By Regie Cabico | Master Teaching Artist and Slam Poet
After 7 months of quarantine, I was excited to work with the 3rd Grade team in October. My first residency teaching the art of slam, competitive poetry - online. This year I partnered with 4 teachers; Ms. Ortiz, Ms. Lamana, Ms. Terry-Edd, Ms. Hayes & Ms. Frazee. Having taught summer school sessions virtually, I knew this would be like a chill tropical breeze; however, I encountered zoom link security blocks and multiple challenges of digital teaching.
Unlike middle and high school students, the majority of 3rd grade students had their cameras on, which was a huge relief. In order to connect over the virtual platform, I designed Google Docs where students typed their poems.
I was challenged by digital learning but I found a way to use Google Docs and improvisation games to get students thinking outside the box. "Name 3" is a game where I asked students to create names imagining new versions of existing places/things. For example, Name 3 New Smithsonian Museums: Museum of Crayons, Museum of Chalk and Museum of Bubble gum. Name the next 3 planets: Unicorn Planet, Pizza Planet & Coronavirus Planet. These games took our poems to new frontiers.
We explored the idea of lies. I asked Ms. Hayes, “What is your name?” She said, “Ms. Ashley” and I said, “I want you to lie even bigger - push your imagination to make it colorful and silly, if you like.” Ms. Hayes replied, “My name is Princess Cheyenne.” This inspired the students to create new poems taking bigger creative risks. With Ms. Frazee’s class we explored all the things we would like to do when we were alone, but then applied the idea of imagination, so we fought ninjas, became Princess Elsa, and ate chocolate chip cookies. With Ms. Terry-Edd’s group we opened the door and out came a lion, and when I opened the lion out came a mouse, and so forth. Christal, who I am told never speaks, freestyled a poem with me as we both went back and forth with images and sensory detail.
The poetry slam at the conclusion of our residency had almost 100 students, staff and parents watching. Our top 3 poets were poised and confident. One student improvised a poem of wishes for people who were in quarantine - a poem of hope and reunion. The winner, Alanna, got a high 5 from her dad. Alanna’s advice about poetry: “I loved reading books as a child. This was going to be fun. I added colors and shapes and animals to my ideas.”
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We at Story Tapestries are grateful to our team of teaching artists who have worked quickly and effectively, overcoming their own fears and concerns, to adapt their programs to be engaging and impactful in the online environment.
In addition to these in-school and out-of-school time residencies, donors and sponsors have given funds so that we are preparing to deliver 300 activities kits full of wonderful arts supplies and basic school supplies such as markers, colored pencils, paper, pens, glue and more. Over 560 were delivered in the last months and families in the area who cannot afford these supplies are incredibly grateful to have them to support both on- and off-screen learning.
Thank you for believing in and contributing towards the mission of Story Tapestries! We look forward to sharing more stories like this one to let you know how your gifts are giving back to our community.
For us, this is our Happy Thanksgiving with hearts full of gratitude. We wish the same to you and your loved ones as well as good health!
Links:
By Noa Baum | Storyteller and Master Teaching Artist
By Lorienne Beals | Development Director
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