Boost Literacy with Poetry!
Why Poetry?
Poetry is literacy's superfood. Just as certain fruits and veggies are packed with antioxidants, poetry is loaded with rich content, brain-stimulating vocabulary, and nourishing literary devices. Poetry's concise format makes it a perfect choice for:- educators who are short on time but challenged with providing rigorous content
- reluctant readers who fatigue when faced with pages of text
- advanced readers ready to dig into deeper analysis
- English language learners who need exposure to rich vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structure in small bites
In short, poetry is a great choice to boost literacy in all learners.
Poetry Boost Resources
On this site you'll find...- tips for using poetry in content-area subjects, particularly in STEM areas
- ideas for boosting vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure with poetry
- practical, classroom-tested strategies
- standards-aligned lessons
- book lists and mentor text suggestions
About the Creators of Poetry Boost
Val Bresnahan brings more than 40 years experience working in the field of education as a speech –language pathologist, language-learning specialist, classroom teacher, literacy specialist, certified dyslexic practitioner, and college professor. She received her doctorate from Northern Illinois University in 2001 with a concentration in adolescent reading. She has authored books and articles on vocabulary instruction and co-teaching, and has been an invited speaker on reading and language skills. Currently, she is developing training protocols for volunteers serving Title I schools in the Phoenix area.