CLiF would like to introduce or re-introduce you to Geof Hewitt of Calais, VT. Geof is the author of four poetry volumes and the Poetry Slam Laureate of Vermont. He also plays the nose flute (see photo). CLiF created the outline below to help students of all ages think about his poems and poetry.

Watch a clip of Geof’s presentation from CLiF’s Virtual Author’s Series here.

Things to think about:

• Does a poem need to rhyme?
• How do you describe a poem?
• How different is it to write a poem and to perform a poem?
• What is a poetry slam; and what is slam poetry?
• Can a story be a poem?
• Why do you think poems are fun to write or hard to write?
• Can a poem be about anything?

Here are a few ways to get to know Geof’s work better:

• Hear Geof recite some poems and participate in a poem writing workshop with the splendor of Elmore State Park for inspiration.
• Listen to one poem and think about how poems can be about anything, even a vacuum!
• Watch Geof lead a poetry slam
• Read more about Geof and his poetry

CLiF has created literacy activities for students of all ages here. Here are some that would go nicely with Geof’s poems:

For younger kids:

• Alphabet dominoes and Paint Chip Word Families – use the pictures and letter cards to help kids learn about rhyming

For older kids:

• Book Spine Poetry – see what words show up on your book shelves (use magazines, manuals, cookbooks too!); use them to make lines of poetry
• Headline Poetry – cut words from magazine or newspaper headlines and make into poems

For families:

• Poem City – put up poems in your house, windows, or neighborhood
• Poem in your Pocket – take turns sharing poems
• Musical Poems – musical chairs with reading poems at the break!