MS/HS students share 'Poems in Their Pockets'
Co-op assignment encourages fellowship & poetry appreciation
Launch the media gallery 1 playerWahoo Middle School Language Arts Teachers Andi Mann and Kjirsten Abkes, along with Wahoo High School Language Arts Teacher Larry Fangman, had their students get together on Thursday, April 30, and share their “Poems in Their Pockets.”
Poem in Your Pocket Day is sponsored every April by the Academy of American Poets, in recognition of National Poetry Month.
The three classes met during first, second, and fourth hour outside the WPS Performance-Learning Center. Each student paired with another student in a different grade. Partners then read their poems to the other person.
Launch the media gallery 2 playerAfter both students finished reading their poem, students found another partner—again in a different grade—to share their poems again and listen to a new poem.
Students were required to have their poems on a piece of paper or on their phones, since they had to be able to fit the poems “in their pockets.”
“This was a great activity because poetry is meant to be recited out loud and listened to,” Mann commented. “Poetry in Their Pocket day is a great way for students to get out of their comfort zone and meet students from other grades. It is a great way for students to celebrate and enjoy poetry.”
The language arts teachers plan to make “Poetry in Their Pocket” day an annual sharing event between the middle school and high school students.