Description
Book SynopsisWelcome to Poetryland: Teaching Poetry Writing to Young Children draws from Shelley Savren's forty years of teaching poetry writing in grades pre-K6 and to focus populations, including gifted and special education students, students in after school programs and at art museums, and homeless, abused, or neglected students. Each chapter begins with a student quote and an original poem, followed by heartfelt stories of working with that particular group, and concludes with lesson plans, complete with introductions of poetic concepts, model poems by professionals, open-ended writing assignments, methods for sharing and critiquing, and one or two student poems. Designed for use in a classroom, this book features thirty-eight lesson plans and twenty-three additional poetry-writing workshop ideas. It provides guidance and inspiration for anyone who wants to teach poetry writing to children. I wish Shelley would teach the whole world poetry. 1st grade student. I want to be a poetry writer whe
Trade ReviewFrom Lorca to Gary Soto, Amy Uyematsu, Kenneth Patchen and Yusef Komunyakaa and many more—and most of all, the students of all grades; we see the teaching of poetry blossom before us. Savren encourages teachers, respects them and guides them with the excitement of a poet and daring educator who has journeyed well the poetry and teaching road. Magnificent, practical, magical. -- Juan Felipe Herrera, poet laureate of the United States
The education system lacks the language and pedagogy of poetry and this book seeks to rectify that by engaging seriously with the most energetic and open group: young people. Shelley Savren has written a beautiful and necessary book. -- Dorianne Laux, nominee for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, author of The Book of Men: Poems
Welcome to PoetryLand is a great resource for educators and poets who teach writing to young people by providing explicit ways to enter a child’s imagination in a variety of settings. I love the example poems and the innovative ways Ms. Savren incorporates her own passion of poetry into writing exercises that can reach any child. -- Terri Glass, former director of California Poets in the Schools
We felt Shelley’s magic every time she entered my classroom, and I feel it as she shares her heart in these pages. What a gift to read and digest the treasures of her experience and insight. Every teacher who wishes to give students a voice to express themselves needs to share poetry writing with her or his class, and there is nothing better to guide the journey than Shelley Savren’s book, Welcome to Poetryland: Teaching Writing to Young Children. -- Liz Hoppe, 2014 Ventura County Teacher of the Year
Table of ContentsTable of Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Imagine a Purple Elephant – Teaching Grades pre-K through 5th Chapter 2: Magic Poetry Pencils and Mistake Stickers – “Special Needs” Students Chapter 3: The Craft of Poetry: Gifted, Seminar and Pull-out Programs Chapter 4: Poetry Outside the Classroom Chapter 5: Poetry in the Face of Art: Writing in an Art Museum Chapter 6: Home Is Where You Sleep at Night: Homeless, Abused and Neglected Students Appendix: Additional Exercise Ideas Resources About the Author
