To be or not to be...

A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.
W. H. Auden

I chose this quote because that is exactly what poetry does, it plays with the sound and rhythm of language. Whenever I teach alliteration, personification, oxymoron, etc... poetry comes in handy indeed. I love poetry! Poetry has to be one of my favorite genres, especially to teach with, engaging students’ thinking. I have used poetry for so many years, especially on the creative part to address writing, and also reading. However, writing about poetry can be one of the most demanding tasks that many students face in class. Especially if the students either have not been exposed to much poetry or are not avid readers. Poetry, by its very nature, makes demands on a writer and reader who attempts to analyze poems. Many times I have to guide students on how to analyze poetry.

When I was teaching at Untalan Middle School, even at GCC I have used Poems for Two Voices, and the adults just love it as much. I have used Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman, with my students and they love it. I've even found some poems for three voices. My most hesitant reader will read out loud the poem, with no reluctance. Afterwards we would discuss what the poem was about and how we think the writer has come up with the story.

I have also used Shel Silverstein’s books, namely Where the Sidewalk Ends, Everything on It, A Light in the Attic. I think the most interesting activity I would do with my students was striking a pose with poetry. I would divide the class into groups of four of five, depending on how many lines there were to a poem. Every time they would read a verse, either at the end of the verse or the beginning, or even a line, the others in the group would strike a pose. Their poses had to be what they imagined the word, phrase, or line to mean to them. I remember the excitement my students had while performing/presenting their poem to the class.

Especially, with the young adolescence to get up and move, is something they always yearn for and in a classroom it is only befitting I used their endless energy with poetry. Many educational possibilities/opportunities abound with poetry, endless activities both for reading and writing. I love poetry and sometimes I take a stab at it, trying to put my words down on paper, to make a poem.

I am learning more throughout this class about Folklore than I ever knew before. I find it fascinating to discover new things, concepts, and ideas as well as explore the different genres as I read and learn. I have never really realized that folklore would consist of oral history, proverbs, popular beliefs and customs. I always imagined it to be just legends and myths. Now I understand that folklore is filled with so many lessons, not only the basic lesson for reading but valuable lessons in life and culture. Folklore not only consists of legends, but of popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is interesting to note how my knowledge has been expanded and the possibilities or ideas I have in mind as it talks about “the traditions of culture.”

I like to consider myself and advocate of sorts, for the Chamorro culture. I do believe our culture and most especially our language is slowly dwindling. Through this genre or folklore, I think that our culture may survive. I am learning that folklore books can have a profound effect on me as well as give me insight to what it is telling an individual, examining it culturally. I have gained new insights from reading folklore and have also learned new ways to view other books as folklore especially when a teacher would want to address a problem, or teach a specific lesson for a specific cultural group of children.

I have looked at folklore books in a new light now, and realize how important and vital it is to embracing another’s culture more importantly, preserving it for future generations. Also, it may be very important to ESL learners, they too may benefit from folklore books. Looking and examining folklore books, examining them more closely has helped me learn a great deal, most of all I have learned it is not only inclusive of legends and myths but of many other aspects as well, for example culture.

Just thought I'd share this Poem about Guam...which I believe is so true, and it just illustrates the creativity of our young people today.

Image Taken From: http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/poetrywritingfavorites.htm

Quote Taken From: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_poetry.html#ixzz1mz9nMN2e