This content is provided by our sponsor. 9. Said Mr. Kaye: “We’re trying to create a structure that lets our visit be as long-lasting and impactful and meaningful as possible.”. Exceeding three minutes earns a time penalty. One of the first two schools where they performed was Mr. Zamora’s. Can You Pass the Ethos, Pathos, Logos Definition Test? Rhetorical Devices Activities for Google Drive & Print, Distance Learning Google Form Student Survey, Slam Poetry Condensed Unit for Distance Learning, 12 tips for teaching spoken word poetry in your classroom, free guide to building excitement for slam poetry, How to Give Constructive Feedback to Creative Writing, Teaching Students How to Write a Summary and Response. The pair travel to K-12 schools … 3 Myths About Differentiation in the Classroom, Step Up Your Halloween Activities for High School Students. Students examine the spoken work poetry of Abiodun Oyewole. “The powerful and important thing about spoken word is, it doesn’t matter what the words look like on paper,” said Sarah Kay, a poet and the founder of a nonprofit organization that brings spoken-word poetry to schools. While poetry long has been a staple of K-12 English classes, spoken-word poetry, an art form that extends from the beat poetry of the 1950s to contemporary rap, is less commonly taught. The pair travel to K-12 schools and universities across the country to promote their art form. He said the medium can have a transformative effect on students. Please give them a listen or a viewing because they can change lives! In fact, it sort of chose me. If their curriculum is not inspiring them, something like this can,” said Ruben Zamora, a Sunnyvale, Calif., school librarian and poetry adviser who invited Ms. Kay’s organization, Project VOICE, for Vocal Outreach Into Creative Expression, to perform at his school. Alyssa Morones formerly wrote for Education Week. Slam poetry is where open mic becomes a competition. For members, spoken word poetry provides an opportunity that other social and academic spaces might not. Updated February 2, 2021. Where young writers can find print and online literary magazines to read, places to publish their own works, and legitimate contests. “What we try to do with each performance is show them how many different options of the art form there are.”. And every fall for the last decade, London high school teens have visited OPRF to participate in the school's poetry … Actors have breathed life into Shakespeare’s soliloquies since the 16th century. For 40 years, we've been committed to empowering our readers to drive change. Elliot and William Butler Yeats, but what about middle school? This is important! All Rights Reserved, Spoken Word Poetry for High School Students, Every year I teach spoken word poetry to high school sophomores. Everett High School students perform spoken word and poetry showcasing some of our community's most creative students. It’s April 2017, and my principal has asked our spoken-word poetry organization, Boston Pulse, to open a professional development workshop on the importance of youth voice. “Even 10 years ago, spoken-word was hard to find unless you lived in a city,” said Mr. Kaye. I never intended to be a professional spoken word poet. Ms. Kay conceived the idea for the project in 2004 as a way to share the art of spoken-word poetry with students in her high school, the United Nations International School in New York, and revived it in 2007 with the help of her friend Phil Kaye, a fellow spoken-word poet, while both were at Brown University. “I went to a majority white, very conservative high school in the area that I grew up in,” said Co-President of WORD! Instructional Resources for Secondary ELA, Then, if you’re not sure where to start, let me partner with you! To make the listener have to work for understanding is to lose the audience. Then, in workshops of about 25 students each, Ms. Kay and Mr. Kaye try to build on the school’s existing curricula and help students create and perform their own spoken-word poems. It’s the perfect chunk of lessons to add slam poetry into a poetry unit, or to fill a week with engaging, meaningful content for students. 10.Engage in group discussion (In spoken word every word counts there is typically no such room for open-ended interpretation with spoken word. Join EdWeek for a lively discussion as we dig into research on ways to support immigrant-origin students and English-language learners. High School Evangelism Through this set of four videos, you can start conversations with young people about life using a mix of presenters, creative visuals, and spoken word poetry. Kay and Mr. Kaye catapulted that whole culture on our campus,” Mr. Zamora said. I searched for hours to find a few examples of spoken word that were school safe (clean language) and that had elements of … In the meantime, Ms. Kay and Mr. Kaye are working on developing a text version of their curriculum, so that schools and teachers will have a solid foundation to build on after their visit. They visited Fremont High School, in Sunnyvale, in 2009 at his request. To help students grapple with complex issues of identity, membership, and belonging, consider teaching one or both of the following spoken word poems. Browse poems about human rights, protest, social justice, and contemporary and historical political climates. Next, students also find and use an authentic writing voice. That’s one of the things we’re working on.”. Spoken word poetry also aligns to many of the writing, speaking and listening goals that are outlined in the Common Core State Standards, a set of learning goals for K-12 students. Another way the art form is spreading is through technology. You can also check out our Teaching Poetry Playlist (for Older Students) and be sure to subscribe to WeAreTeachers YouTube channel while you’re at it. Writing Slam Poetry. 55 Journal Writing Prompts High School Students Love, 31 Student-Approved Books to Read for High School, 40 Engaging Slam Poems for English Class | Lindsay Ann Learning, Lindsay Ann Learning English Teacher Blog. 48 online poetry writing templates for every grade. The Poetry Club is a group of students who are all excited about the art of poetry! Primarily, we want to achieve self-expression and enhance our literacy through the writing and performance of poetry. “A lot of students have never seen spoken-word performed,” said Ms. Kay. Watch spoken-word performances from Sarah Kay, Phil Kaye and others. You’re in that scary, yet exciting getting started with slam poetry teaching stage, which is. Poetry, Celebrity, and the Power of Connotation (PDF) Students learn to recognize some of the most common strategies that poets use when writing about historical figures. Poems and articles about poetry for young adults, ages 13-18. “Poetry is in a unique position to offer teachers a complex, and many times brief, text when time is a sparse resource,” said Ms. Murphy, the founder and CEO of ThinkCERCA, which stands for Claim, Evidence, Reason, Counterargument, and Audience, located in Chicago, which aims to help teachers encourage critical thinking in their students. On Being Creative by Ira Glass Students will see that, despite differences, they are connected to each other. For example, with gun control now the subject of a national and worldwide conversation, add nuance and new perspective with poems like “ Students Start Gun Control Revolution ” by Get Lit poet Kiyah Gentle, or “ Shots Fired ” by the Los Angeles team in the 2014 Brave New Voices competition. With these in mind, students then hunt up and present other poems about historical figures. To make the listener have to work for understanding is to lose the audience. Ekphrastic Poetry. They begin each of their school visits with a show, introducing students to their art form with an original spoken-word performance. Many of the students she works with are at risk of dropping out of school or, if not, are still dealing with major problems in their lives. Check out these artists and the wonderful publishing groups that were so kind as to provide videos for these poets. Props, costumes and musical accompaniment are not allowed. SchoolPower presents: Breakfast with Phil Kaye and Sarah Kay...a live spoken word performance exclusively for Laguna Beach High School students and faculty on Tuesday, February 23, 8:00AM - 9:00AM. Several years ago, I made the scary … ET. ©2021 Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. My Air Jordans cost a hundred with tax. In an effort to expand Project VOICE, Ms. Kay and Mr. Kaye recently hired a new poet to join their team and hope to gradually add more. Spoken word poetry also aligns to many of the writing, speaking and listening goals that are outlined in the Common Core State Standards, a set of learning goals for K-12 students. Fremont senior Sioeli Kaho was a freshman when he first saw a voice performance at his school. Contestants get three minutes and no more to perform an original work. - The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. Now, sites like YouTube give students the opportunity to see a variety of poets and performances from all over the world. As a way to showcase student work and engage the broader school community, school residencies usually end with an open mic or poetry slam and an audio recording of top pieces, when funding permits. Writing Contests for Young Writers. But Ms. Kay and other educators who have worked with her organization believe that kind of poetry may be especially well-suited to connecting with young people at an emotional level, making traditional poetry more accessible to students, and sharpening their critical-thinking skills. Students find that their writing is more poetic when they write beside these beautifully crafted words. Fourth, spoken word poetry helps to build classroom community. Here are 50 spoken word/slam poems that might change your life, in no particular order. ET. Your email address will not be published. View Publications for Young Writers. Spoken-word poets Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye pose at the High Line, a park built on what was once an elevated railroad in New York City. You must register with full name and school email. This list of slam poems is geared toward high school students, but many are appropriate for middle school students, as well! According to Mr. Zamora, attendance at the open-microphone events held by Fremont’s spoken-word club has more than doubled since the voice workshops. Before the teaching artists leave a school, Project VOICE helps them continue to boost the spoken-word presence on their campuses. ET. Since the first poetry slam in a Chicago jazz club in 1986, the genre has provided youth with a creative and impactful way to explore issues of identity, belonging, prejudice, gender, social justice, and race. We've assembled a comprehensive list which features 74 of the most popular poetry contests in 2021, organized by entry deadline.Each poetry competition below has a link to the contest submission guidelines so you can learn a bit more about the contest, publisher and choose the poetry competition that's the best fit. Here are 12 poems that seem to be written specifically for middle school students. They discuss the West African Griot tradition, listen to spoken word poetry, write and perform a poem, and watch a video excerpt of a poetry … I want you to know that this post contains affiliate links. “Spoken-word allows kids to get those problems down on the page, to share them verbally, and to get rid of that background noise.”, Fremont student Sioeli Kaho concurred: “Spoken word gives me a way to act out and say how I feel and talk about anything that bothers me. Some publish only young writers, some … That includes everything from providing them with information on resources in their area to helping set up spoken-word poetry clubs. Spoken word poetry also aligns to many of the writing, speaking and listening goals that are outlined in the Common Core State Standards, a set of learning goals for K … 10.Engage in group discussion (In spoken word every word counts there is typically no such room for open-ended interpretation with spoken word. The charges are determined by how much time the poets spend at the school. The Poetry Club is a group of students who are all excited about the art of poetry! She uses the historical novel along with the nonfiction book Chasing Lincoln's Killer and a Walt Whitman poem in a unit about the president's assassination. Have students take notes. Teaching poetry is “the teacher pouring content into the kids. Feb 26, 2019 - Spoken word poetry, for high school students, is engaging and personal. Join experts to learn how to address teacher morale, identify students with low engagement, and share what is working in remote learning. Another spoken-word educator is Peter Kahn, who taught it for nine years at Oak Park/River Forest High School in Oak Park, Ill. Students write for a real-world audience and take their writing and performance seriously. Spoken word poetry can be an fantastic way to engage your class, to bring text alive, and to encourage student voice. The site has step by step directions for each poem, examples for each type and then has the student follow prompts to make writing a poem a breeze. My suede Starter jacket says Raiders on the back. These poems will resonate with your students! Holding a classroom poetry slam rewards teachers and students. Elementary teachers have Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein; high school teachers have T.S. Their mission? I never intended to be a professional spoken word poet. Golden Shovel (PDF) Students learn to read and write poems through a new form. In this Spotlight, review what the science says about reading and rediscover the struggles commonly seen. What We Do - Read poetry - Study and enjoy videos of performance/ spoken-word poetry - Write our own poetry In fact, it sort of chose me. “They’re supported in turning their stories into art. Discover how a new writing achievement tool provides a benchmark to measure students’ writing progress. Wed., February 17, 2021, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. He recently left to launch a spoken-word education training program for teachers at Goldsmiths College, University of London. The emphasis on having students create their own works in teaching spoken-word poetry adds a deeper educational dimension to the lessons, according to James Catterall, a professor emeritus at the graduate school of education and information studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, who specializes in arts and human development. Project VOICE returned to Fremont in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and the school is hoping to bring the poets back next school year. In my high school class of barely 60 students, I was known as “the artist.” What We Do - Read poetry - Study and enjoy videos of performance/ spoken-word poetry - Write our own poetry Spoken Word Poetry inspires my students to write freely. On the final night of Climate Speaks, New York City’s Climate Museum put on a spoken-word poetry performance where high school students from across the … Be part of Education Week's campaign to share your stories of passion and dedication. 9. “We know not every school has the means to have a big arts program, but that shouldn’t stop students from having access. It’s asking kids to think critically.”, While there hasn’t been much research on the learning benefits of teaching spoken-word poetry, Mr. Catterall said, “working out expressions in an art form is bound to boost cognitive development and [students’] ways of thinking and their approach to problems.”. "Dear Ursula" Melissa May-Dunn Sign up now before it is full (check ParentSquare email for flyer with link). This Slam Poetry Mini-Unit takes students through brainstorming, drafting, planning, and performing a meaningful slam poem, all in ONE week. “It inspires them to actually start putting pen to paper. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff. “They form a poem and then share it and they produce some really good stuff.”. “Ms. Fri., February 19, 2021, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Rhetorical Analysis Sentence Starters: Easy and Effective! Fire and Ice by Robert Frost. Due to my own involvement in writing in high school, I have always led my students to write poetry. I marvel now at how I recently and unexpectedly became involved with the Spoken Word Club at Northern High School (NHS) in Durham, and I would like to describe how some extraordinary young people have found a niche there, too. Thu., February 18, 2021, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. He has spent time in London developing poetry slams with local artists there. 1. spoken word poetry is meant to be performed, heard, and experienced. It’s a way to let out a little steam.”. Remember to check out these videos yourself before you show them to your students. Project VOICE’s approach to poetry may be timely as schools in most states move to teach the Common Core State Standards and in keeping with the new standards’ focus on text complexity, said Eileen Murphy, a member of the National Council of Teachers of English. Have students take notes. Frost doesn’t hold back with this poem, an ideal one for discussion and … Draw connections between poetry that is written to be spoken and poetry that is written to be read. “But, watching them, I was like, wow, this is actually really interesting.”. The competition brings together students with an interest in poetry, spoken word, theater, as well as students just discovering the power of recitation. Draw connections between poetry that is written to be spoken and poetry that is written to be read. Kathy Powers discusses the book Assassin with her 5th graders at Carl Stuart Middle School in Conway, Ark. Those include multimedia reports and essays, songs, or spoken-word poems. “I remember walking into the room kind of skeptical, thinking how I’m not a big poetry guy,” said Mr. Kaho. Spoken word artist Lemon Andersen begins today’s talk with the poem, “Please Don’t Take My Air Jordans,” written by Reg E. Gaines in 1994. In my high school class of barely 60 students, I was known as “the artist.” Overall, it never fails to amaze me how, There is something about spoken word poetry that, as, First, as students gain the courage to write and perform their own poems, they find recognition and. Check it out for more ideas or put a link on your class website to let kids explore. It wasn’t a secret dream of mine or something my guidance counselor suggested I pursue. Now, a pair of poet-educators are working to bring the rich art of spoken-word poetry to students from kindergarten to graduate school. Primarily, we want to achieve self-expression and enhance our literacy through the writing and performance of poetry. Facing History student Jonathan Lykes’ award-winning spoken word poem, “Perception” (04:08), explores how prejudice influences our … “Through the workshop process, students write and create ideas,” he said. Spoken-word poets Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye pose at the High Line, a park built on what was once an elevated railroad in New York City. Check it out for more ideas or put a link on your class website to let kids explore. Feb 26, 2019 - Spoken word poetry, for high school students, is engaging and personal. Spoken word poetry can be a beautiful and effective way to debate relevant topics. Project VOICE is funded through grants and from the fees charged to schools for each visit. Ekphrastic poetry allows students to use poetry to describe a work of art or … Join this Education Week webinar as we explore how districts can provide better continuity of support for students with disabilities. Spoken-Word Poets Bring Words to Life for Students, Westfield Washington Board of School Trustees, Persisting With Poetry in the Common-Core Era, Interpretations Differ on Common Core's Nonfiction Rule, Rebuilding Special Education Supports in the Pandemic, Keeping Students and Teachers Motivated and Engaged, Examining the Evidence: Supporting Immigrant-Origin Students and English-Learners, Superintendent of Westfield Washington Schools in Westfield Indiana, Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Instructional Services, Fairfax County Public Schools, Social Media Marketing Coordinator (temporary), Disciplinary Literacy: Strategies for Success, Science of Reading: Benefits to All of Education, Using Data to Inform Writing Instruction: Addressing Learning Loss Caused by COVID-19 Disruption. Together, the young poets expanded the program to tour schools across the country and around the world, including the United Kingdom, Singapore, and South Africa. Now we want to know how you've relied on Education Week to push for a better tomorrow. “If you’re scared, you can’t take in new information,” he said. 25+ Slam Poems Appropriate for Middle School and High School –my most viewed post by far. We watch poets perform and then take a line from the poem and write our thinking in response. He’s been a member of Fremont’s spoken-word club ever since. For example, writing and performing spoken word poetry aligns to the goal to “write…for a … It wasn’t a secret dream of mine or something my guidance counselor suggested I pursue. “These options all still meet the teacher’s rubric and criteria, but now students have the freedom to be more creative,” said Mr. Zamora. In his years as a spoken-word educator, Mr. Kahn found that students who were otherwise disengaged because of problems outside the classroom benefited the most. These poetry videos for middle and high school can help teachers do just that. By Sierra DeMulder – Director of bluapple Poetry Programming, Jason Taylor Foundation. Spoken word poetry also aligns to many of the writing, speaking and listening goals that are outlined in the Common Core State Standards, a set of learning goals for K-12 students. He noted that a handful of teachers at Fremont now incorporate spoken-word in their classrooms, giving students several creative options in place of a standard report. Slam Poetry and Spoken WordWhat is this thing called slam poetry? Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greeks recited epic poems aloud. “Teaching poetry and teaching art are different things,” he said. The art form encompasses verses that were created to be recited out loud, such as beat poetry, rather than read on paper. For my middle school students, this is meaningful — an opportunity to create space for a public hearing about the diversity, equity, and inclusion issues that affect them. It affects their whole relationship with school and learning.”, Because students typically get little exposure to spoken-word poetry, Ms. Kay said she and her colleagues have found that students are often “hungry for it” once they get a taste. Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye, of Project VOICE, perform “An Origin Story,” describing how they met and how their friendship grew: Junior Herrera, 20, of East Los Angeles College performs “Can I Speak About My Culture": Aishah Allah, 18, a graduate from Hamilton High School in California performs “Confetti": Coverage of leadership, expanded learning time, and arts learning is supported in part by a grant from The Wallace Foundation, at www.wallacefoundation.org. 50. Diane Luby Lane, who started the Get Lit-Words Ignite spoken-word-poetry program in Los Angeles, found the same to be true. Spoken-word poets Phil Kaye and Sarah Kay, above, co-direct Project VOICE, an organization that brings spoken-word poetry workshops and performances to schools across the United States and around the world. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.A version of this article appeared in the September 18, 2013 edition of Education Week as Spoken-Word Poets Bring Words to Life for Students. Mr. Kaye and Ms. Kay hope to raise enough money during the coming year to subsidize schools that wouldn’t otherwise be able to fit the program into their budgets.