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Goal

Teach living poets is a movement that celebrates today’s poets, who are diving into the real world issues and celebrations. In literature, students often struggle with poetry. We believe that this springs from their inability to relate; most often, textbooks provide poetry that is centuries-old. By providing the work of living poets, our students will have access to relevant content that speaks to their real world- socially, politically, culturally, etc. Students need to be exposed to relevant material addressing issues in today’s world, and through diverse lenses. With poetry more so than any other genre of writing, students can understand what it is to be human and to be alive right now. Through the purchase of various poetry collections, students gain access to living poets- they’ll see literature as a movement- not old, dead language in a textbook. 

What will be done with my students

Students will analyze rigorous text by making thematic connections, understanding symbolic meaning, etc. We will pair current poetry with informational texts provided within our curriculum and across contents to examine the power of the written word through multiple lenses. This approach will guarantee student buy-in because it will speak to their interests, while also allowing them to practice their critical thinking skills, as well as standards required to meet FSA and SAT/ACT requirements. Students will participate in slam poetry, spoken word, two-voice poems, poetry circles to understand mood, tone, and depth of content. Poetry is already present in our Language Arts lessons, but by opening the students’ eyes to the world of literature happening RIGHT NOW, we hope to spark their curiosity and help them to see that to be human is to write!  

Benefits to my students

We know that, statewide, students struggle with Craft and Structure on the FSA, regardless of writing genre (informational or literary). We also know that, for the most part, students are only exposed to dated, non-relevant poetry via their textbooks. By increasing student interest in the world of poetry by providing award-winning, current poetry collections, we will in turn shift the culture of our students as it relates to the written word. There’s no easier place to approach writer’s craft and structure than with poetry- in poetry structure is visible and intentional. In poetry, students can demonstrate their understanding of this skill, thus applying it to any form of writing. We believe test scores, critical thinking skills, and more importantly- interest in literature- will increase even as early as this year. This impact will be measurable not only in test scores, but in course grades, and student interest as well.
 

Budget Narrative

An American Sunrise - Joy Harjo $24.65 (set of 5)(for group work, round robins, etc...)
No Matter the Wreckage - Sarah Kay $11.31 (Set of 5)
Citizen Illegal - Jose’ Olivarez $10.87 (set of 5)
Electric Arches - Eve Lewing $10.87 (Set of 5)
Ocean Vuong - Night sky with exit Wounds 14.25 (set of 5)
Ada Limo’n - The Carrying $14.04 (set of 5)
Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson 10.99 (set of 30 for whole class discussion)
 

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