World Poetry Day 2022: Using pattern poetry for disciplinary learning across various subjects

Every year on 21 March, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) coordinated World Poetry Day is observed with events related to reading, writing or watching of poetry in different forms. Poetry writing and recital are encouraged along with supporting linguistic diversity through poetry and enliven the creative expressive urge of the human mind.

The worldwide observance was created during 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999 'to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.'

Here, I reproduced my write-up "On converting textual material into pattern poetry for disciplinary learning and inclusion in classroom" for urging teachers to teach various subject through pattern poetry for developing verbal and musical-rhythmic intelligence of children.

The poetry for subject matter learning is factual and for cognitive development, therefore, there is no place for imagination, similes and rhyming in such poetry.

In order to convert textual material into pattern poetry, one can make use of following elements to create rhythm. Here, rhythm stands for regular repetition of a beat or accent.

My experience informs that this kind of activity of converting text in prose form to poetry helps in making a shift toward micro-learning.

Furthermore, converting prose into simple rhythmic poetry is appropriate for inclusion – both ability-wise and gender-wise

While writing, some of hints are as follows:

• Arranging lines in syllabic count pattern

• Attention for stronger tone or accent given to keywords, academic words or terminology

• Making use of slant rhyme, alliteration, repetitions

• Line breaks at propositions for internal pauses

• Have stanzas or verses of 4-6 lines

While rhythmic recitation, the following guidelines could be followed.

• In multi-syllabic words decide about the parts of words to be stressed as units while reciting decide about stressed and unstressed syllables

• For monosyllabic word stress the syllable

Here is a diamante pattern poem that contrasts poetry and prose,