Poetry Reading questions

[KarenB]

My class (4th grade) is wrapping up a long poetry unit where each student wrote and illustrated 20+ original poems. They did a fantastic job!! What I would like to do is have a poetry reading and invite parents to participate. I am not sure how real poetry readings are organized. Does each person read a poem? Do we respond to the poem? Do we applaud? Is food served? Do we read in a large group or small groups? I want each student to read one of their on original poems and read a poem they selected from a collection of poetry books I have in the classrom, then I was thinking about asking the parents to bring in a favorite they may have and share.

I would love to hear suggestions and ideas. I would have an hour at the most set aside for this. It would be a great end of the year gathering.

Karen

 

[Marseeya]

OMG, I'm so excited for you! I'm totally into creative writing, and I think your plan sounds great.

If I were you, I'd make the reading voluntary, and leave time at the end for the shy ones to join in if they change their minds.

The only poetry readings I've been to, the audience doesn't applaud until the end. Or what might be fun is to have them snap their fingers as applause. I bet the kids would get a kick out of that. (you know, like a beat poetry reading)