Page 140 - Resources and Support for the Online Educator

Listening and Spoken Poetry 71

Listening and Spoken Poetry

With all the emphasis on reading and writing, we often forget that great sto -
ries and poems were meant to be heard as much as read. Listening to poetry
read aloud helps readers and writers understand the complexity of compact
words, bringing meaning to the forefront with rhythm, rhyme, pause, and
emphasis. When we hear a poem, words come to life. Table 4.1 highlights
some of my favorite poems to listen to. (Please be sure to preview these be -
fore you share them to make sure they are appropriate for your students.)

Another good source for listening is the YouTube channel of Poetry Slam,
Inc. (PSi). The PSi mission is to “promote the creation and performance of
poetry that engages communities and provides a platform for voices to be
heard beyond social, cultural, political, and economic barriers,” leading to
“a world where all persons have the ability to express themselves creatively
through poetry using the power of voice” (n.d.).

Recitation Competition

Speaking and reciting poetry is helpful for students’ understanding, and some-
times a competition is just the incentive students need to give it a try. Poetry
Out Loud is a national program that promotes poetry through memorization
and recitation. Students must memorize and present a poem of their choosing
from the official Poetry Out Loud anthology, competing locally and, potentially,
nationally with other high schoolers for cash awards. In partnership with the
National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud
offers lesson plans, videos, recitation tips, and its poetry anthology online. In
my district, the high school participates in Poetry Out Loud annually. Students
prepare in class and then compete school-wide one afternoon in our media
center. Some students have even gone on to compete at the state and national
level. Holding a classroom or school-wide poetry reading showcases the spoken
word as well as helps students understand the depth of each poem selected and
presented for others.

Excerpted from Chapter 4, “Poetry: Traditional, Visual, Makerspace.”

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