Spoken Word:
Educator Edition
Created by: Danika Van Niel
My Project
Purpose: Share my findings with educators and to give a
malleable lesson plan that can be used in the classroom.
Findings: Educators should introduce and encourage
students to participate in spoken word poetry in order to
provide students with another tool in order to become more
literate, understanding, and involved in their education.
Method: I created two power points and a video to share
my findings. The first power point is for educators to learn
about the positive effects that can come of using spoken
word in the classroom, the second is to use in the
classroom, and the video is to further explain the power
points.
Meet Jamila Lyiscott
Shes been a spoken word artist since she
was 15
She is able to speak three different
variations of English depending on which
situation she is in, and what point she
wants to make
Her spoken word poem 3 ways to speak
English really opened my eyes
She helped me to appreciate and
acknowledge different flavors of English
Her poem had such a powerful impact on
me that I decided to watch more spoken
word
https://
Meet Sarah Kay
When she was 14 she performed
spoken word at the famous
Bowery Poetry Club
She is not only a spoken word
poet, but she is an educator as
well
Her Project VOICE which she
started in high school is now a
program that she offers all over
the world
Her powerful message is what
started me thinking about how
spoken word can be used in an
educational setting
https://
My Projects Beginning
The two TED talks both got me thinking about how
spoken word could help students in many different ways
1. Sarah Kay was able to help students step out of their
comfort zone and to express themselves
2. Through expressing herself Jamila Lyiscott was able to
open my mind to new ways of thinking
If students are able to express themselves through the
artistic means of spoken word then they too could impact
their listeners, while improving their own literacy and
engagement within the classroom
So How can YOU help
Helping Students to Get
Involved
There are many ways to help students to discover
spoken word
In the Classroom
Extracurricular Programs
Programs Outside of School
And Many More!
In the
Classroom
Hip-hop artists employ poetic lyrics
embedded in music
AnJeanette C. Alexander-Smiths Feeling the Rhythm of the Critically Conscious
Mind
Alexander-Smith uses hip-hop music in her classroom in order to teach
her students about poetry. Using music that students recognize and that
is relatable to them can allow them to examine poetry that addresses
issues in their culture. With the tools to write spoken word they can
expose those issues themselves as well through writing and performing.
(Alexander-Smith
How this is applicable to YOUR
classroom
Not every classroom will be able to relate to the same
music
I attempted to make the classroom power point
applicable to a wide range of demographics
Feel free to change the music selections to fit your
classroom
The setup of Alexander-Smiths lesson has many parts that
build upon each other
In order to have the students write spoken word poetry
themselves I altered part of her lesson
Music the students have never heard of
Music the students know
Spoken word poems
Spoken word poems created by
the students
(Alexander-Smith
Extracurricular
Programs
In these two [extracurricular] writing
communities, literacy is strategic,
purposeful, and always linked to meaning
Maisha T. Fishers From the Coffee House to the School House: The Promise and Potential
of Spoken Word Poetry in School Contexts
Fisher is referring to two extracurricular programs offered at different
schools: the Power Writers and The Runaway Slaves of the 21 st Century.
(Fisher 2005)
Power Writers
The Details
Who: Joe, a public high school English and music teacher
What: Power Writers
When: Every Monday afternoon, Friday morning, and
even on some Saturdays
Purpose: To increase the students literacy in as many
ways as possible
(Fisher 2005)
Power Writers was one of the most (if not
the most) diverse chosen spaces in the
school
Maisha T. Fishers From the Coffee House to the School House: The Promise and Potential
of Spoken Word Poetry in School Contexts
Joe was able to capture and keep the attention of about 30 active
students that ranged from grades 9-12 as well as recent graduates
who attended consistently throughout the year. This speaks to how
open-minded and accepting of an environment Joe and his students
created.
(Fisher 2005)
Meet Dee
She is one of the students in Joes Power
Writer extracurricular program
When she first joined she was reluctant to
read her work aloud; she was in a selfcontained learning disabilities class during
the school day
Joe still expected Dee to feed other poets
feedback and engage in the community
until she was comfortable reciting her own
work
The first time she read her own work is
transcribed on the right and she continues
to improve her writing and literacy
DEE: My life is a mess
I can't do nothing
I can't see nothing
And I also can't stand nothing
I live in a world where people will do anything for
money
I live in a world where girls give they bodies up to
men or boys
I live in a world- I live in a world- hold on.
[Dee finds her place again and continues]
DEE: I live in a world where lots of crackheads
are
I live in a world where I can't go out my house
without people or kids acting stupid
I live in a world where you can't go no where
without people putting a gun to your head
I live in a world where people don't give a shit
about they family or nobody around them
So when I say my life is a mess, I mean my life is a
mess.
(Fisher 2005)
[Everyone applauds long and deeply]
Power Writers
What makes the program improve the students education:
Each session begins
with read and feed
which is an
opportunity for
students to read their
original pieces and to
receive feedback
Since there is a
sharing every
session, students are
encouraged to write
and share often
Students used their
lived experiences in
collaboration with
book learning to
inform their
teaching
Having the skills to
give and receive
constructive criticism
is a good leadership
skill to have
The act of sharing
your work can
improve speaking
and presentation
skills
The students were
encouraged to talk
from different
perspectives that
pertain to their life
(Fisher 2005)
The Runaway Slaves of the 21st Century
The Details
Who: Mama C a literacy coach
What: The Runaway Slaves of the 21st Century
When: After school on Tuesdays
Purpose: She strived to help her students to be critical
readers, writers and speakers of the word
(Fisher 2005)
I always make them see the connection
between the past and the present and then
I dare them to look into the future and
change it
Mama C from Maisha FishersFrom the Coffee House to the School House: The
Promise and Potential of Spoken Word Poetry in School Contexts
Mama C gives her intimate group of about 5 high school students
assignments which are meaningful the present and past.
(Fisher 2005)
The Greatest Threat
Meet Naja
She is one of the students in Mama Cs
extracurricular program
This poem is what inspired the programs
name
She was inspired to write this piece because
of Mama Cs assignment about COINTELPRO
and Assata Shakur
The title of her piece is a reference to J.
Edgar Hoovers reference to Shakur as the
greatest threat to the United States
security
She was quoted to say that her beginning
line is calling for all the revolutionary poets
out there
WHERE ARE MY RUNAWAY SLAVES
OF THE 21ST CENTURY?
Chorus: RIGHT HERE
Let me school you on this piece of
history
The Greatest Threat
To the threads that sew us into a
classless stature
Where being human doesn't matter
Where laying next to "your brotha' in a
body bag
Is on the regular
It's like century old shackles that start
to make your skin sag
It's the pounding in your chest
A bullet shot
Or 2 or 3
WHO SHOT YA, ASSATA?
My African queen
Whose jewels have been tarnished and
twisted
Yet your feet
God has kissed your feet
You've escaped
The slave masters who have yet to
master
The magic of your magnificent
Shout out the fallen ones for
they need to know salvation
comes not from a gun
And don't worry I'll read to
your grandbabies
I'll read so poetically and
profound
I'll read as if you were me
SO PURR ON BLACK CAT
Cuz one day you'll roam back
Into the psyche of those
stricken with unremembrance
And then you and I shall
dance
As if the African soil tickles
our toes again
We won't be ENSLAVED then
Or RUNAWAY LOYALTY of
the 21st Century
We'll be free
(Fisher 2005)
The Runaway Slaves of the 21st Century
What makes the program improve the students education:
The students were
pushed to be
knowledgeable about
what happened in the
past, what is happening
now, and to try and
change the future for the
better
Assignments were
inspired by her students
culture, and the problems
that her students face in
society
Use your writing as
revenge. We write from
our hearts. Passion
guides our writing. I
dont want you to walk
around angry. Dont hate
people. Hate racism.
Before starting
assignments Mama C
emphasized her goals for
them so that they knew
what was expected of
them
(Fisher 2005)
In many of the student interviews that have
been conducted, students cite these writing
communities as their impetus for attending
school
Maisha T. Fishers From the Coffee House to the School House: The Promise and Potential
of Spoken Word Poetry in School Contexts
These programs are not only increasing the students literacy,
confidence, and writing abilities. These programs are one of the reasons
these students even come to school, which affects their whole
education.
(Fisher 2005)
Programs Outside of
School
Project VOICE using spoken-word
poetry as a way to entertain, educate and
inspire.
Sarah Kays If I should have a daughter
Kay traveled all over the world to different schools to spread the power
of spoken word poetry. Your school or local community could hire a
program like this to come, or you could create a program like this
yourself.
https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter
Meet Charlotte
She was one of Sarah Kays students when
Project VOICE visited her school
She tried Kays exercises, but didnt write any
poems
Instead she would say Miss, Im just not
interesting. I dont have anything interesting to
say.
Kay assigned her to make a list of 10 Things I
Should Have Learned by Now and number three
was I should have learned not to crush on guys
three times my age
Kay convinced her that this sounded interesting
and she stepped out of her comfort zone and
wrote this poem
Anderson Cooper is a gorgeous
man
Did you see him on 60 Minutes,
racing Michael Phelps in a pool
nothing but swim trunks on
-- diving in the water,
determined to beat this swimming
champion?
After the race,
he tossed his wet, cloud-white hair
and said,
Youre a god.
No, Anderson, youre the god
https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter
In a study examining spoken word poetry
open mics and Black bookstore events, I
asserted that these Participatory Literacy
Communities (PLCs) are considered
educational institutions by their
participants
Maisha T. Fishers From the Coffee
House to the School House: The Promise and Potential
of Spoken Word Poetry in School Contexts
PLCs can be fostered and encouraged within school institutions or in
the local community, which you can endorse or even create your own. In
order to get students involved you can hang flyers, give out flyers,
mention it before your class starts or spread the word any other way
you know.
(Fisher 2005)
PLCs in General
What makes these programs improve the students education:
There are many
different learning
experiences you can
have through
presenting and
watching spoken
word poetry
Community events
often have a wider
range of
demographics than a
classroom
Performing and
listening to spoken
word can help
students to express
themselves, and to
engage with their
surroundings
These community
members can
provide information
that a student
wouldnt typically
get from a classroom
A wider audience
also means that your
performance could
impact more lives
than just inside the
classroom
https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter
In Conclusi
Conclusion
on
One of your
goals as an
educator is
to improve
your
students
literacy
Spoken
word poetry
can
improve
literacy and
other life
long skills
Why not
introduce
your
students to
spoken
word poetry
in any way
you can?
Whether you are:
a foreign language teacher who can add spoken word to
your curriculum
a social studies teacher who can start an after school
program
an administrator who can start a PLC program at the local
coffee shop
a biology teacher who can hand out flyers for local PLC
events, or
Meet Ms. Ciera Paul
and her RCAA 7th
Grade Students
Ms. Paul remixed the lyrics to
Beyoncs song Formation to help her
students remember geometry formulas
In this exercise of spoken word Ms.
Paul is inclusive of everyone, she even
wrote a section in Spanish
This is a wonderful example of the
powers of spoken word
These students are engaged while they
learn about geometry, say positive
messages about studying, and all the
while are incorporating their culture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb1hBuOx
Whats Next?
Most importantly: use spoken word to help
your students!
I bet that you ask your students to step out
of their comfort zone in order to try new
experiences and to learn something new
Now its your turn to step out of YOUR
comfort zone and to try spoken word inside
or outside of the classroom
Whats Next?
If you want more information, or more details refer to
my blog post which has a whole essay about the positive
effects of spoken word
The next section is a lesson plan that teaches students
about tone through the use of spoken word poetry
Feel free to change or modify the lesson to meet your
needs
If you would like a walk through of the next power point
please refer to another one of my blog posts
SPOKEN WORD
Outline Created By: Danika Van Niel
Reading
Read the given
lyrics.
First silently, then
aloud
"Livin' On The Edge"
There's somethin' wrong with the world today
I don't know what it is
Something's wrong with our eyes
We're seein' things in a different way
And God knows it ain't his
It shore ain't no surprise
Livin'
Livin'
Livin'
Livin'
on
on
on
on
the
the
the
the
edge
edge
edge
edge
There's somethin' wrong with the world today
The light bulb's gettin dim
There's meltdown in the sky
If you can judge a wise man
By the color of his skin
Then mister you're a better man than I
[Chorus:]
Livin' on the edge
You can't help yourself from fallin'
Livin' on the edge
You can't help yourself at all
Livin' on the edge
You can't stop yourself from fallin'
Livin' on the edge
Tell me what you think about your sit-u-a-tion
Complication - aggravation
Is getting to you
If chicken little tells you that the sky is fallin'
Even if it wasn't would you still come crawlin'
Back again
I bet you would my friend
Again & again & again & again & again
Tell me what you think about your sit-u-a-tion
Complication - aggravation
Is getting to you
If chicken little tells you that the sky is fallin'
Livin' on the edge
Even if it was would you still come crawlin'
You can't help yourself
Back again
You can't help yourself
I bet you would my friend
Livin' on the edge
Again & again & again & again
You can't help yourself at all
Livin' on the edge
Something right with the world today
You can't help yourself
And everybody knows it's wrong
You can't help yourself
But we can tell 'em no or we could let it go
Livin' on the edge
But I'd would rather be a hanging on
You can't help yourself
[Chorus]
You can't help yourself
Livin' on the edge
Livin' on the edge
You can't help yourself from fallin'
Livin' on the edge
Livin' on the edge
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Chorus]
(AerosmithVEVO
Reading
Read the given
lyrics.
First silently, then
aloud
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Reading
Read the given
lyrics.
First silently, then
aloud
Re-read the lyrics,
what tone(s) is the
song writer
portraying?
Underline your proof
(Alexander-Smith
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Reading
Read the given
lyrics.
First silently, then
aloud
Re-read the lyrics,
what tone(s) is the
song writer
portraying?
Underline your proof
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Class discussion:
Similarities and
differences between
opinions?
Listening
Listen to the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqcL0mjMjw
(AerosmithVEVO
Listening
Listen to the song
Write down one or
two sentences
describing the
difference between
reading and listening
to the lyrics
Listening
Listen to the song
Re-listen to the
song, what tone(s)
is the singer
portraying? Circle
and describe the
places in the song
for proof
Write down one or
two sentences
describing the
difference between
reading and listening
to the lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqcL0mjMjw
(AerosmithVEVO
Listening
Listen to the song
Re-listen to the
song, what tone(s)
is the singer
portraying? Circle
and describe the
places in the song
for proof
Write down one or
two sentences
describing the
difference between
reading and listening
to the lyrics
Class discussion:
Did the music change
the tone, or enhance
it?
Repeat With Recent Songs
Read the given
lyrics.
First silently, then
aloud
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Re-read the lyrics,
what tone(s) is the
song writer
portraying?
Underline your proof
Class discussion
Listen to the song
Write down one or
two sentences
describing the
difference between
reading and listening
to the lyrics
Re-listen to the song,
what tone(s) is the
singer portraying? Circle
and describe the places
in the song for proof
Class discussion
Recent Songs
Lyrics
Lyrics in the information tab https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmv8aQKO6k0
http://
www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beyonceknowles/prettyhur
ts.html
Video
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmv8aQKO6k0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w
Overarching Theme:
Each song portrays
some sort of distress
Their distress
stems from an
issue they find
in society
Each offer a
way to fix
the issue
Spoken Word
Read the given
poem silently
https://
www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_
daughter/transcript?language=en
Spoken Word
Read the given
poem silently
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Spoken Word
Read the given
poem silently
Re-read the poem
silently, what
tone(s) is the writer
portraying?
Underline your proof
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
https://
www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_
daughter/transcript?language=en
(Alexander-Smith
2004)
Spoken Word
Read the given
poem silently
Re-read the poem
silently, what
tone(s) is the writer
portraying?
Underline your proof
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Volunteers read the
poem aloud and
convey the interpreted
tone
Students take notes during performances
Observe body gestures, intonation, and other nonverbal
measures which emphasize the tone of the poetry and
Watch an Example
https://
www.ted.com/talks/sara
h_kay_if_i_should_have
_a_daughter?language=e
n
Observe body gestures, intonation, and other nonverbal measures
which emphasize the tone of the poetry and illustrate the social issue
or problem
Think about what lead the performer to make this poem?
Why would the writer choose to use spoken word, instead of only
written word?
Is the performance convincing? Why?
Class discussion on discoveries, similarities and differences of
opinions
(Alexander-Smith
(Alexander-Smith
2004)
Spoken Word
https://
www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english/transcript?language=en
Repeat
the process
with another poem.
Read the given
poem silently
Re-read the poem
silently, what
tone(s) is the writer
portraying?
Underline your proof
Write down one or
two sentences of
your initial reaction
Volunteers read the
poem aloud and
convey the interpreted
tone
Students take notes during performances
Observe body gestures, intonation, and other nonverbal
measures which emphasize the tone of the poetry and
Watch an Example
https://
www.ted.com/talks/jamila
_lyiscott_3_ways_to_spea
k_english?language=en
Observe body gestures, intonation, and other nonverbal measures
which emphasize the tone of the poetry and illustrate the social issue
or problem
Think about what lead the performer to make this poem?
Why would the writer choose to use spoken word, instead of only
written word?
Is the performance convincing? Why?
Class discussion on discoveries, similarities and differences of
opinions
(Alexander-Smith
Start Writing
Now that each student has started to explore performing poetry.
Its time to start one yourselves.
Start Writing
Now that each student has started to explore performing poetry.
Its time to start one yourselves.
Brainstorm topics,
ideas, issues to
address
Start Writing
Now that each student has started to explore performing poetry.
Its time to start one yourselves.
Brainstorm topics,
ideas, issues to
address
While writing think
about the tone you want
to convey
Start Writing
Now that each student has started to explore performing poetry.
Its time to start one yourselves.
Brainstorm topics,
ideas, issues to
address
Revise and edit but
think about how you
envision your poem
sounding and how you
want your audience to
FEEL or
feel
While writing think
about the tone you want
to convey
Start Writing
Now that each student has started to explore performing poetry.
Its time to start one yourselves.
Brainstorm topics,
ideas, issues to
address
Revise and edit but
think about how you
envision your poem
sounding and how you
want your audience to
While writing think
about the tone you want
to convey
Practice in front of a
classmate, friend,
family member, or
FEEL or
mirror
There will be interactive peer editing next
class, and volunteers will present their
feel
How to Peer Review for Spoken
This experience is to allow student
voices and experiences out of
Word
obscurity and to foster awareness among each other within the
classroom
Be honest, but understanding. For some it will be their first time
presenting in front of the class. Dont sugar coat but recognize the
courage that it must have taken to stand in front of the class and
share.
Feed each other: give constructive criticism to help each other
improve
Did the performer have an appropriate use of body gestures,
intonation, and other nonverbal measures to emphasize the tone of the
poetry and illustrate the social issue or problem? Explain and give
examples.
Is the performance convincing? Why?
(Fisher
Bibliography
AerosmithVEVO. "Aerosmith - Livin' On The Edge."YouTube. YouTube, 24 Dec. 2009.
Web. 20 Apr. 2016.
Alexander-Smith, AnJeanette C.. Feeling the Rhythm of the Critically Conscious
Mind.The English Journal93.3 (2004): 5863. Web...
All photos from Pickit Presentation Images accessed through PowerPoint
Fisher, Maisha T.. From the Coffee House to the School House: The Promise and
Potential of Spoken Word Poetry in School Contexts.English Education37.2 (2005):
115131. Web...
Kay,Sarah.(2011).IfIshouldhaveadaughterTED,0:0018:21.https://
www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter
Lyiscott,Jamila.(2014).3waystospeakEnglish.TED,0:004:25.https://
www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english?language=en
