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 * Reading Promotional: This program encourages students to read and share poems during National Poetry Month.**

LIS 60626: Library Materials and Services for Young Adults

Spring 2009, Professor Nichols

Setting: High School Library **
 * Program Title: Poetry Picnic (a National Poetry Month event) Library

My theme is based on the poem by Eve Merriam, “How to Eat a Poem.” ** How to Eat a Poem ** Don't be polite. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that may run down your chin. It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are. You do not need a knife or fork or spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth. For there is no core or stem or rind or pit or seed or skin to throw away. High school students and interested staff
 * by Eve Merriam **
 * Intended Audience **

April is National Poetry Month, so an outdoor poetry reading would be a nice way to get teens outside for some fresh air and good poetry. This program is a variation of the coffee house in which folks read poems aloud in a casual atmosphere. A coffee house might be more appropriate in a colder month; I want to get outside where the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. This is a perfect venue for reading and reciting poetry. I think it will appeal to high school students who like poetry and/or are looking for a way to showcase their own poetry. The informal nature of the event and the fact that it’s outdoors on a warm afternoon may draw in students.
 * Rationale **

The Poetry Picnic program is a lunchtime program for high school students and interested staff. It is similar to a Poetry Coffee House in which the participants bring a poem, original or published, to read aloud to the group. Instead of coffee, lemonade and cookies will be provided. Participants will bring a sack lunch.
 * Detailed Description of the Program **

The program is scheduled for April, which is National Poetry Month. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of the joy of poetry. It is a chance for teen poets to share their original work and for poetry enthusiasts to hear poetry. It is an opportunity for teens to read and listen for pleasure as there is no analytical discussion or test on the poetry. If they choose to discuss the poems, that is fine, but the program does not include Book Club type questions that demand deep analysis. The concept is to TASTE poems, savoring those you choose and spitting out those you don’t like.

The picnic concept is to have blankets on the grass in front of the school and have students bring their lunches and poems outside to enjoy fresh air, spring flowers and birds, friendship, and poetry. Everyone has Spring Fever, so this venue may attract participants.

I will start the program by explaining a little bit about National Poetry Month and set the stage for reading and appropriate listener behavior. Then I will read Merriam’s “How to Eat a Poem.” The rest of the program will include volunteers standing or sitting and reading or reciting the poems they brought. Depending on the size of the group, participants can read a second poem or we can discuss which poems we liked and why. It really depends on the group, their preferences, and the time.

Ø for teens to enjoy stress-free poetry (poetry appreciation) Ø for teen poets to share their poems Ø for teens to share favorite poems with others Ø for creating a community of poetry enthusiasts Ø in which teens can practice public speaking skills in a stress-free environment
 * Goals** of the program include providing a safe and nurturing venue


 * Learner Objectives **


 * From the AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner: **
 * #4: Pursue personal and aesthetic growth. **

**4.1.3** **Respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various genres and** **4.1.8** **Use creative and artistic formats to express personal learning.**
 * 4.1.1 Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth. **
 * formats. **
 * 4.2.4** **Show an appreciation for literature by electing to read for pleasure and expressing an interest in various literary genres.**

**__ Timeline for Planning __**

1. Get approval of principal. 2. Check calendar for feasible dates that don’t conflict with assemblies and field trips. 3. Check Central Office room-use document to be sure space is available and compete necessary forms to reserve the space.
 * __ Early in the school year: __**

1. Attend English Department meetings to inform teachers of the program and solicit their help. Explain goals and objectives and how it’s a win-win for the librarian, teachers, and students. Find out what teachers are doing in their classrooms with poetry: Creative writing? What poets are they reading? Solicit help from teachers in inviting students to write and choose poems for the event.
 * __ January or February: __**

2. Visit Creative Writing classes to promote the event; tell students to start writing!

3. Complete work order for janitorial staff to put a table, refuse can, and portable microphone unit in the space by 11:00 on the day of the event and to remove them at 12:45.


 * __ March: __**


 * 1) Make posters and fliers.
 * 2) Tell staff about event at the Staff Meeting. Ask for donations of usable blankets.


 * __ Early April: __**

2. Remind English teachers via email
 * 1) Begin advertising: posters, library display, fliers for halls and classrooms, and TV / morning announcements. This includes purchasing paper table cloths for the display.
 * 1) Post sign-up sheet for students to indicate they are attending.

**__Five days prior to event__**__:__

venue for the event.
 * 1) Check 5-day forecast and cross fingers. In the event of rain, the library will be the

1. Purchase cookies, powdered lemonade, cups, and napkins.
 * __ Night before the event: __**


 * __ Morning of the event: __**


 * 1) Check the weather and determine the venue: lawn or library.
 * 2) Check in with janitors to be sure the table, trash can, and microphone are there.
 * 3) Make the lemonade.
 * 4) Put the paper picnic table cloth on the table and set up the cookie table/ display.
 * 5) Spread blankets out on the lawn and wait until the patrons arrive.


 * __ Event: __**

Lunch event is from 11:40 – 12:25


 * __ After event: immediately and within a week: __**

1. Clean up! Thank janitorial staff for their help.
 * 1) Email teachers and thank them for their help. Tell them what a success it was.
 * 2) Send photos to yearbook and newspaper.
 * 3) Solicit informal feedback from participants. (and survey if distributed)

I don’t know if I’d have a library aid or not. The aid responsibilities could be helping with the program or manning the library as I am completing tasks.
 * __ Assignment of Responsibilities: __**

Librarian: get appropriate approvals and complete paperwork solicit teacher interest and gather supplies create promotional materials including display implement the program welcome guests to the Poetry Picnic explain National Poetry Month read Merriam’s poem to set the tone facilitate readers as needed (keep flow going) monitor student behavior as needed praise students for their participation facilitate clean up of trash

Aid: make lemonade set up the cookie table help carry poetry books outside to put on cookie table

Janitor : set up and tear down table on lawn provide trash can in the vicinity set up portable microphone unit


 * __ Supplies Needed __**


 * 1) venue = lawn or library
 * 2) table for cookies, lemonade, and books (supplied by janitorial staff)
 * 3) two paper table cloths with spring theme (purchased by me)
 * 4) blankets (provided by staff donations or by me; I could have kids bring some.)
 * 5) cookies, lemonade, cups, napkins (purchased by me)
 * 6) trash can (supplied by janitorial staff)
 * 7) picnic basket (supplied by me)
 * 8) poetry books
 * 9) water and ice (from school café)
 * 10) lemonade pitchers, large spoons (supplied by school café)
 * 11) a few paper plates for the library display (supplied by me)
 * 12) portable microphone unit (supplied by janitorial/ maintenance staff)
 * __Itemized Budget:__** This program can be done for under $50.00.

Cookies from store or school café: $20.00- 30.00 Lemonade (powdered): 5.00 Cups and napkins: 10.00 Paper table cloths: 5.00


 * __ Evaluation __**

The success of the program will be determined by the turnout and the participants’ reactions. If students come and share poetry, it is a success!!
 * 1) observation during the event
 * 2) informal feedback
 * 3) I could distribute a feedback questionnaire.*


 * POETRY PICNIC feedback
 * POETRY PICNIC feedback

Grade: 9 10 11 12


 * 1) How did you hear about this event?


 * 1) Do you think it was successful? Explain.


 * 1) What suggestions do you have for making it better?


 * 1) What suggestions do you have for getting more students to attend? ||

** POETRY Web sources for librarians, teachers, and students **

National Poetry Month page Provides history and info on the celebration and links for teachers and librarians []
 * EdNews (Educationnews.org) **

National Poetry Month page Provides many good resources for poet info/ biographies, movements and genres, quizzes, puzzles, terms, awards, poet laureates, and collections, etc. []
 * Infoplease.com **

Provides information about the LoC poetry holdings, resources, and webcasts Provides links to state poems, literary criticism, state and national poet laureates, exhibitions, American Memory, “Today in History,” Civil War poetry resources, and more []
 * Library of Congress poetry site **

Provides a small number of reference links, such as glossary of poetry terms, techniques, rhyming help, lists of best poems ever written, etc., as well as free contests []
 * Poetry.com **

A website by the American Association of Poets, who created National Poetry Month Tips for Librarians for National Poetry Month Provides a list of ideas for programs, collection development, and outreach as well as some success stories []
 * Poets.org **

Provides brief overview of NPM and links to other sources: lesson plans, weblinks, and texts []
 * Read Write Think **


 * __ Advertising __**

Academy of American Poets 2009 Poster
 * __ Posters __**

“Do I Dare Disturb the universe?” (T. S. Eliot) I got a copy in the March 2009 edition of //American Libraries.//

Posters from previous years can ordered from the Academy of American Poets. The site includes phone number and address for ordering: [] I will hang up the poster in the entrance to the library.


 * __School TV announcements:__** Have announcement read the week of the event.

// Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? // // To celebrate, the library is hosting a Poetry Picnic on the front lawn on Friday, April 24, at lunch. Bring your sack lunch and a poem to share. See Mrs. Brendle in the library to sign up so she knows how many cookies to buy for dessert! //


 * __Fliers__**

To be posted around the school, especially in English classrooms. See next pages.

You’re Invited!

What: Poetry Picnic

When: Friday, April 24, at lunch

Where: the front lawn (rain location: library)

Why: April is National Poetry Month!

What to bring: lunch, a poem to share Don't be polite. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that may run down your chin. It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are. You do not need a knife or fork or spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth. For there is no core or stem or rind or pit or seed or skin to throw away. “How to Eat a Poem” Eve Merriam

“How to Eat a Poem” Eve Merriam Don't be polite. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that may run down your chin. It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are. You do not need a knife or fork or spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth. For there is no core or stem or rind or pit or seed or skin to throw away.

Ready to eat some poems?

Come to the POETRY PICNIC!

Friday, April 24, at lunch on the front lawn

Bring a sack lunch and a poem.

Sponsored by the Library


 * __Displays__ **

The display in the library will be set up in April for National Poetry Month.
 * __ Library Display __**

Theme: Poetry Picnic (“How to Eat a Poem”)

I will use the display case at the front of the library. I will place a paper table cloth with a spring theme on the bottom of the case to look like a picnic table. I have a large picnic basket to place in the center of the display. I will prop it open and place some poetry books in it. I will place the other poetry books in the case as aesthetically appropriate. The back wall of the display case will have blue bulletin board paper. I will post a large poster-size invitation to the Poetry Picnic in the center. On various paper plates, I will write Merriam’s poem and staple the plates up logically at on the back wall of the display case. I will scatter plastic forks and spoons around as aesthetically appropriate. The effect should be a springy picnic feeling.


 * __ Program: Cookie / Book Table __**

A table will be brought out for the event. I will cover it with a paper tablecloth with a spring theme. I will take the basket of poetry books from the display to place as a center piece on the cookie table. The cookies will be put on paper plates, and the lemonade will be in school-provided pitchers. I will place a few more poetry books around the table to make it aesthetically appealing. The napkins and cups will have a spring theme, so the table should look fresh and lively.

If someone needs a poem, there are plenty of books to browse at the picnic.

** Bibliography of Poetry Books for Display ** Adoff, Arnold, ed. //The Poetry of Black America: Analogy of the 20th Century.// New York: Harper Collins, 1973.

A celebration of African-American poetry from 1800’s and 1900’s Includes obscure and famous writers

Appelt, Kathi. //Poems from homeroom: a writer's place to start.// New York: Holt, 2002.

Collection of teen-written poems with information on how they wrote them

Baker, Russell, ed. //The Norton Book of Light Verse//. New York: Norton, 1986.

Collection of not-so-serious poems Topics include Beastly Things, Words to Live By, and Occupations and Preoccupations, and Money, Money, Money

//Dead Poet’s Society.// Dir. Peter Weir. Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke Disney, 1998.

Now-classic film about teens who discover the power of the words of the Dead Poets

Ellman, Richard, and Robert O’Clair, eds. //Modern Poems: An Introduction to Poetry.// New York: Norton, 1976.

Collection of poetry from Walt Whitman to Nikki Giovani, including lesser known poets Includes introduction chapter on how to read poetry

Franco, Betsy, and Nina Nickles, eds. //You Hear Me? Poems and Writings by Teenage// //Boys.// Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick, 2000.

Collection of honest, raw poetry written by young men from various socio- economic and cultural conditions

Franco, Betsy, and Nina Nickles, eds. //Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writings by Teenage Girls.// Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick, 2001.

Collection of honest poetry written by young women from various socio- economic and cultural conditions

//Great American Poetry//. London: Octopus Group Limited, 1990.

Classic collection of American poetry

Harrison, Michael, and Christopher Stuart-Clark. //The Oxford Treasury of Classic Poems.// Oxford: Oxford UP, 1997.

Classic collection of famous poems

Hopkins, Ellen. //CRANK.// New York: Simon Pulse, 2004.

A novel in poetry, this genre widens the appeal of poetry Hopkins has also written bu//rned, impulse// and //GLASS.//

Linthwaite, Illona, ed. //Ain’t I a Woman! A Book of Women’s Poetry from around the// //World.// New York: Barnes & Noble, 1987.

Collection of world women’s poetry; provides a diverse perspective on life

Paschen, Elise, and Rebekah Presson Mosby, eds., //Poetry Speaks: Hear Great Poets// //Read Their Work from Tennyson to Plath.// Book and 3 Audio CDs. Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2001.

A chance to hear poets reading their own poetry It really brings the dead poets back to life The CDs are useful to listen in the car or anytime.

Rakos, Missy, ed. Teen.com Book of Poetry. Volume 1. Teen.com, 2000.

Collection of current teen poems

Silverstein, Shel. //A Light in the Attic//. New York: Harper and Row. 1981.

Classic poems for kids that teens still like