[CALIBK12] Query: Poetry Slam

[Doug Achterman]

Blair,

 

Here's our version of a poetry slam:

 

We do this in three rounds, all at lunch. 

On each day, kids need a ticket to get in, and on these special days
they can eat their lunch in the library (it's high school, so rules may
vary according to age!)

I pass out tickets in the library and in classes around campus as I move
through announcing the poetry slam.

 

The tickets themselves generate a buzz and privilege the attendees and
honor the participants.

 

Two weeks prior to the slam, students sign up for round 1. This is their
promise to show up on the appointed day and read their poem aloud to a
panel of judges.  Good candidates for judges:  the principal, the
superintendent, parents, community business leaders (including bookstore
owners), teachers, public librarians.

 

Day 1: 

Students are randomly separated into equal sized groups. Because we do
this at lunch and there's only about 20 minutes of useable time, we keep
our groups to about 6 students each. Last year, I think we had 8 groups.
They read their poems aloud, and the judges score on a rubric. From each
group, one person advances to the next day.

 

Everybody who reads on the first day gets a certificate of appreciation.
I give out tickets to any students who want to return the next day, and
I hit afternoon and morning classes and students in the library to give
out remaining tickets for Day 2.

 

Day 2:  The 8 (or so) semi-finalists get out of class 5 minutes early
before lunch to come quickly to the library. We get them settled and
explain the rules; they get out paper, a pen, and get ready to write.
Five minutes into lunch, we go over the rules again with the audience.
Here's the way Day 2 works:

I choose six or eight or ten words and write them out on a poster.
Students must use all the words in an original poem. They can use any
form of the words (e.g., if the word is "dust," they can use "dusting,"
"dusted" "dusty" etc.) They have FIVE MINUTES to write the poem.  All
eight contestants read their poems. The judges use a scoring rubric.
Judges confer and announce three finalists.

 

 

Everybody who reads on the second day gets a small gift and a
certificate of achievement (gifts depend on how well we've collected
donations from businesses, grants, and how generous my personal budget
can be that year. These range from fancy bookmarks to bookstore gift
certificates) . I give out tickets to any students who want to return
the final day, and I hit afternoon and morning classes and students in
the library to give out remaining tickets for Day 3.

 

Day 3: Similar to Day 2, except there are three finalists. Instead of
giving students a set of words, we give them a general theme  (past
themes: hope, compassion, community). Students get 10 minutes to write,
then they read their poems.  Judges judge, prizes awarded. Prizes are
typically generous gift certificates to local bookstores.

 

Logistically, it's hard to film on the first day, but we try to film 2nd
and 3rd days and post videos on our web page, along w/copies of the
poems.

 

Official-looking tickets can be produced using Concert Ticket Generator,
at www.says-it.com/concertticket/
<http://www.says-it.com/concertticket/> 

 

This event draws a huge amount of excitement on our campus.  

 

Hope there's something in this you can use. 

 

Remember, April is Poetry Month!

 

Doug Achterman

Library Media Teacher

San Benito High School

1220 Monterey St.

Hollister, CA  95023

(831)637-5831 ext. 181

dachterman at sbhsd.k12.ca.us

http://www.sbhsd.k12.ca.us/sbhslib/library.htm

********************************************************

School libraries raise student achievement.

 

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Blair Carroll
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 2:47 PM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: [CALIBK12] Query: Poetry Slam

 

I want to do a poetry slam. My administration really wants me to do a
poetry slam. How do I do it? So far I know that I'll pick a date and
advertise and that I'll allow kids (teachers, too) to read/recite a poem
that they like or that they have written. That's about all I've got.

 

Do I audition the poets? I figure I should read and approve the poems
first. Would you limit each person to one poem or a time limit of some
sort? Would you allow spontaneous poetry??? Should parents be allowed to
participate as readers/poets as well?

 

Please help!

 

Reply to me off list and I'll post a hit if there's interest.

 

Thank you,


Blair Carroll
Teacher Librarian
Millikan Middle School
818-528-1635

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.sjsu.edu/pipermail/calibk12/attachments/20090319/76ab1728/attachment.html