Poetry Memorization as a Teaching Method, The Art of Poetry author--Christine Perrin

The Art of Poetry curriculum is published by Classical Academic Press. Visit classicalacadem... for more information.
If you took a year and memorized poems in your home or classroom it would change your life. One kindergartener I taught said a poet "says it like he means it." Which I thought was a wonderful definition of poetry. What would happen to us if we internalized these words-best words in the best order-and began living with them in our mouths and minds. How much would change if we said what we really meant or didn't say what we didn't mean? I teach my students to memorize poems with their hands, it is a wonderful engagement of multiple intelligences.

[@happerrin]

What a great idea--you are absolutely right--that by bodying forth the poem we actually create another brain pathway.

[@PaulNitz]

Very nice. I wonder if what poetry does (when learned and recited) is appeal to the right hemisphere. And, I wonder if the gestures are more than a memory gimmick, but a way of transferring the text (processed by the left hemisphere) to the right side of the brain. Very, very nice. I'm inspired to go learn some poetry.