FOLLOW THE RHYTHM

Dana Headrick, right, and Sasha Childers colored a picture of a kite which related to a poem, "The Kite," at May Greene Elementary School.

When May Greene Elementary School students created a Principal's Day card for Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld, they told her they liked her willingness to read poetry to them.

Kohlfeld takes a few minutes daily during the first full week of each month to read a poem to her students. During Poetry Week, she reads poems that tell stories, have a message, or are just plain silly.

"The students seem to love it," she said. "I enjoy it so much because they seem to get a lot out of it."

This is the second year students have participated in Poetry Week. Besides the daily poem read by Kohlfeld, each grade level selects a poem to work with for the week. Students help teachers make a bulletin board display about the poem and perform a number of art, written and other activities using it.

Mary Ann Lewis developed Poetry Week to assist students with literacy skills. "Research shows that children who read, memorize and listen to poetry hear the natural rhythm of language and can transfer that to reading and writing," she said.

Lewis said students are very creative with the projects they develop around the featured poem. They enjoy listening to the rhythmic word patterns and seem to be developing a love of poetry, she said.

Each Thursday during Poetry Week students participate in a Poetry Break. When a grade level is assigned to lead a Poetry Break, they select a poem to be presented schoolwide over the intercom. Students may sing, perform a choral reading or select an individual to read the poem. The students then lead all classes through a special activity related to the poem.

At the end of the month, the grade level again presents the poem, this time during the Social Skills Superstar assembly.

"There's so many things that the students gain from it," said Lewis. "Not only are they transferring it to their reading and writing, but they do gain stage presence, self-esteem and confidence, too."

Danitra Demolle, 11, said she was very nervous when she read a poem in February. However, she enjoyed her time in the spotlight and thinks Poetry Week is a good experience overall.

"To do it is like exciting and sort of scary," Demolle said. "It helped me to do something in front of lots of people and not be so nervous."

Lewis said there is a national trend to return to the practice of requiring students to memorize poetry. It's a good idea because students develop strong cognitive skills, she said.

"Research is showing that's something we need to get back to," said Lewis. "Our students are enjoying working with poems. It worked once, so it's something that might work again."

This poem was used during Poetry Week activities in March.

The Kite

by Harry Behn

How bright on the blue

Is a kite when it's new!

With a dive and a dip

It snaps its tail

Then soars like a ship

With only a sail

As over tides

Of wind it rides,

Climbs to the crest

Of a gust and pulls,

Then seems to rest

As wind falls.

When string goes slack

You wind it back

And run until

A new breeze blows

And its wings fill

And up it goes!

How bright on the blue

Is a kite when it's new!

But a raggeder thing

You never will see

When it flaps on a string

In the top of a tree.