Exploring the power of poetry, in school and beyond
At our recent Poetry Institute for Educators of Young Children, participants heard from and worked with preeminent writers of verse, including Richard Blanco, the poet for former President Obama’s second inauguration, and Boston Poet Laureate and Lesley Professor Danielle Legros Georges.
Madeleine Holzer and acclaimed poet Richard Blanco.
"Writing is often considered a key activity of school learning,” says Professor Legros Georges. “Poetry often enhances the approach to writing, in addition to being valuable for its own sake. Hearing, reading and writing poetry teaches us all, kids and adults alike, about experimentation, about how to play and to think beyond the familiar.”
Blanco, an honorary doctoral degree recipient and speaker at our 2016 Commencement, opened the Poetry Institute with poetry and stories of his experience as the inaugural poet for President Obama in 2013. Describing the selection process, which required submitting three original poems from which President Obama would select “One Today” for his Inauguration, Blanco offered the audience of poets, early childhood caregivers and educators the unique opportunity to hear the author read this poem in an intimate, conversational setting.
Participants also heard two poems that pre-dated the Inaugural poem, which provided further insight to Blanco's work as a poet. The backdrop for all three poems were Blanco’s experience emigrating from Cuba as a young child for new opportunities in the United States. The hardship of many immigrants was echoed in the stories of his mother’s sacrifice in choosing to come to this country for the benefit of her children.
The March 16 institute at University Hall included Blanco’s reading and a discussion led by Legros Georges about poetry as an art form, followed by three workshops:
- Madeleine Holzer, Academy of American Poets’ educator in residence and visiting scholar of the Creativity Commons, led a workshop on “Poetry and the Disciplines” using Blanco’s inauguration poem “One Today” as a catalyst for discussion.
- Betty Bardige, author of “Poems to Learn By,” designed a workshop on “Sound and Word Play” to suggest strategies for educators to engage young children in play to develop literacy skills.
- Mary Ann Cappiello and Erika Thulin Dawes, Lesley professors and editors of the Classroom Bookshelf blog, offered a workshop on “Poetry and Nature” that engaged participants in both writing and illustrating poetry about the environment
Engaging readers in poetry
The Poetry Institute for Educators of Young Children was co-sponsored by the Academy of American Poets and Lesley University’s Creativity Commons and Graduate School of Education.
Professor Danielle Legros Georges
and Madeleine Holzer.
According to Creativity Commons Director Martha Barry McKenna, the success of the first Poetry Institute could spur future collaborative events to engage educators in teaching and learning about poetry, both at the university and in our neighboring school communities.
"Richard Blanco reminded us of the power of poetry to transport us to different times and places in his reading of ‘One Today,’ the children's book based upon his poem for President Obama's 2013 Inauguration,” says McKenna, a university professor. “Early-childhood educators were captivated by this book and recognized how it could serve as a catalyst for engaging children in imaging a world where each one of us matters."
Informed by the stories of Blanco’s experience, McKenna adds, the audience heard Blanco’s poetry with deep understanding. During the book-signing, many vowed to share his story and the Inaugural Poem, “One Today,” captured in a picture book illustrated by Dav Pilkey, with children and students.
In introducing the poet, Mary Gannon, associate director of the Academy of American Poets, described Blanco’s role as the education ambassador of the academy.
McKenna elaborates that, as Blanco integrates his many talents as an award-winning poet, storyteller, teacher and public speaker, he brings poetry to life for teachers and students across the United States.
The citation read at the award of Lesley University’s honorary doctorate to Richard Blanco last May captured the essence of his poetry and the goal of the Poetry Institute:
“In a world in which there are so many forces attempting to divide people and communities, you inspire us [through your poetry] to embrace the diversity that exists and continue to make America the hope and the dream of so many.”
Legros Georges underscores the art form’s flexibility and capacity, saying, “Poetry and writing in general carry the enormous power to reflect, name, define, self-define, identify, witness and create new visions."