Opening a Door: Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom [Paperback]

Paul B. Janeczko (Author)

Book Description

Series: Opening A Door | Publication Date: April 2003

Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom
Dive into Poetry!
Want to teach poetry with confidence and passion? Paul Janeczko shows you how. Working from his belief that children will read poetry if we choose it carefully, he offers poems that span history, ethnicity, and gender--and ignite excitement in young people. Each poem is framed by an "Exploration," a detailed lesson for investigating the work on many levels. With response sheets, graphic organizers, background on the poets, and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul B. Janeczko, noted teacher, anthologist, and poet, is the author of the best-selling Favorite Poetry Lessons and How to Write a Poem (both from Scholastic). His most recent book of poetry is A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, published by Candlewick. He lives with his wife and daughter in Hebron, Maine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Teaching Resources (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439332079
• ISBN-13: 978-0439332071
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars poetic simplicity, January 20, 2007

By 

tchrlishus (Wollaston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opening a Door: Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom (Paperback)

An interesting selection of poems each accompanied by a lesson. Lessons easily expanded upon and adapted for various ability levels. I especially appreciate the variety of poems and the fact that they are not typical.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teaching Poetry in MS, July 21, 2007

By 

M. Parker "Teacher Reader" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Opening a Door: Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom (Paperback)

Just ordered this book over the summer, and plan to use it with my 7th grade students this school year. I like the focus on exploring meaning in poetry, not actually having students write poems (though that could easily be amended to these lessons). There is a nice variety of work here, from Gary Soto to Edgar Allen Poe. I think this book will help teachers read and discuss poetry with middle school students. The resources in the back of the book, including online sites and lists of anthologies, are especially helpful.

4.0 out of 5 stars So many possiblities..., February 21, 2011

By 

Amanda (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Opening a Door: Reading Poetry in the Middle School Classroom (Paperback)

This book is a tremendous resource for teachers nervous about teaching poetry. While I find some of the given activities to be boring, they give teachers a place to start; the activities are easy to "make your own". What I love most of all is the selection of poems - a nice mix of some classic and some contemporary, all appropriate for middle school. This book is a staple in my classroom!