Poetry Question

[liketeaching1]

In our basal series on our unit test, there is a poem for the first graders to read. Then they are to tell how many beats each line has. I admit I have not concentrated teaching poetry up to this point. But I am confused--what is the purpose in knowing the beats per line? Is this a foundation for something important in the future?

 

[BookMuncher]

That is unreal! I'm in shock that that would be on a first grade assessment! I see a use for that as children get older and can experiment with the music of poetry, but FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! They aren't fluent enough to be able to count the lines. I don't know what these "experts" at the reading programs are thinking. Ridiculous.

 

[liketeaching1]

Thanks, BookMuncher

I felt that it was a ridiculous question but I was afraid that there could be some deep, underlying, wonderful, important reason for the kids to be able to know it.

Since you say that it isn't going to damage them for life if they don't know this skill at this point in time (our 14th week of first grade), I'll sleep so much better tonight.

I hope you can hear my sarcasm through the words (if not--believe me--it's really there).

 

[bpaugh]

3rd grade teacher

While I too am shocked that the poetry question was on a 1st grade assessment, I think the beats per line would be important in getting the children to understand that poetry often has a rhythm, help with learning to feel syllables, and prepare them for creating poetry that has specific numbers of beats per line, such as haiku (5,7,5).