Lesson Videos for the Classroom


Understanding the NEW Original Poetry Rubric
(13:14 min)

In this video, Jackie Trimble explains
the new Alabama original poetry rubric, which was created in 2020. Dr. Trimble is Prof. of English and Chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures at Alabama State University.

Choosing Poems
(8:03 min)

In this video, Davis Thompson, English teacher at Auburn High School, gives suggestions on how to select poems for a Poetry Out Loud competition.

Hint #1: Don’t just pick one from the A’s.

Choosing Poems
2 and 3
(6:45 min)

Davis Thompson, Auburn High School English teacher, gives suggestions on how to strategically select poems 2 and 3 to get better scores from the judges in a Poetry Out Loud competition.


How to Interpret a Poem
(19 min)

Jennifer Horne is the Poet Laureate of Alabama.

In this video, she talks about interpreting, approaching and engaging with a poem, using Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem Recuerdo.

How to Read a Poem
(19:13 min)

Daniel DeVaughn is a teacher at UAB and a writer at Alabama Writer’s Forum.

In this video, talks about how to read and
analyze a poem using Rita Dove’s poem
Teach us to Number Our Days.

How to Write a Poem
(23:31 min)

In this video, Daniel DeVaughn talks about how to write a poem using 4 published poems:


Writing a Social Challenge Poem
(14.35 min)

Jonathon “JP da Poet” Peterson is a self-taught, award-winning, spoken word poet.

In this video, he talks about how to write a poem about a current social topic using as an example his latest poem, If Black Lives Mattered.

Writing Poetry Workshop Part I
(16:07 min)

Dr. Jacqueline Trimble is a Professor of English and the Chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures at Alabama State University.

In part I of her 3-part workshop, Dr. Trimble discusses the elements of poetry: Form, music, line, subject, and language. Students are asked to read 3 poems:

Writing Poetry Workshop Part II
(15:44 min)

In part II of this workshop, Dr. Trimble talks in detail about how to approach a subject. For example,“Verbs gives life to line”, and “Take the "‘ings’ out of your poems”.

Students are asked to read 2 poems:


Writing Poetry Workshop Part III
(15:29 min)

In part III of this workshop, Dr. Trimble talks about line as a unit of attention.

Students are asked to read 2 poems:

Writing Poetry Workshop
Powerpoint

access Dr. Trimble’s PowerPoint presentation of her Writing Poetry Workshop.

Reciting Poetry, Part I
(12:44 min)

Ronald McCall is an award-winning actor, a vocalist, director, and teaching artist.

In this video, he talks about how to effectively communicate a poem. Poems recited in this video:


Reciting Poetry, Part II (23:45 min)

In this video, Mr. McCall talks about recitation, research, performance, and the 10 elements of drama.

Poems recited in this video:

Performing with intensity (15:52 min)

Jahman Hill is an award winning poet, playwright, professor, and co-founder of the Flourish Alabama

In this video, he talks about
the 3 P’s in performance poetry:
PRONUNCIATION | PACE | PAUSE

Movement for Storytelling (21:11 min)

Eric Marable Jr. is a creative and teaching artist from Birmingham, AL. Eric has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama with a major in theatre/minor in creative writing. 

In this video, he talks about purposeful and intentional movement.