Critical Literacy Reading &

Grammar Activity
Jordyn Spreck
Vocabulary Overview

• Poem: a piece of writing that partakes of the nature of both speech and song that is nearly
always rhythmical, usually metaphorical, and often exhibits such formal elements as meter,
rhyme, and stanzaic structure.

• Gerund: Verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun.

• Ex- "Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (Traveling is the gerund.)"
• Subject: The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that is performing the
action of the sentence.
• Ex- "Reading is relaxing." (Reading is the gerund functioning as the subject)
Basic Elements of a Poem
Rhyme: Rhyme is created when the last one or more syllables within
separate words match. A poem is considered to rhyme when the last
words of the lines within the verse share this relationship.
Verse: The verse of the poem is a way to describe the relationship
between rhyme and meter in a poem.
Stanza: A stanza is a group of lines within the verse of a poem. They often
follow a similar pattern or meter or contain a similar idea, but not always.
They are separated from other stanzas within the poem through the use
of a break or a blank line.
How to "Eat" a
• There is always pressure to understand
the deeper meaning underlying the
poetry that you read. Today we will learn
Poem how to digest meaning from a poem
without feeling that pressure.
 Read the poem first without a
pen/pencil, and enjoy the
reading

As you read the poem for the

first time, try to picture images of
what's happening in your head
Underline your favorite images

How to Read
of the poem and explain why

Reread the poem, this time with

the Poem
your pen/pencil

Put a star next to any parts you

don't understand
Think about the tone of the
poem (Is the poem traumatic?
Funny? Is the author shouting or
whispering to you?)

Finally, write down how the

poem makes you feel
"The Facebook Sonnet"- Sherman
Alexie
Read here
(In class students will read from a paper copy)
Whole Class Discussion

• What did you find or understand from the poem? What confused
you?
• Who is the audience for the poem?
• How did you like the process of reading the poem? Did it help
you? Why or why not?
 Gerund phrase as the subject
Writing a Poem finish the sentence with a rhyme.

Gerund phrase as the subject

The finish the sentence with a rhyme.

form Gerund phrase as the subject

to finish the sentence with a rhyme.
follow
Gerund phrase as the subject
finish the sentence with a rhyme.
Example Poem
Reading a book like Moby Dick
takes persistence, tenacity, and a mind that’s slick.

Learning to write like Hemingway

will take you more than one school day.

Mastering the art of argument

is a talent that is earned, not lent.

Using the language with talent and flair

will keep you from error and utter despair.
Requirements for Poem

• 4 stanzas
• Gerund phrase as subject
• Finish sentence with rhyme
• Underline gerund phrase
• Circle rhymes
Reflection

• Write a paragraph (5-6 sentences) reflection about something new

you learned, something you still don't fully understand, and how
you feel about your own poem you wrote (What do you like about
it? What do you dislike?).