Episode 1: Dear Lola (after Victoria B.)

Reflection

Every year, I attempt to include at least a few poetry lessons so that all students can explore a writing medium that I feel is more accessible. Since everyone has a story and everyone has emotions, they have the basic ingredients to make a poem. Keep in mind: poems do not have to rhyme and do not have to be long, so this genre gives all students an access point where grammar and rules are not obstacles.

What I find interesting is that each group tends to gravitate towards a specific genre or form despite exposing them to several options. For instance, the majority of students this year really ran with acrostics while last year’s class focused more on descriptive poetry. In fact, this poem was inspired by Victoria, one of my former students, after a brainstorming session that focused on the five senses. She wrote about her grandfather and wanted to share it with the class. When she began to cry midway through her reading, I was reminded why poetry is powerful.

That said, I feel this poem was the best way to start Season 2. Unfortunately, as of now, I have not finished Season 1. Hopefully, I will return to it in the future because I have a vision of what the remaining 11 episodes would be. The most important part was creating a sample to help guide my students through this process. My goal is that this season will be the beginning of a tradition within my classroom because every student has a voice that deserves to be heard.

Prompt

For those listening, thank you for your time and know that your words also matter. I want you to grab a pen and get ready. Your challenge: write about how someone young inspired you to do something new or better than what you are used to. You can try writing a letter, an acrostic, or even a shape poem--to really think outside the box. Although the youth is our future, they don’t have to wait to make a difference.