Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.
~Plutarch
We have been using poetry as part of our morning routine for years. the procedure is quite simple; a poem is charted and the class recites it while a volunteer points to the words. When the children have memorized the entire poem, they work on enunciation and projection. Students then recite the poem to an audience.
Materials:
- Chart Paper
- Markers
- Pointer
Procedure:
We first preview the poem on Youtube. Then we choral read the charted verses. One student points to the words with a pointer. We repeat the procedure several times and kids take turns pointing. It takes about a week for students to memorize a new poem.
Here are some of our favorites:
The Road Not Taken
You can find wonderful resources at:
http://www.poetryoutloud.org/.
http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/choral-reading-30704.html