Grade levels:  9th - 12th
Hour: 1st 
Teacher:  Megan Miller
Teacher Contact Info:  megan@faceschool.org 
Google Classroom Used:  Yes
Approximate Weekly Homework: 2 hours
High School Credit: Half 
Monthly Cost:  $30 
One Time Supply Fee: $5 
Supply Fee Covers:  Copies
Prerequisites:  Ability to read and discuss literary themes. Willingness to participate in class discussions 
Materials Required:  A journal for writing responses, original poems, and sketching Don't Read Poetry by Stephanie Burt ISBN 978-0465094509 
A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver ISBN 978-0156724005 
Access to the internet and library for research and finding poems 
Class Description:  
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” - Dead Poet's Society
 
Bring your coffee or tea and come join us as we dive into one of the oldest forms of communication still in use today, poetry. This is not a class where we will rip poems apart until they have no magic left. We're going to start by going through a bit of basics to lay the framework of understanding and then we will use various themes, topics, and famous eras as a guide. Students will be asked to read, discuss, and respond each week. For various well known and not so well known poets (and songwriters) we will discuss their lives, what influenced them, how we interpret their work, and why we find it meaningful. Students will also try their hand at writing their own poems as well. (No one will be required to share personal work if they don't feel comfortable doing so). Homework will include reading poetry for at least one hour per week, bringing poems to share with the class, and responding to what they've read. They can respond however they feel led whether that's in writing, musically, artistically, or whatever else they come up with.