OAKVILLE, ON – When graphic poetry makes its way into the classroom, poetry suddenly becomes accessible, no longer “dry and uninviting.” What’s more, graphic poetry can “help poetry come alive for students and help motivate them to read, critique, analyze, and even compose poetry,” according to Kristine M. Calo in her article entitled “Comprehending, Composing and Celebrating Graphic Poetry” published in The Reading Teacher Vol. 64, No. 5.
Calo describes how this fresh take on poetry — by combining visuals with text — is an effective way for students to “use their visual literacy skills to grasp the meaning of and interplay between the words and images on the page.” The overall benefits of graphic poetry within the classroom are endless, Calo illustrates, as it can be used not only to trigger a passion for poetry, but also to strengthen critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
According to Calo, while reading (and now seeing) poetry is important, it is also about getting involved in writing poetry. She claims that “[a]s students learn to comprehend and write graphic poems, they will learn to savor poetry and all it has to offer!”
To read “Comprehending, Composing and Celebrating Graphic Poetry” by Kristine M. Calo, please click here.
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