The World of Poetry – Middle Semester
$167.00
NEW Course! “Readers who think that poetry “isn’t for me” often have a narrow idea of what “poetry” can be. Throughout human history a multitude of poetic forms have emerged and evolved, around the world, for people to record events, tell stories, and share thoughts and experiences. This course will explore diverse parts of the poetry landscape, and allow students to broaden their views and experiment!” ~Prof. Lisa
Enrollment
Available
Step 1: Register Your Student
Step 2: Enroll Your Registered Student
| Instructor | Prof. Lisa Billa |
| Content Levels | Grades 5-6 • Upper Elementary Grades 6-7 • Middle School Grades 7-8 • Junior High |
| Course Length | 8 weeks |
| Live Webinars Held On | Tuesdays, 10:00 - 10:50 AM Pacific - Middle Semester - 3/25/25 - 5/17/25 |
Poetry is a wide, exciting world to explore! Young writers may be familiar with haiku, sonnets, and sestinas. But where does a pantoum come from? What is a pensee, a tanka, or a triolet? And how do you write a villanelle, a tripadi, or a quintilla?
This class will introduce students to some of the many diverse poetic forms that have evolved around the world. We will examine a selection of published poetry and experiment to create our own poems, playing with the possibilities and challenges of each form. Students will begin pieces of writing during our webinars, then apply the techniques we explore to develop their work and share in an ongoing classroom forum.
This collaborative, low-pressure course is appropriate for students who already enjoy writing poetry, and also for those who might like to try but don’t know where to start! Students may work at their own pace, with additional resources for those who would like to dive further into a topic.
Students should be willing to share some of their writing and respond to classmates’ work with positive and thoughtful comments.
Note to Parents:
- This course is a fast-paced, interactive writing environment. Students with special learning needs may need parental assistance.
Taught by Prof. Lisa Billa
What to expect in the Required section in the classroom each week:
The only requirement for this course is to attend webinars weekly and take part in the writing exercises!
Students can enhance their experience by reading suggested works outside of class, posting new writing on our forum, and commenting on other students’ work.
What to expect in the Highly Suggested & Optional sections in the classroom each week:
- Curated resources, including websites and videos, are provided to excite learners and add depth to the subject matter.
- Share new writing.
- Read and respond to student writing published online.
What to expect during the webinar:
- Weekly webinars are 50 minutes long. Webinars are recorded and are available for students with schedule conflicts.
- Active Participation (via the microphone and chat) in online class discussions.
- This class is discussion based. Only students who are ready to use the microphone in an online class should enroll.
Before taking this course, students should be able to:
Read at a solid 5th-grade level or above.
Type fluently or be equipped with dictation software or a willing adult helper during our webinar.
Be willing to share their writing during webinars and in the classroom.
Be prepared to contribute in an active, supportive environment.
Students should be willing to:
- Be prepared for the webinar.
- Actively participate (via the microphone and text chat) in the class discussion.
- Encourage class discussion by adding their questions/ideas in the chat window during the webinar.
- Produce independent writing.
- Respond with positive and encouraging comments on their classmates’ posts in the classroom forums.
Required books & materials:
Weekly readings will be online. No books are required.
Webinar participation requires that students be able to access more than one browser tab at a time. A computer with a keyboard is highly recommended.