Witness the magic

Since the Beat Poets first began appearing in coffee houses in the 50s, poetry has moved from formal readings to impromptu, open mic settings.  Pushing the edges of established views and uses of language, the Beats took free form poetry, added rhythms, and became the voice of a generation.  So, taking note from the voices of the past, and adding the hip-hop voices of today, poetry has become a powerful tool for improving literacy in schools through Spoken Word performances and Slam competitions because even the most reluctant learner is motivated by this self-expressive medium.


I have seen firsthand how Slam poetry when modeled and channeled in a classroom can facilitate literacy, communication, and creativity from kids who are otherwise marginalized in academia. But in order for students to find their voices and be willing to open themselves, they must feel secure and appreciated. And teachers must be willing to stand back, allowing the kids freedom to openly express (while still abiding by school policy) those inner most, sometimes gut wrenching and controversial topics. Students begin to experiment with language in ways they would not otherwise because "getting it just right" takes on a whole new meaning and dimension in this genre.

Dr. Janette Hughes from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology says this about using poetry to improve literacy: "A focus on oral language development through the reading and performing of poetry acknowledges that sound is meaning. When we hear the sound of the words in a poem read aloud, we gain a better understanding of the meaning of the writing...If we want our students to understand how literature, and poetry in particular, brings them to a deeper understanding of life, we need to find meaningful ways to engage them in poetry." 

A former colleague told me once:  "Poetry is an important and integral part of the human experience.  It may not be to the page, but to anybody who has tried to woo a lover through voice, body, or both has experienced poetry.  I don't think it is better than any medium, but it is definitely part of the human spirit."

There are Slam teams in nearly every major city in the U.S. who also compete nationally, so finding a poet to help you out in the classroom would not be difficult.  Bring performance poetry to your students, set up a competition in your class or across classes, and witness the magic unfold.