MODULE 5: POETRY PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE POETRY

Franco, Betsy & Jessie Hartland. Messing Around On the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices. Somerville, Massachusetts. Candlewick Press. 2009.

ISBN: 978-0-7636-3174-1

Messing Around On the Monkey Bars is a book of poetry containing nineteen different poems about school. These poems, whether read for two voices as intended or read individually, are written in a manner that children and adults can relate to. Adults reading this book will be taken back on a journey to their childhood school days and children will relate to their current school days. How many remember the sinking feeling in your stomach when you realize that an assignment is due and you are not prepared as in the poem “Animal Reports” or finding excuses that the teacher would accept for why you do not have your homework like in the poem “Homework Blues?” This book of poetry covers almost every aspect of school life.

Most of the poems in this book rhyme which make them perfect for elementary age children. In the poem, “Back in the Room for the Afternoon,” Betsy Franco has tapped into some creative school humor using phrases such as “Hey, how do you do, Glue? I’m all stuck up on you.” and “See you later, Calculator. You’re my favorite operator!” Another poem titled “Anatomy Class,” uses some of the traits of classroom objects as if they were human and alive. For example, “The chair has arms.” and “Our shoes have tongues.”

The illustrations Jessie Hartland created for this book are simplistic and have a cartoon-like quality which will appeal to children and are well suited to the nature of each poem. Author’s notes in the front of the book give guidance on how to perform the poems. At the back of the book, there are additional suggestions for other ways to perform poems in the book.

Spotlight Poem:

Backboard Rap

bounce, bounce

bounce, bounce Dribble, dribble,

bounce, bounce Pass to Trish.

bounce, bounce Shoot a basket.

bounce, bounce Hear the swish!

bounce, bounce Dribble, dribble,

bounce, bounce Pass to Vin.

bounce, bounce Hit the backboard.

bounce, bounce Up and in!

bounce, bounce Dribble, dribble,

bounce, bounce Take a shot!

bounce, bounce There’s the buzzer.

bounce, bounce Yeah! We’re hot!

bounce, bounce

bounce

This poem will appeal to the sports enthusiasts in the classroom. After reading the poem, I would begin a discussion about the rhythm and the lines of rhyme in this poem. I would then have the students perform the poem as it is written and since it is called Backboard Rap, I would also have the students add sound effects and/or a rhythmic beat to give it more of a rap-like quality. This would be a great opportunity to collaborate with the local music teacher.

As another activity, the students could work in groups and write their own rap about another sport or subject.