Project 2

Writing prompt- A poem to your younger self

●​ Content and Scope: Focus on figurative language and your voice! Do not overly worry
about spelling errors, but to present a readable message to your younger self. What would
you have wanted to know when you were younger? What sport/skill would you have
wanted to try earlier on?
●​ Organization and Development: The length of the poem should be 200-300 words long
and rough draft is due in a one week timeframe. You will be able to bounce ideas off of
me during class time. This poem should hold your personal voice, write truly like you are
writing to yourself. Think about how you would want your younger self to view you,
would you want them to see you as goofy? Maybe wise?
●​ Audience: The poems will be read anonymously in a kindergarten class, so keep in mind
you will have an audience for your poem
●​ Choices: If you are struggling to think of your younger self, if you have a younger
sibling think about what you would say to them! Additionally, you can write to the
kindergarten class in general.
Scaffolding
The course specific knowledge needed in order to be successful in this assignment is an
understanding of literacy devices that is the foundation to figurative language. Know how to express
emotions and experiences within writing, this aligns with developing a voice. Effectively projecting
tone in writing, the author's tone should help readers get a sense of the message the author is trying to get
across, are they being nostalgic and reflective or regretful? Have a strong understanding of structure
and style, the poem will allow for a freedom of choice in the format; however students should still know
how to structure their poems with the style they want. Knowing the difference between free poetry and
rhymes poetry, line breaks and emphasis, and repetition for impact.

Remember…. How to create effective metaphors, similes, imagery, and symbolism.

Understand…. Why voice in writing is important and what your voice is as an author, how do you
want your readers to perceive you?

Apply…. Your voice to your daily classroom journal, and include two metaphors, similes, symbols, or
imagery in each entry.

Analyze…. Look at how songwriters, businesses, and other authors use figurative language. How is it
effective? Research the most impactful song lyrics or poems and identify how they use their voice to
create an effective message.

Evaluate…. Compare and contrast different poems to each other and identify what the message is
each author is trying to communicate.
Create…. Your own poem to your younger self!

Class Activities
●​ Play I spy… a metaphor, simile, imagery or symbolism? By looking at different forms of writing,
from song lyrics, slogans, poems, and even magazines, we will play I spy to spot these particular
figurative language devices.
●​ Students will have a daily journal where they write a 1-2 paragraph entry about their thoughts,
feelings, etc. that will stay between the teacher and them. They must use two literary devices
discussed (metaphors, similes, etc.)
●​ Students will turn to looking at figurative language within literacy and how it expresses authors
emotions. Students will choose their own fictional book and present how the author expresses
their emotions and uses their voice.
●​ Students will look at poetry and the different structural styles. Once they have learned the
different forms of poetry and how it is written, I will put a different poem on the screen and have
students identify what the style is (free verse or rhyming), did they use line breaks (was it
effective), and identify where they used repetition.
●​ Before writing the poem that will be presented to the kindergartners, students will create a poem
called I am…. A short poem that only the teacher will see that helps the students identify their
voice in writing.

Mentor Texts

Mentor Text What I love about it

Microsoft Word - Lamott, Anne - Shitty First A chapter from Anne Lamott’s book, Bird by
[Link] Bird, that talks about the first draft. The message
of this chapter is good for all writers, but it also
holds a lot of examples of literary devices. Lamott
has an excessive amount of metaphors and similes
in pretty much every essay, and she uses it very
effectively. (Yes this chapter does have a bad word
in it… but I believe this highschool class can
handle it)

Letter to My Younger Self by Derek Jeter The Players Tribune offers a lot of different
examples of letters to your younger self. Now,
Letter to My Younger Self | The Players’ Tribune | none of them are really poetry, however they give
The Voice of the Game a sense of how to direct your poem. I put a letter
that really stood out to me, Derek Jeter, writes a
 voice filled letter to himself. He paints a picture of
who was as a kid, and makes his message clear.

Instructions on Not Giving Up by Ada Limón - A beautiful poem by, Ada Limon, written in 1976.
Poems | Academy of American Poets I love it because Limon creates a beautiful image
and somehow creates this message of not giving
by writing about a tree. It is very unique and
creative and an overall great example of a well
executed poem.

Know Your Terms: Holistic, Analytic, and A wide variety of rubrics to choose from!
Single-Point Rubrics | Cult of Pedagogy

The Cremation of Sam McGee | The Poetry A unique poem by, Robert Service, that tells a
Foundation story. Not all poems have to rhyme or be
mysterious, some can tell a clear story like this
one!

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s… | A classic poem by SShakespear that takes the
The Poetry Foundation shape of most peoples first thought on what poetry
looks like. Poetry is often thought of as rhyming,
which it can be, and is very beautiful like this
poem. But not every poem has to rhyme, that is
the author's choice!

Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes - Famous A poem that showcases similes written by
poems, famous poets. - All Poetry Langston Hughes. This is a great and creative
example of how similes are used in poetry.

Assessment
​ So that the assessment is also a part of students' learning, I will have the students design their own
rubric. Students will design a rubric in any form of their choice, I will give them rubric examples and they
can choose whichever design they would like to follow. They will create their rubrics before working on
their poem, turn it in, and then I will hand it back to them to assess themselves after they have written
their poem. I will grade them based on a complete and incomplete status. If they did the poem and if they
did not do the poem.