Poetry: A Feast to Form Fluent Readers

In this lesson plan, grade 3 to 5 students examine elements of fluent reading through oral poetry performance. They use the Internet to identify a poem to prepare and perform for the class. The main objective of this lesson concerns improving fluency. During four hours over a span of five days, students will: be able to identify text written in poetry form and the elements that are applicable (e.g., rhyme, repetition, onomatopoeia); analyze oral expressions (e.g., pause, accent, rhythm) that are used in poetry to convey meaning; develop effective styles for reading poetry out loud; and create an oral performance of a self-chosen piece of poetry using fluency and expression to convey meaning. The instructional plan, lists of resources, student assessment/reflection activities, and a list of National Council of Teachers of English/International Reading Association (NCTE/IRA) Standards addressed in the lesson are included. A performance critique is attached. (PM)