This paper contains a poetry reading presented to a meeting on poetic narrative and educational development. The presentation was based on the theory that the field of philosophy of education should include the realm of the possible as created and populated by the imagination, and often portrayed by works of art. The poems consist of attempts to…

Many people acknowledge that youth need to be educated so that they value healthy lifestyles and abstain from alcohol and other drug use. Literature particularly lends itself to these issues. In addition, language arts material and literature may specifically address issues of alcohol and other drug use by young people or their families and…

Many people acknowledge that youth need to be educated so that they value healthy lifestyles and abstain from alcohol and other drug use. Literature particularly lends itself to these issues. In addition, language arts material and literature may specifically address issues of alcohol and other drug use by young people or their families and…

The "Voices and Visions" series, a set of instructional videos on the lives and art of 13 important American poets, has the desirable potential to reach an audience that is virtually unlimited. The videos are a skillful blend of photographs, film footage, interviews with scholars, critics, and poets, readings by actors, and sometimes by…

Written for those who want to write poems but are not sure how to start, this book presents 20 short exercises plus short pieces ("written talk") about poetry. The exercises in the book are designed to be completed in about 10 weeks. The types of poems in the 20 exercises include "found" and "headline" poems (which…

This guide is intended to help library patrons of the Atkins Library (at the University of North Carolina Charlotte) find sources of criticism on African-American literature. The guide explains important reference sources in the reference collection of the library and how to find biographical and critical information in books and periodicals. The…

Presenting informal interviews, this book opens a window into the writing processes, influences, work habits, and personal backgrounds of 16 poets who write for children and young adults. The interviews in the book provide not only critical discussions of poetry but also ideas about how teachers can help children understand poetry and enjoy…

The recitation of a nineteenth century Swahili poem is analyzed for the devices in spoken Swahili used by the performer to keep the audience's attention. The poem has a very formal structure in both rhyme, rhythm, and words linking one stanza to the next, giving it great rigidity. The primary focus of the analysis is on three variables:…

Reading comprehension games and activities are presented in four sections: literal comprehension, inferential comprehension, comprehension games, and comprehension questions. Section I offers detailed instructions for 10 individual activities which develop literal comprehension skills. Each activity includes a teacher objective, a student…

Tests were given to a nine-year-old boy to establish the constraints operating when he was writing poetry. The tests involved writing cloze tests on poems by poet Ted Hughes and on a poem the boy had written a year earlier. The boy was also asked to write a poem and then to discuss what he was thinking as he wrote. The following constraints were…

Poetry can be a powerful tool in teaching students and residents interpersonal and scientific aspects of clinical medicine. Advantages of using poetry include emotional intensity, succinct, portable formulations and communication of encompassing, "existential" truths. Limitations include learners' lack of familiarity with the medium of…

This paper describes an experiment in which Family Medicine residents composed, read, and discussed their poems as a way of bringing to life their often complex relationships with patients. It argues that this approach mobilizes the physicians' own creativity in the service of reflective practice and improved doctor-patient relationships. This…

Thoughts on retirement after 46 years teaching English. (JH)