Dear Friends,
I
remember the first time I read a poem and thought,
“Wow!” When I was a teen, and even before,
I felt as though no one understood me and I couldn’t
find a way to communicate so they would understand.
I remember being sprawled across the couch and picking
up an old book from the shelves. I opened the book
to a Dylan Thomas poem, Do Not Go Gentle Into That
Good Night.
I
remember feeling as though I had finally found a language
I could “understand.” From that day on,
I began to write. I wrote poems constantly. It was
as though someone had opened a door and let in fresh
air. Today, I have published two small books of poems
and have finished another full-length book of poetry.
I have even won some awards. I have had people come
to me, after having listened to me read my work aloud,
and thank me for writing something that touched them,
that echoed their own lives.
I
did, eventually, find teachers who read my poems and
encouraged me. Now, it is my turn to reach out to
you. I am so excited to work with you! I want to encourage
you to use poetry as another tool for resiliency,
and to be heard. Let’s walk together through
the opened door.
I
look forward to listening to your words.
Amy
Small-McKinney (read
bio)
Program Summary
The
idea of using poetry to support children, teens, and
young adults probably germinated years ago, when Amy
Small-McKinney,
with poet therapist, Anjana Deshpande, facilitated
an all-day workshop for women in their community.
Through poetry and journaling, in a safe environment,
the women examined and expressed feelings. It was
a wonderful day! Amy and Anjana felt as though they
had discovered something special. As 2011 Montgomery
County Poet Laureate, it occurred to Amy that she
could offer this to kids who needed to find a way
to communicate their emotions and the challenges of
their lives. Amy credits a Middle-School teacher for
helping her, a shy girl, by encouraging her own poetic
voice. Teaming up with Montgomery County Poet Laureate
Program’s Executive Director, Joanne Leva, and
Anjana, Amy hopes to reach out to surrounding counties,
and children, teens, and young adults. A pilot program
partnering with NHS Human Services of Montgomery County’s
Youth Advisory Board is an exciting first step.
Session
Three
Warm-Up:
(5 min. sprint)
"Since we last met, what has been going on with
you?"
Group Share (10 min.)
Ask if anyone would like to share anything in their
journals they have written since we last met.
Imagination
& Personification:
I.
Use a painting/photograph as workshop theme (15 min)
1.
Ask: what gets your attention? First thing you notice?
Why?
2. Ask: what do you think is happening in this picture,
from girl's perspective?
3. Ask: what title would you give to this picture?
II.
I AM AN OBJECT WITH AN EMOTION:
•
First, go around the room and each person share
what object they are. For example, I am a teapot.
• Next, go around again and everyone give an
emotion to the object they are For example, I am
a caring teapot.
III.
Giving voice to whatever you want to describe in the
picture (15 min.)
•
Return to the picture
• Become an object in the picture
• For example, be the bars, the balloon, the
color red.
• Give the object/thing human thoughts and
feelings and a voice
• Remember surprising comparisons and similes:
I am as ___ as the ___
• Example: If you are the bars, you might say,
"I am as soft as the nighttime" or "I
am cold as a cruel mouth."
IV.
Group Write (30 min.):
Putting human thoughts and emotions on something that
isn't human
•
Discuss
personification again
• Return
to your original object (or select another)
• Pretend
to be your object
• Dig
deeper and write from its viewpoint
•
Remember
five senses we have used before in poems: touch,
hear, see, taste, smell
• Examples of some things to think about: How
does the object feel? What does it see?
Group
Write (15 min): I USE TO BE/ BUT NOW _______
•
Handout/Template:
I USED TO BE/ BUT NOW_______
• may want to try your similes
• use imagination
• every line must begin: I used to be but now
I am _____
• the last line highlights a strength or something
you feel positive about and begins with the words:
And now I am ____
Wrap-Up
- 5 Min. Sprint:
Write in journals things that have happened in your
life over the last 3 months
Good Closure (15 min.)
1.
student work was respected
2. the journey is coming to an end
3. they have the tools to practice resiliency in
the face of hard times
Have
entire group stand up, make a circle holding hands.
Go around the circle and have each person state one
thing learned from this experience.
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