LR Lately
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Subscribe to LR Lately | View All PostsA Jabberwocky Sighting in New Hampshire!
Posted On: 02/26/2015
“Carpe diem!” These are the words everyone remembers from Robin Williams as the English teacher in The Dead Poet Society. This film taught audiences the importance of emotion and catharsis in poetry appreciation as well as in life with one’s peers. In today’s world where the quickest poem is on a small screen in 140 characters or less, teachers still find ways to engage their students in literature appreciation. We can find evidence of this in the upcoming Poetry Out-loud Competition in Lincoln at Jean’s Playhouse.
Poetry Out Loud is a “National Recitation Contest” for students in the 9th-12th grades. The students choose three poems: one must be of 25 lines or less and one must have been written prior to the 20th century. Each student is judged by a rubric that deducts points based on the students’ accuracy or inaccuracy of the recitation. These students are allowed to ask the prompter for a word if their memory fails, but that results in a deduction. These competitions happen at the school level, state level, regional level, and the national level.
Supported by U.S. state art agencies, this organization hopes to promote passion for poetry, confidence in public speaking, and a sense of literary heritage in the participating students. I think this effort is a particularly interesting one. When I first saw the information for the organization, I assumed Poetry Out Loud was a creative group recognizing children with a particular aptitude for writing verse and performing it. However, this group is promoting an old-fashioned value of memorization in historical verse, something only college English majors taking the GRE might strive to do. Formerly, students were asked to memorize in class more often. Now they only have to read, interpret, and discuss. Memorizing literature is a particular to those of the highest education now, but its practice is being made available to all.
The organization gives school teachers lesson plans on starting conversation in classrooms about poetry. The part of the lesson that seems to be the most important is that the organization asks teachers to start every class day reading a new poem and discussing it. By asking students to read a new poem each day for the 180-day school year, you can cover a lot of literary ground! But by going farther than that to ask students to memorize appeals to both sides of the brain in learning. What an incredible way to get minds turning for a day of education and focus! Teachers who can incorporate old values in new ways like this should be commended.
The semi-final competition at Jean’s Playhouse is from 6pm to 8pm on March 2nd. If you’re a school teacher, a student, or a community member, go cheer on the Lakes Region kids and learn something about this organization! To find out more about this organization online, visit the Poetry Out Loud Facebook Page!
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