This article examines the impact of a poet-led classroom-based poetry programme on secondary school students' writer identities and self-expression, particularly focusing on BPoC teenagers. Drawing on the "Writing Realities" framework, the research uses focus groups, participant observations, and interviews with the poet-in-residence.…

In this paper, we take an ecological view of children's development to argue that preventive interventions should move beyond separating the microsystems of school and home to create new intergenerational spaces for nurturing mental wellbeing. Using the 5A's theory of creativity, we draw upon our experiences of creative writing to explore how…

In evaluating some of Heaney's prose writings about the art of poetry -- what I have called his 'Poetics' -- the paper explores how those ideas could enhance the teaching of poetry in the upper post-primary schools. The paper is divided into four closely interconnected sections. The first section evaluates Heaney's thoughts about the potential…

The humanities are thriving at Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire), and not just in the classroom. Though Exeter teachers need not publish or perish, publish many do, in the departments of History, Religion, and most of all English. An array of published poets at Phillips Exeter Academy present excerpts of their work in this article: (1)…

Despite claims that Creative Writing and Composition don't speak to one another, this article finds that composition does borrow fictional craft elements and artistic tools. Moreover, these devices and tools show up in composition pedagogy in two ways: explicitly or implicitly. Many of the tools found come from fiction writers and poets, while…

Spoken word poetry is an art form that involves poetry writing and performance. Past research on spoken word has described the benefits for poets and looked at its use in pre-service teacher education; however, research is needed to understand how to assist in-service teachers in using this art form. During the 2016-2017 school year, 15 teachers…

Inspired by an experience of teaching the drafts of Elizabeth Bishop's "One Art", this article rereads the drafts as far more than imperfect precursors to the final poem. The drafts have their own prosodic features and poetic logic, one that values and enacts a vertiginous dilation of thought, expression and memory. The final version of…

The world of contemporary poetry can be extremely polarised, most obviously between the so-called page poets, who are often academically trained in creative writing programmes, and the so-called stage poets, who are performers as well as poets and, even if they were so inclined, would be hard pressed to find a college or university where they…

In an era of reductionist approaches to teaching and assessment, this dissertation returns to the fundamental question: "What is the value of writing, particularly poetry writing, in our society today?" The poet's central task, to abstract reality through symbols, requires profound cognitive and emotional work (Vendler, 2004; Steele,…

The stereotype of the poet or novelist working in unappreciated solitude got a workout recently at the Carbondale campus of Southern Illinois University. The 9th annual Young Writer's Workshop brought 30 high-school students onto the campus for four intense days of poetry and fiction writing, critiques, panels and readings. The workshop is one of…

Gives a brief background on poet, Jack Collom, and presents a number of Collom's poems. (MM)

Provides background on poet, fiction writer, and teacher Alan Ziegler. (FL)

This dynamic poet never has to look any further than her own backyard for inspiration. April is a wondrous month for poetry. Alice Schertle was born in April and Young People's Poetry Week is celebrated from the 11th through the 17th this year. Kristine O'Connell George was born on May 6, 1954, in Denver, CO. She is a great admirer of teachers;…

An interview with a well-known writer reveals how he writes and how he feels about the way writing is being taught. (FL)

Recounts how a graduate student in education struggled to write her first poem before going out to teach poetry to students. (JL)