Stuck on how to fit poetry in with the National Literacy Strategy?
We commissioned Roger Stevens (Poetryzone) to give poetryclass some ideas on this subject, and he has generously provided us - or rather, you! - with "A Poem a Term".  Just as it sounds, this guide takes you through Year One to Year Six, term by term, with teaching ideas and poem examples.  View here.

A bright future for poetryclass!

The DfES awarded the Poetry Society funding to continue developing the poetryclass project during the year 2002-2003.

We were therefore able to expand our INSET programme and held training events in Northamptonshire, Cornwall, London and Manchester during 2002. You can book INSET online; see details of forthcoming dates here.

We surveyed teachers who had taken part in poetryclass INSET during its first year, to find out whether it had made a lasting difference.

• 97% of teachers said that poetryclass INSET had contributed to raising standards in literacy amongst their students: 
  "I have been amazed at the quality of language used by pupils in both poetry and prose since using the ideas I gained on the course." 
  

• 80% of teachers also noted an improvement in their students' speaking and listening skills.
  

• 98% said that the INSET had increased their confidence and enthusiasm:  
  "I would never have had the confidence to teach poetry had I not taken part in this, but now I can't wait to teach it again!" 
  "Without a doubt the most enjoyable, inspiring and empowering training day I have ever experienced." 
  "inspiring... a very creative experience, something teachers don't often get!"
  

Much of our INSET is a partnership between poetryclass and LEA advisers or literacy consultants. They too speak highly of the value of the training opportunities:

"Teachers benefited enormously from poetryclass. I have watched teachers putting poetryclass ideas into practice and achieving very good results."  

"We need more of this kind of INSET. Teaching does not change overnight, but regular INSET of this kind improves the teaching of poetry and pupils' control of language." 

We are still seeking to establish partnerships with advisers and literacy consultants, to work with us in setting up training days in their areas. Please call 020 7420 9892, and a member of our Education Department will be happy to talk you through the scheme.

Read about our pilot initiative with PGCE students at Exeter University here. Trainee teachers and their partner class teachers worked alongside poet Ann Sansom, and spent time on teaching practice planning and delivering their own poetry projects in the classroom.

We are building on this pilot to train, support and resource more trainee teachers in their use of poetry in the classroom. Further news will be announced on this site.

www.poetryclass.net continues to evolve to meet the needs of teachers and educationalists. Its most popular feature is a growing bank of detailed lesson ideas referenced to specific objectives in the Literacy Strategy. These are designed and written by poets with extensive schools experience, and can be downloaded and used with confidence in the classroom.

New material was commissioned for 2002/03 and included new lesson ideas, and features on forms of poetry, on assessment and on poetry work at KS1.

We welcome your comments on any aspect of this website and the poetryclass project. Please register on our feedback form, email us (poetryclass@poetrysociety.org.uk), and do visit our discussion area.