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1. Poems About Education

   In: Poetry Format(s): Text

   Read poems that students from around the world wrote about their schools, teachers, and education. Download student poems!

2. Content Spotlight: National Poetry Month

   Activities and lesson plans on the topic of poetry for National Poetry Month

3. Poetry for the People

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article starts with the view that most poets believe that poetry should be understandable and accessible to everyone. The article then introduces the poetry and ideas of Ted Kooser, a famous poet born in Iowa. Following the stories of Ted Kooser, the article introduces what a poet laureate is, how long they serve, how they are chosen, how much pay they get, what they do, and six poet laureates of the past two decades. The history of the Library of Congress is introduced at the end.

4. An American Poetry Project for Low Intermediate ESL Adults

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the author’s poetry unit, developed to expose her ESL students to American literature. Students wrote journals about poems they read and were assigned a poem about which to write a composition. The author required her students to memorize and perform one poem. While teaching the unit, the author and a colleague kept a dialog journal of their experience and insights. Both the student reactions and their dialog journals yielded positive results, allowing the author to make several recommendations for using poetry in the ESL classroom.

5. Poems About Hopes, Dreams, Futures, and Freedom

   In: Poetry Format(s): Text

   What are the hopes and dreams of students from around the world? Read their poems and find out!

6. Activity: Writing Short Poems

   Activity and lesson plan on writing poems.

7. Poems Made Into Songs

   In: Poetry Format(s): MP3

   Students from all over the world participated in poetry writing to celebrate National Poetry Month. Three of the poems were then made into songs! Listen to them or download the MP3s here!

8. Other Poems

   In: Poetry Format(s): Text

   Do you like surprises? Read a poem from this month’s selection of poems by English language learners. These poems are not categorized by theme or topic, so choose a poem and enjoy the surprise of where it takes you!

9. Using Favorite Songs and Poems with Young Learners

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   In this article, the author discusses the benefits of using songs and poems to teach young learners. The author explains how songs and poems can be used in English class and what their benefits are. The author explains how teachers can use actions or puppets to accompany the selected songs or poems, or allow young learners to create ideas themselves. Each suggestion includes an activity. The author also offers an example of a song chart.

10. Poetry Corner

    In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 1 Format(s): Text

    This issue’s “Poetry Corner” revolves around the poem “Coins” by Richard Newman. It includes a lesson plan for teaching students about American Coins, as well as a glossary of terms. Skills include vocabulary, reading, and discussion. The lesson works with the feature article entitled US Coins.

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