So, I have to say I really don't like to TEACH poetry. I love to read it for enjoyment, but the thought of teaching poetry scares and frustrates me. It's not because I don't think that poetry has meaning. I think that a lot of poems have multiple meanings and it is hard to nail down just one. I think that when I was in high school, we talked about poetry, but it was always just one interpretation. I never liked this. Especially when it comes to my favorite poem, "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost.
"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice."
Robert Frost "Fire and Ice"
What I really liked about this chapter is that it showed me how to teach poetry in a enlightening way. I always think of my teachers standing in front of the classroom talking about the poem's background, the author's biography, and how scholars interpret it. I really liked the think aloud approach. I think that sometimes we as teachers forget that students don't know what we are giving them. Especially when it comes to British Literature. Students don't know half the phrases and words that are used back in the 1800s and I think it is good to give them time to 1) read aloud the text, and 2) make their own interpretations. This way they feel like they are more of an active participant in the poetry instead of just a by-stander.
I think poetry is such a touchy subject to teach because so many people have preconceived notions about it. It's up to us as teachers to help students see that poetry can actually be really interesting and worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI am the complete opposite. I really like to teach poetry because I can look for meaning in the poetry. If I want the student to understand the poetry I need to understand it first. If I read it for fun I don't really take anything from it. I like fun poems. I think sad poems are depressing and I don't think I appreciate them as much because I don't like things that bring me down.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to remember that many students find poetry frustrating. I think it is important for students to be more active in poetry. I think it would help them understand it better and it would be more interesting.
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