Why Every Teacher Needs “How to Read a Poem” with Billy Collins
I stopped by the school yesterday to see my son’s English teacher. We talked about Common Core and standardized tests, research papers and the medieval mural an art student had painted on her wall. And we talked about the Quatrain Wreck, a “how to write a sonnet” infographic we published at Tweetspeak a couple of years ago. It turns out she uses the graphic in her senior literature classes. My older son told her I made it. She was new in the district, we hadn’t met, and she didn’t believe him. (It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d pulled her leg about something.)
There’s a bad word in the sonnet. I apologized for that, but she laughed, saying that it actually helps her students remember, noting that it is the scandal in the works that they read that stays with them the best. Human nature, I suppose. What I hadn’t realized was that she found the Quatrain Wreck by Googling sonnet teaching resources. (I thought my kids had shown it to her.) She wanted resources that would make learning fun and interesting, avoiding what one of our young publicity interns calls “the grim art of teaching poetry.”
Many of us were first exposed to poetry via that grim art, and suffered for it. Many students still are. And teachers are looking for ways to make that art not so grim. Even to make it the playful art of teaching poetry. The fun art of teaching poetry. The delightful art of teaching poetry.
I brought my son’s English teacher a copy of Tania Runyan’s How to Read a Poem, and gave her a second copy to share with a colleague. Runyan uses the imagery and humor of Billy Collins’s “Introduction to Poetry” as a framework for learning to experience a poem rather than take a blunt force instrument to it. Her approach is disarming as she invites readers to open their senses to a poem, not to a glossary of poetic devices.
I gave our local teacher the book because I believe it’s a book every English teacher should have in his or her top desk drawer. And today we’re extending a new sort of Poetry Dare: We dare you to give an English teacher a copy of How to Read a Poem. Surely you know an English teacher in your community. If not, ask around. And then order a copy, and hand deliver it. Tell the teacher Tweetspeak Poetry double-dog dared you.
______________________
Our Top Ten Reasons to Give an English Teacher How to Read a Poem
Buy “How to Read a Poem” for a teacher
1. Tweetspeak dared you.
2. Tweetspeak double-dog dared you.
3. How to Read a Poem could make a student fall in love with poetry.
4. How to Read a Poem could help a teacher change the grim art of teaching poetry to the delightful art of teaching poetry.
5. Teachers work tirelessly to find creative ways to engage students. You could make a teacher much less tired.
6. I asked you to.
7. It would make a lovely end-of-school-year gift.
8. When was the last time you brought an English teacher a gift?
9. Because most English teachers today weren’t around when Shakespeare and Poe were writing poems.
10. Because we want an English teacher in every state to be given this book. Trust us on this: you don’t want your state to be outdone by South Dakota. (Let us know in the comments if you give a teacher the book, along with your city and state, and we’ll pin the book to your state. Once we fill the state by state map, we’ll go county by county and country by country.)
BONUS REASON: Because a student cared enough to make this (can you hear the enthusiasm?):
A few words about How to Read a Poem, from student reader Sonia Joie:
“It makes you all happy when you read it.”
“I like how she gets you to read the poems and helps you go inside them. They’re nice poems to be inside.”
“Can I write in here? I usually don’t write in books, but I want to mark good parts and things I think of when I read the poems.”
Photo by Max Klingensmith, Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by L.W. Lindquist.
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Maureen Doallas says
. . . because:
It’s among the very best and most creative resources for teaching poetry.
It’s never too soon to cultivate appreciation for poetry.
Teachers and students will learn something together.
The book contains a wonderful anthology that will introduce students to voices they might otherwise never hear.
Well, I could go on….
Your Top 10 would make a great marketing piece.
Will Willingham says
Love your additions, Maureen. Perhaps it should have been a Top 50. 🙂
L. L. Barkat says
This is so funny. Perfect. Perfect!
Tania Runyan would be proud (and laughing. 🙂 )
L. L. Barkat says
Oh, and it’s true. New York absolutely does not want to be outdone by South Dakota 🙂
I just purchased 3 copies: one for a teacher in Westchester County, one for a library in Westchester County, and one for the tip of Manhattan (Poet’s House).
Let the games begin 😉
Will Willingham says
Okay, so the map has been updated accordingly. But then SD gets credit for two. 🙂
L. L. Barkat says
Ha! 🙂
So you put me in the north of NY. I might need to put my coat on for that 😉
Will Willingham says
Be happy you are not Rhode Island. 😉
I put the books where there is space. If we go county by county I’ll need another map anyway. 🙂
L. L. Barkat says
There is a lot of space in Texas 😉
Nancy Franson says
Because some of us were frightened by poetry back when we were in high school . . .
. . . and it’s taken 40+ years (and a dare) to get over it.
Monica Sharman says
Adding another reason to the list:
It might keep good English teachers from resigning.
http://gazette.com/colorado-springs-teacher-goes-public-with-reasons-for-resignation/article/1517971
L. L. Barkat says
Monica, the link can’t be read without signing up. I’m curious to know what some of the reasons are.
Monica Sharman says
Not sure how long comments can be. Here’s part of the article:
—–
Hawkins’ letter says in part: “I can no longer be a part of a system that continues to do the exact opposite of what I am supposed to do as a teacher – I am supposed to help them think for themselves, help them find solutions to problems, help them become productive members of society. Instead, the emphasis is on Common Core Standards and high stakes testing that is creating a teach to the test mentality for our teachers, and stress and anxiety for our students.”
She added, “Students have increasingly become hesitant to think for themselves, because they have been programmed to believe that there is one right answer.”
L. L. Barkat says
So sad.
We need to change education. Of course you know we’re trying.
Will Willingham says
I was able to read it. Odd.
Teachers are feeling choked by regulatory encroachment, needing to teach to tests, increased stress for teachers and students because of the mandates, etc. All those things you know very well.
Here is a link to her resignation letter that is referenced in the Gazette: http://paulinehawkins.com/2014/04/07/my-resignation-letter/
Jeri says
Teaching poetry was my favorite part of the year when I was in the classroom. You have to get kids warmed up with some sillier and more playful forms before plunging into the dreaded sonnet! I learned that the hard way…
Will Willingham says
Jeri, would love to hear what were some of the ways you approached teaching poetry to get your students warmed up? 🙂
Megan Willome says
Ordered!
Will Willingham says
Cool, thanks Megan. 🙂
SimplyDarlene says
i am an english teacher
gone bad –
for shame
for shame
the day i taught
to the test, student
tears
splattered lines,
made me mad
for their sadness,
for my buckling knees.
i pounded the table with
my fists – got their attention, i did.
“this diagraming bit
is going down in
flames!”
p.s. – i shall add yonder book to my cart 🙂
Will Willingham says
English teacher gone bad. Heh. 😉 It happens, I’ve heard.
Remind me, for the map. Idaho?
SimplyDarlene says
Washington.
Donna says
I just bought one on Kindle for my dear friend in NY – she teaches middle school and LOTS of poetry! I’m going to fwd Sonia Joie’s reading as well… just to get her started. 🙂
Will Willingham says
She’ll love the recording. 🙂
Tania Runyan says
This is wonderful–thank you so much for getting HTRAP out there! And Sonia, your words mean the most to me. 🙂
Jody Lee Collins says
I have officially invited two English teachers to this ‘dare.’ It’d be grand to win one of them a copy. Good job, Tweetspeak!
Will Willingham says
Thanks for doing that, Jody. 🙂
Say, Tweetspeak isn’t actually doing the giveaway, so to be sure to be entered, go over to the Chicken Story (linked above) and leave a comment. 🙂
Sarah says
Mississippi has a copy now, too!
Will Willingham says
Fantastic. Thanks so much. 🙂
Debra Elramey says
Because the system has destroyed the joy of poetry by its methods, and could learn a thing or two…
***
You know there’s one right answer
when you take that test. So you do your
best to get it right, the faster the better,
or you’ll find on your paper a giant red X.
No time to stop and contemplate. Mark
your answer without delay. The teacher
is waiting and heaven knows she doesn’t
have all day. Thirty questions all the same.
Every student should know without
hesitation that the sky is blue. But what if
today you clearly see a sky of feather gray
or remember an earlier violet dawn complete
with the joy of birdsong? Or envision
yesterday’s blaze of sunset:streaks of amber
and pink bleeding across the horizon.Oh well,never mind what you
see or feel or think. Just go by the book
and fill in the blank. The sky is ____.
Tania Runyan says
A retired curriculum director just bought seven copies for my district (Illinois)!
Will Willingham says
Exciting!
Debra Elramey says
Sorry about that one line that jumped out on its own. There’s always one 🙂
Will Willingham says
Thanks for this Debra. Even with the wild line. 😉
Kevin L. Stotts says
I won a book to give to a teacher. I don’t think I told you that we are both in Ohio (Columbus suburbs). So, please add Ohio to the map. Thanks.
Will Willingham says
Thanks, Kevin! Ohio is added. 🙂
Sandra Wirfel says
Forest Hills School District, St Mischael Pennsylvania. three copies of “How To Read a Poem”
Will Willingham says
So great, Sandra. Thanks!
Marjorie Maddox says
Because it’s also always good to give a present to yourself!
Teaching poetry in Pennsylvania,
Marjorie
Sandra Heska King says
Stick a pin in Michigan.
Elizabeth W. Marshall says
Please add South Carolina to the map. What a slow poke I must be, dragging across the finish line like the tortoise when all the other hares blasted out of the starting gate weeks before me.
My lateness should not indicate my sincere desire to put a copy of this book into the hands of at least two or three teachers I currently have in mind.
elizabeth