Poetry School
with Tanner Olson
Teachers and Parents,
I’d like to introduce to you something called Poetry School.
Poetry School is an 11 day poetry curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Poetry School will include 11+ videos of original poetry, an educational PDF guide, encouragement, and the opportunity for your class or children to do a live Q&A with me once the class is complete.
Why Poetry School?
I believe your students and children are the best writers and poets our world has. However, I don’t think they know they are. Through Poetry School, I hope to inspire, educate, and encourage your students and children to pick up the pen to write.
Through a series of videos, participants will hear poetry, perhaps in a way they’ve never heard it before. In addition to the videos, participants will also receive an educational PDF containing questions about the mechanics and meaning of the poems as well as some poetry writing exercises.
After this class, my hope is that they know poetry has an even bigger range than just Shel Silverstein or Shakespeare.
Who is this for?
These poems and activities are geared toward students in grades 3-12, but can be scaled up or down at your discretion. The educational PDF will have specific questions designated for elementary, middle, and high school students.
What is this … Educational PDF?
This is the printable guide to go along with the poems. Following each video, participants will work through questions, examples, and exercises to deepen their comprehension, analysis and application of poetic devices and techniques.
There is a PDF for Elementary School students and another for Middle & High School students.
Each page of the guide will include a selection from the poem to dig into deeper. Students can analyze and identify different poetic elements of the section and/or the poem as a whole. Then, in the “Try It!” section, there will be an opportunity for them to “try on” a poetry technique or style that I used in the poem they studied. The “Try It!” components range from writing prompts to fill-in-the-blank style imitation.
Can my teaching team use this?
The License to use Poetry School is sold in three different tiers:
1. A single classroom/teacher
2. One Grade Level (2-4 Classrooms)
3. One School (5+ Classrooms)
How long are the videos?
Each video will be less than 6 minutes long.
Click here to see an example video: STAY
Will my class or children get a chance to talk with Tanner about the poems?
Yes! Following the completion of the class you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a Zoom call with Tanner to ask all your questions!
“Tanner is an inspiration to everyone that hears him - students and teachers. He is able to connect with the students within minutes of meeting them. We watched their faces light up as he read his poems. His poetry shows boys and girls what different poems sound like and encourages them to try the same! If you want your students to get excited about writing, I highly recommend his Poetry School curriculum and inviting him to visit your class!”
