Introducing slam and spoken word to your lesson plan is a great way to engage students with poetry! Where some (or most!) students may bemoan dissecting stuffy old poems that don’t speak to their experience, slam is based in youth culture and is meant to connect with audiences, especially live and in person. More than performance art, it’s a modern movement that has reinvigorated an interest in poetry as a powerful creative tool for personal and social change.
I am an experienced mentor and workshop facilitator with a passion for educating youth. Whether it’s a one-on-one, group, or classroom setting, I have translated my own narrative of learning into discussions, exercises, and lesson plans that have brought out some fantastic writing and performances from students in every age group. It’s been a pleasure to work with schools to build spaces of community support and sharing, and to watch even some of the quietest voices take the mic and transform themselves in front of an entire group of peers.
Workshop Options
- Single session workshops/presentations that are easily adaptable to a poetry unit lesson plan. Sessions might explore an introduction slam poetry with a live performance and video examples, as well as a discussion of the history and social context of the movement. Exercises may include breaking down some basic principles of writing (poem structure and devices) and performing (tools of communication). For funding opportunities, visit Poetry in Voice’s Poet in Class program, and view my poet profile here.
- School residencies (one week minimum) through Manitoba Arts Council’s Artists in Schools program. Covering a range of topics and writing and performance tools, we’ll build a series of individual and collaborative performance pieces that root the student in their own experience as an individual and a member of a community. The residency culminates in a sharing session that may include individual classses, or the entire group of participants! Deadlines for applications are in June and October for projects taking place in the next term, respectively. Send me a message via my Contact Page to begin collaborating!
- Professional development workshops for teachers, where we’ll run through exercises, games, and discussions on how to bolster your students’ interest in poetry. A fun, creative session that’s perfect for inservice days!
Click here for an example of a detailed lesson plan that reflects Manitoba curriculum outcomes. No matter the length of a visit, these principles are the basis for each workshop. They have worked well to foster an interest in poetry in various forms, as well as to build skills in creativity, critical thinking, and individuality and community via self-expression. They can be adapted to suit various needs, as I reserve the space to collaborate with educators on providing the best lessons to their groups.
Let’s connect and work together to inspire the next generation to feel confident in speaking out loud and in person!
Photo credit: Anthony Mark Schellenberg
Steve Locke 