Integrated Computer Technology
Some Handy Websites and Apps for Teaching Poetry
The use of computer technology in the classroom is becoming standard, with Australia being the leader in computer per student ratio in the world. When used in conjunction with effective teaching methodologies, integrated computer technology can provide a fun and challenging platform for students to learn not only the curriculum content, but also how to be efficient and ethical users of technology.
In Australia it is actually stipulated in the Syllabus 'Learning Across the Curriculum' objectives that teachers must provide students the capability to use information and communication technology. Therefore wherever the opportunity to utilise ICT to teach the core units of English, we must endeavour to do so.
These are just a few applications and websites that can be utilised for teaching poetry to students and to foster their enjoyment of poetry.
Storybird is a fantastic website that allows users to create picture books using the art that users have submitted. However this can also be utilised creatively for teaching poetry in a fun and engaging manner. There is also a poetry section in which you can create poetry transposed over a single image through arranging an array of available words. On top of this there is a section for educators which allows them to manage students, create assignments, and create a beautiful library using Storybird Studio.
'Poetry' is a free app made by the Poetry Foundation. It is a wheel that spits out a poem. Whilst it is a basic app I like it because it’s a way to broaden students’ thinking about what kinds of poetry they like and gives them access to a wide range of poetry in different styles.
The Poetry Foundation makes it in again with their website and 'Learning Lab'. This contains many online resources including articles for students and teachers. This is a not an interactive application, but simply a great resource for teaching poetry.
This is a fantastic little site which is all about collaborative creation. It using a 'sticky notes' style of message boarding which allows students to comment upon a page. Using a background picture to inspire a class created poem or having a famous poem as the background picture so students can annotate the features...these are just a couple of ways this can be used in teaching poetry. There is also 'Padlet Backpack' for schools which for a small fee allows for security and student management.
ReadWriteThink is one of the foremost websites in providing online reading and writing activities for students and lesson plan ideas for teachers. They have several interactives and an app kids can use to wax poetic.
Each interactive is accompanied by lesson plan ideas for students at various grade levels. Be sure to print or copy each completed poetic masterpiece! They cannot be saved online.
The interactives provide step-by-step instructions for creating word mover, acrostic, diamante, letter, riddle and shape writing poems.
This app is not so much for the classroom but is a great mobile/ipad app which combines the words of poetry with the world of pictures. Poetics combines moveable text with photographic imagery.Take a picture and write anything you feel, whether a poem, one word or a caption. Or start with text and add an image later. At the touch of a finger, words playfully collide and interact, giving a physical feeling and connection as you scale, rotate, lift and drop them. Poetics is flexible and saves your work as you create, ready to be shared anytime on Instagram, Facebook, SMS, Tumblr and more. Great for students for whom you have ignited a spark to create and share. It is a great way for students to combine a visual image with the textual poem which may compliment the imagery within the poem.