How to Teach Poetry: Lesson Plan 2 (Classroom Walkthrough)

Learn what a typical boots on the ground Power Writers poetry class looks like and tips for creating your own poetry classroom
When and how to best promote student interest in the clasroom
Introduce students to "close-reading" strategies (focus on all concepts, vocabulary words, geographical locations, names, etc.)
How to conduct "Heavy-lifting" reading work (line-by-line close reading of a written piece)
Writing prompts for students
Concept of the "Class Reading Master" (student who has the duty of choosing other students in the class to recite their work)
Help students create sophisticated commentary and constructive criticism (supportive, non-hypercritical, non-negative comments)

Become comfortable sharing written work due to the intimate environment created in the classroom
Learn "close-reading" strategies
Familiarity with "Heavy-lifting" reading work
Learn how to appoint the "Class Reading Master"

Arrange desks/chairs in the classroom in a circle to create a warm, supportive, intereactive space for students and teachers to communicate
Hand out the chose "Heavy-lifting" reading work (for practice, chppse a poem from PowerPoetry's Famous Poets section

Students will take turns reading the "Heavy-lifting" piece aloud. Along the way, students/teacher will conduct "close-reading" of the piece, focusing on all details
Students will practice appointing a "Class Reading Master"