9th Grade Poetry
Ms. Birdwell
The instructor said,
“Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you—
Then, it will be true.”
I wonder if it’s that simple?
-Langston Hughes, Theme for English B
I. Course Overview
The 9th Grade Poetry class lays a foundation for success in critical thinking, verbal communication, and writing through the study of poetry. In the words of Ray Bradbury, “Read poetry every day of your life.” Why, you may ask? The answer to the question lies in this course.
II. Required Materials (bring every day)
notebook, divided into 3 sections
daily writing warm-up
notes
striking lines
pen/pencil
loose leaf paper
III. Student Performance and Evaluation
Participation in Class and Readiness to Learn: 40%
Poem Assignments: 20%
Recitations: 20%
10-Minute Daily Writing Warm-Up: 20%
IV. Absences and Make-Up Work
If a student is absent from class, he or she should check the website and read the pertinent poems or complete the assignment. Students may also email me any questions about the lesson they missed.
V. Expectations
Engaging with works of art requires a charitable heart. Sometimes, the beauty of a work is not readily apparent, so we are asked to suspend our judgment as we work collaboratively to develop our ears for the beauty of a poem’s words and our minds for the profundity of its ideas. Similarly, we need to be charitable to our classmates, who are being vulnerable as they share the expressions of their souls, and our teacher, who is working to share something hidden, subtle, and beautiful with you. This entails coming prepared to class each day, working diligently to engage and understand the works, and maintaining a positive attitude. In Poetry Class, we seek to build each other up — not bring each other down.
VI. Contacts
E-MAIL: LBirdwell@areteprepacademy.org
Tutoring will be Mondays, Wednesdays after school in room 202.