Lab 32
  • Lab 32
  • JrFLL
  • Code Studio
  • iPad Program
  • Showcase
  • Resources
    • Second Grade >
      • J. K. Rowling
      • Shel Silverstein
      • Maurice Sendak
    • Third Grade Resources >
      • Animal Research
      • Internet Safety
    • Fourth Grade >
      • Tribes
      • Water Resources
      • California Gold Rush 2014
      • California Regions
      • California History
    • Fifth Grade >
      • Moon Rocks
      • 3D Printing and Design
      • How to Create an Outline
  • Sphero
  • Presentations
  • Expectations
  • Bookstore
  • K-6 Overview
  • About
  • Contact

the importance of memorizing a poem

12/8/2013

 
I recently met the poet Taylor Mali (www.taylormali.com) when we were both assigned to the same collaborative group of professionals exploring possible solutions to helping teachers access resources for teaching Common Core Standards. There were several times during the process when Mr. Mali would concisely say what the group was thinking or ask a question that everyone wanted to ask, but didn't. When I mentioned this to him at the end of the session and commented how useful it was, he responded that he was simply being a poet - that the function of a poet was to put into words what people wanted to say, but were unable to.

Taylor Mali's most well-known poem is his response to a lawyer's comment that those who can't, teach. In this poem he gave millions of teachers the words to explain why they became teachers, despite the inherent difficulties. I think it's really important to remember the importance of poems. We've kind of moved away from memorizing and reciting poems to each other, but I think I might be ready to try that again. 




Comments are closed.

    Judy Hoffman

    Director of Technology Integration

    Archives

    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    Aup
    Computer Guidelines
    Family Aup
    Technology

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.