Second Graders Explore How Words Change The World

Second graders in Kristen Peterson’s Dual Language class are studying poetry. Today, they are analyzing an ode called Jack’s Pencil.

“From what perspective is this poem being told?” asked Peterson

“The pencil,” exclaimed Aria Lewis.

“Why is he so upset?" asked Peterson.

“Clark, the boy, has taken him and he’s in a smelly desk,” said Aiden Hernandez.

As they analyzed the poem, the class touched on concepts such as word play, rhymes, repetition and stretched out words. They highlighted words they loved, including: ecstasy, cravat, shriek, marvelous, elegant, dazzling, lucious, charming, detective and gorge.

Then they read the next poem, Bug in Teacher’s Coffee,  as a group, echoing the verses back and forth–Peterson in a whisper, students in a regular voice.

“I really enjoy teaching the poetry unit because my students are so enthusiastic with the poems we read, and their energy is contagious!” said Peterson, “ I also love the discussions we have about each poem we read, where students are encouraged to share with the class things they notice about each poem. Their observations are based on the key elements of poetry we’ve discussed as a class.”

The poetry unit is part of BCSD’s new literacy curriculum, ARC (American Reading Company), in which second graders explore the theme of how “words change the world” by asking questions, studying vocabulary, diving into poetry and writing personal narratives.  

All of the lessons start with a teaching point, with the teacher reading aloud one or two poems from a mentor text, students then reading one or two poems from a shared poetry text they loved, such as Bug in Teacher’s Coffee, followed by writing a response about what they read.  They discuss key elements of poetry as well as the “wordplay” poets use, such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition, rhythm, etc.  Afterwards, students read independently, or in a small group with the teacher, during the Reading Lab. Finally, they do a writing exercise.  In the poetry unit, the writing exercise involves students writing several different styles of poems based on the mentor text poems that were read to them or they read together as a class.  

“These poems are so funny,” said Alfred Rodriguez,”I like them because they play with words.”