Alternative Poetry by Michelle Stein

Our creative writing unit weaves Shakespeare, poetry, short stories, and recitation together seamlessly in an attempt to grab and engage. I want students to feel, viscerally, the power of alternative self-expression. This hook of personal engagement captures both the writer and audience. Because the age group I teach is all about self-exploration and independence, the opportunity to “intentionally” break the rules of grammar hits their sweet spot.

Students get a taste of a wide variety of poetry. For three weeks, no matter what content we cover, I read a poem aloud to begin the class. Sometimes we discuss; but more often, I simply let the poem do the talking. (Click here for my list.)  My favorite assignments are all non-traditional: newspaper black-out poetry (thanks to Austin Kleon), Spine Poetry, Visual Poetry, and our Verses on the Green recitation day. Verses on the Green is a morning in which all students recite a poem from memory before an audience, weather permitting, outside.

Finally, one of my favorite alternative writing projects utilizes the benefits of collaboration and the random nature of Exquisite Corpse. Students sit in a circle of desks, each with a sheet of lined paper. I provide either a part of speech or a topic; each student writes a word or phrase that fits the category, folds the paper over so that entry cannot be seen, and passes the paper to the left. When the paper has returned to the first student, we read them all aloud. The poems can be silly, but more often than not, are breathtaking in their power of the written word. By the end of the unit, students have new outlets for their personal thoughts, beliefs, and creativity. More importantly, they bring a much-needed dose of beauty to our world. 

Michelle Stein has been teaching at the Davis Academy Middle School in Atlanta, GA for over 16 years. She loves to grow her PLN via Twitter @steinatdavis. You can find her class blog at www.tdams6thla.blogspot.com and her professional blog at www.steinology.weebly.com.