Wednesday night marked my last class of the semester and to celebrate, we turned our classroom into a coffeehouse for a final reading.
Each student brought his or her portfolio to the podium and read aloud to the rest of us while we noshed on cookies and cider. I even lit candles, which I think were made somewhat irrelevant by the flourescent lights, but it’s the thought that counts.
The students loved hearing their classmates’ final versions, having given input to earlier drafts, and I loved the concrete acknowledgement that this is what they accomplished these sixteen weeks — these lovely, evocative, well-crafted poems.
A number of these poets seemed to dread the act of reading aloud before reading, but there was a palpable pleasure in the air once things got rolling — emanating from the readers and the audience. Poetry aloud is just beyond compare.
So, in that vein, I want to share with you this site for the PBS series The United States of Poetry.
You’ll find some mighty good listening there.
For example, check out this one — in spoken word and sign language.
I am grateful there are so many ways to speak. And to listen…
Sounds like you and your students had a very fulfilling and uplifting semester. Candles were a nice touch!
Thanks for the USOP site!
It was really great — one of my best in terms of dynamics and productivity…
You’ll live the USOP site — lots to feed on…
TadMack says:
Never mind the fluorescents — I adore candles being lit while cider is being imbibed and cookies nibbled. It makes the whole poetry portfolio experience seem very grown up and sophisticated. What a fun teacher you are.
Re: TadMack says:
I hope so — that was the intent anyway. I strive for grown up and sophisticated at least once every few months…
Oooh, what fun. I wish I could have been there to applaud!
That sounds like a wonderful day for you and your students. Happy sigh.