This article describes a teacher's willingness to perform an autobiographical spoken word poem in his classroom, which provided an important model for students as they composed and shared their own slam-style poems.

Describes the wide variety of personal statements and "mini-poems" on personalized license plates. Suggests that having students collect such statements might be a way of teaching them about the creative potential of language. (EL)

Describes an elective English course in which modern rock music and contemporary poetry are used to motivate students to learn how to listen, to appreciate the sharp impact of poetry," and to write about their own feelings and responses. (Author/SW)

Suggests that social interactions which call for self-expression in language play an important role in the development of an independent self-identity. Points out that schools rarely allow such opportunities, and thus produce people lacking in self-identity. (ARH)