poet suggests that Chinwe losing her job was unfair because she has always doneher job well and without error.

•The same lines repeated at the end of the first three stanzas suggests the narrator....

• This word suggests the narrator’s fear and shock.

• Personification of the _____ is used in this stanza to highlight the feeling of being _____.

• Repetition is used effectively in this line. It emphasises the fact that this event has happened before to other people. The narrator has been waiting for it to happen to him but has done nothing to prevent

Example of annotations given for ‘Not My Business’ by Niyi Osundare.

What is the poem about?

Answer using PEE.

This poem is about ___________.

The line/phrase/image ‘________’ illustrates…

The poet expresses the idea ________through the line ‘__________’

It is

about.

Any questions?