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Poetry Workshops
from Guest Teachers

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poetry workshop idea, email: webeditor@poetrysociety.org.uk

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GUEST TEACHER POETRY WORKSHOP

by Roger Butts

Snapshots

This was originally developed for looking at pictures in a gallery but is equally useful with a view out-of-doors. Photocopy the worksheet (click here to view and print) and give it out, either so that the children can work in pairs or one each to work individually.

• Ask the children to choose a single subject within view. 
  (In our example it was " boats.")

• Ask them to write about the colours which give the strongest impression. 
  Utilise words such as "spotted," streaked," "misty;" etc. 
  (In our example, the subject was " hazy green and grey.")

• Say something about the subject. 
  (The example subject " leans heavily on the quay. ")

• Add one or two words to say a little more and round it off. 
  (The example boats were "waiting.") 

• When read through, the four lines should make sense.

When the children have written their two or three stanzas, they can retain them as individual poems or stanzas can be removed from various children's work to make a class poem.

ABOUT THE GUEST TEACHER:  Roger Butts has worked as a Primary School Teacher, Primary Head Teacher and for the Advisory Service in Cornwall for almost thirty years. During his eight years in the Advisory Service he organised curriculum-based projects for schools. Since leaving the Advisory Service in 1995 he has run an agency for artists working in education and as an educational consultant.

DISCUSSION AREA (SELECTED COMMENTS FROM E-MAILS TO POETRYCLASS SINCE THE LAUNCH IN OCTOBER 2000)

1 February 2002:  We all need to be aware of the need for people - especially children - to express themselves emotionally. I know that in my own school, as a Y6 teacher, we focus on the LEA's demand for x% level 4 or above at the end of keystage SATS tests. We do cover poetic and expressive writing, but not in the depth that we could - and I think this is because it isn't a required writing style at the end of KS1 or 2. (I'm certainly not suggesting that it should be!)

1 February 2002:  I 'found' this site a while ago and added to my favourites list - but I've only just revisited and I'm amazed to find such an excellent resource. Just having an appropriate text is often enough to get you started - the details are a bonus!

20 January 2002:  I have been looking for material to give me the confidence to start an after-school poetry writing club at the Primary school I teach in. What a lucky find! I'll feed back again when I've got started. Many thanks.

15 December 2001:  I have been trawling the web for poetry resources for my junior secondary students and stumbled across your web site. It contains a most intriguing array of activities - and so generously provided - for teachers. I can't wait for the new year and for classes to resume so I can try some of them out (I'm in Australia). A great resource. Well done and thanks.

10 October 2001:  I am a Supply Teacher and having a lesson up my sleeve is very important.  I have only just found and started to read the site and workshop outlines and will utilize what is offered with grateful thanks and an expectation of a lively and enjoyable lesson.  

2 October 2001:  Very interesting lesson ideas for a somewhat jaded secondary school teacher...I intend using these ideas - this is my first visit.  I enjoyed the link 'Gillian Clarke' for students - might enliven those never-ending exam revision classes!  More connections with GCSE examination poetry would be great - there's so much of it to teach and the students do find it hard - it's usually their weakest area in both English and Literature.

10 September 2001:  I am an Early Years Advisory Teacher and have recently become involved in tutoring trainee teachers on the English element of our SCITT - School Centred Initial Teacher Training - Course.  I have spent some time reading the poetryclass website pages... I am very impressed and I will be recommending them to the trainees.

3 September 2001:   Does anybody have ideas for special needs resources for Year 6 studying Walter de la Mare?  
I would recommend starting with the official Walter de la Mare Society, at http://www.bluetree.co.uk/wdlmsociety/ ("The society was formed in 1997 with the following aims in mind:  To honour the memory of Walter de la Mare; To promote the study and deepen the appreciation of his works; To widen the readership of his works, especially by introducing them to new generations of readers...")

7 Mar 2001   Name: Catherine McCusker   City: Madrid   Country: Spain 
Email: emiliofe@teleline.es
Comments: I love the poetry workshop and the ideas are fantastic. I've had some wonderful "Magic Box" poems from my second language 8 year olds. I'm looking forward to using new ideas I've found today. Poetry has always been an essential part of my English teaching and it's great to share your web page. Thanks.

5 Dec 2000   Name: Chris Firth   City: Whitby  Country: England 
Email: Mrcfirth@gardener.com
Comments: Reading through the guestbook and seeing that people are looking for 'inspiration'. Here at Caedmon School we had Ian MacMillan doing an assembly and running a workshop earlier this year. If you want your school (including staff) inspired as well as rolling about the assembly hall in laughter, I'd recommend Ian. I'm not a sycophant, nor his agent! but he was brilliant. Poetry was suddenly cool with year 9, which is some achievement.

17 Oct 2000   Name: M Stevenson  City: London  Country: UK 
Email: margaret-stevenson@learnfree.co.uk
No resources for KS1?? or have I missed them? 

[Since M Stevenson's email, the following poetry workshop for KS1 has been posted on the poetryclass site: Gavin Stewart - 'Making Monsters', Andy Croft - Improvisation in Rhyme and Rhythm, Mandy Coe - Tiny and Roger Stevens - Animal Families . We also encourage teachers to look at poetryclass workshops marked by Key Stages one level above or below theirs, as material may still be adaptable to many ages.]

5 Oct 2000  Name: Jenny Edwards   City: Nailsworth, Gloucestershire 
Country: England 
Comments: Key stage 2, teacher, looking for inspiration

[Since J Edwards' email, some excellent Key stage 2 workshops on this site include:  Phil Bowen - Favourite Things, Debjani Chatterjee - Working with Present and Past, Mandy Coe - Tiny, Andy Croft - Improvisation in Rhyme and Rhythm, Roshan Doug - Rhythm and Pace in Poetry, Roz Goddard - The Button Jar, Philip Gross - Great Titles from the Library of Serendipity , Paul Hyland - Postcards Home, Stephen Knight - Simile and Metaphor, Pat Leighton - Group 'Conceit' Poem, Anjum Malik - In the Beginning, Brian Morse - Cat in the Window, Mario Petrucci - Telegrams, Coral Rumble - How to Make a Poem, Eva Salzman - Imaginary Words, John Siddique - Physical Poetry, Mahendra Solanki - Split Definitions (Make it New), Pauline Stewart - Poetry Passport and Anthony Wilson - The Magic Box.]

WEBSITE NOTES (from feedback form and direct emails to webeditor)

3 September 2001:  Following a comment on a feedback form, we have removed the white hyperlinked text (on most pages) and replaced it with a dark olive to make it more readable on-screen.

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