Sequence of Activities:
Free Write (5 minutes)
Start the class off with a timed free write. The prompt: write an unfiltered, unapologetic letter to someone or something you hate right now. Emphasize that students aren’t going to send these and that you aren’t going to read them so they can be as “real” as they want. I held a “sacrificial” burning of these free writes at the end of class (a.k.a I shredded their free writes in front of the class while a student gave a desktop drumroll).
Tell the students they have three minutes.
When time is up, tell students to take a deep breath in and out, roll their necks, shoulders, etc.
Literary Model (5 minutes)
Ada Limon's "The Contract Says We'd Like the Conversation to Be Bilingual"
Ask students to read the poem popcorn-style aloud, then read the poem for the class. If you can find a recording of Ada or another poet reading the poem, even better.
Discussion (15 minutes)
As much as possible, I encourage students to lead class discussion, but below are some talking points and potential directions you might want to steer them in.
- In poems there is a "speaker". The speaker is like a character telling the poem, not necessarily the author. Who is the speaker in this poem?
- What is happening in this poem?
- Why is the speaker of the poem asking us (or Ada) to tell particular stories? What stories do they (the speaker) want to hear?
- What is the tone of this poem? Happy? Funny? Sarcastic? Angry?
- What emotion might the speaker be feeling? What about the author?
- What is a line in poetry?
- A couplet? Do you see the couplets in this poem?
- Do you notice the repetition of the phrase “Tell us”?
Prompt (15 minutes)
Depending on the direction of the conversation, below are possible prompts. You can also give students the option.
- Think about a time when someone misunderstood you. Imagine writing a poem to them (hint: this could be the person you addressed your free write to). Start the poem off with “Tell me __"
- Write a poem to someone who has hurt you in either a big way or small way.
- Write a sarcastic poem.
Share (5 minutes)
Ask students to share!
