Welcome to today’s tip in my month-long Poetry Tips for Teachers series.
Tip #10: Emphasize important words.
Sometimes when you’re sharing a poem, you might be talking about a specific aspect of it, whether that’s the rhyme or a repeated word or something else. I might include this poem, “Dancin’ (Snow)Man,” in a discussion about different countries or dance styles. So as I read it, I would slightly emphasize those words–the names of countries and the styles of dance. You don’t have to overdo it in a ridiculous manner, but a little raise in volume, accompanied by raising up your arm or stopping walking around, will help kids notice and take in those important words.
This poem, by the way, was inspired by Mike Wohnoutka’s art for a fundraiser years ago.
Here I am reading the poem with just a bit of emphasis on those important words.