Poems+for+Two+Voices

= = =Strategy Name: Poems for Two Voices =

Strategy Description:
Poems for Two Voices is a writing strategy that can be used after reading. This strategy involves poems that are designed to be read aloud by two voices. The strategy has students utilize information they have gained through their reading.

Course Description:

 * Applied Communications is a 9-week course that promotes reading and writing.
 * 5 classes of 28-30 students.
 * Classes include general education students, special education students, instructional learning disabled students, gifted, and ELLs.
 * This strategy would work with any content area class. Social studies can do historical figures/opposing soldiers or warriors—compare and contrast in the two voices; science can do plants, animals, biomes—again compare and contrast; math can do geometrical shapes or any relevant vocabulary—the list is endless.

Rationale:

 * Opportunity for students to synthesize and analyze information.
 * Poetry in this form appeals different learners.
 * Use as an assessment for comprehension.
 * The poem format forces students to be brief.
 * Discourages plagiarism.
 * This strategy allows for sharing/group work—middle school students love to socialize.
 * Encourages oral reading—improves fluency.
 * Poetry is fun and engaging for most middle schoolers (or least it is short!).

Diverse Learners:

 * I can modify and adapt the poems for a student’s strengths/weaknesses.
 * I can offer a Venn Diagram to support the writing of the poem.
 * This strategy allows gifted learners to go beyond.
 * The strategy is visual and oral as the teacher models.
 * Students who struggle to write a complete compare/contrast essay could complete this poem to show comprehension.

Procedure:

 * 1) Model Poems for Two Voices from published poets (see References/Materials).
 * 2) Have students take turns reading some of these.
 * 3) After they are comfortable, have the students write their own Poem for Two Voices about a subject they are studying.
 * 4) I would like to try this with our activist activity and have two activists who fought/fight for the same cause become the two voices.

Potential Issues:

 * Some students don’t want to read aloud.
 * If created in partners, one partner may do more work than another.

References/Materials:
Fleischman, P. (1985). I am phoenix: Poems for two voices. New York: HarperCollins. Fleischman, P. (1988). Joyful noise: Poems for two voices. New York: HarperCollins. Pappas, T. (1991). Math talk: Mathematical ideas in poems for two voices. San Carlos, CA: World Wide Tetra. Information from source ||
 * ** Strategy from: ** Fisher, D., Brozo, W.G., Frey, N., & Ivey, G. (2007). // 50 content area strategies for adolescent literacy //. Upper Saddle Rivers, NJ: Pearson.
 * Books: **
 * In binder: **