Poetry Jam

DESCRIPTION:

Speaking in public can be challenging for many people, especially when it involves emotional topics, the risk is even higher. That's why this activity encourages students to create a poetic composition every two weeks and voluntarily present it in the classroom in front of their peers.

OUTCOMES:

• Confidence in expressing feelings and emotions to others.
• Self-assurance when speaking in public.
• A calm and safe environment to express oneself freely.

DURATION: 1 day every 2 weeks (20 minutes).

MATERIALS:

• An area that serves as a stage.
• Ability to verbalize feelings and emotions.
• Poetic creativity.
• Public speaking.
• Ability to put oneself in fictional and alien situations.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Step 1: A poetry club will be proposed, which will meet once every two weeks and will only last for 20 minutes on those days.
• Step 2: Students should write a poetic composition or a non-poetic text for these events, expressing their emotions about a situation they have experienced or towards something or someone that inspires them to write.
• Step 3: On the designated day, students will voluntarily sign up on a list to come to the stage and recite their writings to their classmates. Respect and attentive listening will be encouraged from the audience. Students will also thank the volunteers for each performance and encourage others to take the stage at some point.

Tips:

• The texts will not be judged based on their content and format. The main encouragement is to take the risk of reciting the writing in front of an audience and to promote respect as an audience.
• No one should be pressured to recite. Instead, create a calm, trusting, and respectful atmosphere.
• The teacher can recite in case there are no volunteers to encourage and serve as a possible example to the students.

REFLECTION:

• How did you feel when reciting in front of an audience? If you haven't recited, how do you think the people who recited felt?
• What factors do you think are relevant to overcoming stage fright or feeling more secure in public situations?
• If you have recited, how do you think the experience has helped you?