The Poet in You: The presentation

                      

This is the presentation used for the mini-workshop The Poet in You given to 7th graders at the Juan Ponce De León Middle School in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The resource used for this presentation is a document titled Poetry Writing Activities - A Standards Approach prepared by Prof. Hilda Clemente Sosa and Prof. Marina Ramos Rosado. You are free to use the presentation strictly for educational purposes. 

The Poet in You: A mini-workshop about poetry writing

As part of establishing a sense of community between the teaching community, the Practice Teaching course requires students to participate in activities related to teaching. On Friday, January 30, 2015, I gave a workshop to 7th graders at the Juan Ponce De León Middle School in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The workshop focused on poetry writing. I was cordially invited by fellow Practice Teachers and colleagues Ms. Kimberly Thomas and Mr. Abner Pérez with approval of our Practice Supervisor Dr. Nilsa Lugo Colón and authorization ofrom our Practice Teachers Mrs. Sara Troche (Cooperating Teacher at the aforementioned school) and Mrs. Sonia N. Aponte (My Cooperating Teacher). As resource for the presentation, I used a document titled Poetry Writing Activities - A Standards Approach by Prof. Hilda Clemente Sosa and Prof. Marina Ramos Rosado and it was handed to me by Prof. Carmen M. Torres Rivera, professor at the English Department of UPRH.

I gave the workshop to three 7th grade groups who have an incredible mastery of the English language and are knowleadge on the art of poetry writing. The workshop focused on three contents: review of vocabulary, activities on poetry writing and share alouds. The review was skipped quickly because the students impressed me with all they knew about the topic. Afterwards, we went right into writing time with activities in which they followed a scheme and wrote their poems. There were: personification poem, 5 W's poem, simile/metaphor poem, stair poem and using the five senses. The workshop went smoothly and the students excelled with beautiful works of poetry. I must say: I was really amazed by the potential these students harbor. The Juan Ponce De León Middle School in itself has an environment of community learning and the students are eager to learn. Ms. Thomas and Mr. Pérez are outstanding Practice Teachers who have made a connection with their Practice Groups and I have no doubt they will be excelltn English teachers. As for my experience, it was refreshing and welcoming because this is what I aim for: establishing community between English teachers in which they interchange and participate in activities for the improvement of teaching English in the Puerto Rican context. 
Here are some pictures of the workshop The Poet In You. I invite you to visit the blogs of my fellow colleagues Ms. Kimberly Thomas and Mr. Abner Pérez to get an insight of their experiences as Practice Teachers.
Disclaimer: To comply with privacy regulations, the students' faces have been covered.

Ms. Thomas (left), Mr. De Jesús and Mr. Pérez (center) and Mrs. Troche (right)

Ms. Thomas (left), Mr. De Jesús (center) and Mr. Pérez (right)

Poem of the Week (2)

This week I recommend the poem Masks by Shel Silverstein. Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite children's literature author whom is best known for his drawings and quirky style that captives children and adults like. However, Silverstein did not think twice to dwell in mature themes like the one in the poem Masks. As you will read, the poem touches on acceptance and self-love. The characters in the poem search for blue unbeknownst they have what the other is searching for. A poem with a sad undertone, Masks leaves wondering why is it so difficult to be who we are and understand that happiness comes from within in order to pass it along to those in need. 

Poem of the Week (1)

This is the very first Poem of the Week, a weekly literary recommendation of poetry for the soul. 

This week I recommend Song for a Dark Girl by Langston Hughes. The poem tragically narrates the death of a black young woman, victim of a lynching. A grim reminder of the racist acts at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States, Song for a Dark Girl certainly expresses how segregation truly is an enemy of humanity.

Song for a Dark Girl
Langston Hughes

Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
They hung my black young lover
To a cross roads tree. 

Way Down South in Dixie
(Bruised body high in air)
I asked the white Lord Jesus
What was the use of prayer.

Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
Love is a naked shadow
On a gnarled and naked tree.

For more details and interpretations of the poem, click HERE. 

No need to worry, parents...

Practice Teaching has begun!

Mr. De Jesús will teach you now.

Coming to a school near you...

01/15/2015