Poetry Unit

What do we want students to get out of this poetry unit? What are the most important things for students to leave this unit knowing?

1. Students will see the various ways in which poems are published—as standalone texts in magazines, anthologies or other publications; as “chapbooks” or collections of poems by the same author; as anthologies or collections of poems by multiple authors; and even as oral performances/readings.

2. Students will learn to “see like writers” and experiment with figurative language to describe their observations and reactions.

3. Students will learn to deliberately craft their language, selecting words and rhythms that enhance the intended meaning or effect of a text.

4. Students will explore the value of white space and punctuation, understanding how intentional craft decisions impact readers’ comprehension of and reaction to texts.