{"id":3578,"date":"2020-04-16T16:50:50","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T20:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teachersfirst.com\/blog\/?p=3578"},"modified":"2020-04-16T16:45:23","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T20:45:23","slug":"lets-talk-about-student-voice-and-poetry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachersfirst.org\/blog\/2020\/04\/lets-talk-about-student-voice-and-poetry\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s Talk About: Student Voice and Poetry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Today is <\/span>World Voice Day<\/span><\/a>, and the theme this year is “Focus on Your Voice”. While the organizers are more concerned with the science behind vocal communication, there is an opportunity here to encourage <\/span>student voice<\/span><\/a>. As educators, we can help students learn to contribute their values and perspectives to conversations as we teach and learn together. It is especially important to hear student voices during this current <\/span>public health crisis<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What better time to hear student voices than <\/span>National Poetry Month<\/span><\/a>? This month-long literary celebration reminds us of the role poetry plays in our culture. As our way of life shifts and changes as we deal with a worldwide crisis, poetry will help our global community to express the feelings and concerns of the time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The American Academy of Poets suggests that we use this time to <\/span>Shelter in Poems<\/span><\/a>. Find a poem that helps you find the strength and energy to maintain forward momentum as we limit our mobility, or perhaps one that helps you feel connected with others. Going through that exercise and sharing the poem would give both you and your students agency to express what’s happening to the world. Perhaps this is the <\/span>poem that you keep in your pocket<\/span><\/a> on April 30th.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your students may not be able to find a poem that adequately shares their voice. Help them share their perspective by writing poetry. Here are a few lesson ideas that would work well in the remote or standard classroom:<\/span><\/p>\n