Ted Shai, known as the poetry guy, has spent over 20 years teaching kids the magic of poetry. Joining him is Rajnii Eddins, a talented spoken word poet and educator who became a member of the African American Writers Alliance at just 11. They engage young listeners in a fun exploration of poetry, encouraging creativity through writing exercises. Heartfelt poems by kids touch on nature and emotions, showcasing the powerful role of expression. The joy of sharing and crafting poetry forges connections, making every month feel like a celebration of words.
The podcast highlights the importance of community engagement in poetry, allowing kids to express creativity and share their unique perspectives.
Poetry is defined as a focused expression of feelings, encouraging young writers to experiment and distill complex thoughts into concise forms.
Deep dives
Introducing Live Poetry for Kids
The podcast begins by announcing a series of live radio shows aimed at engaging kids who are out of school. Each episode includes a homework assignment, encouraging children to write poems and share them on air. This engagement allows for a community experience where kids can participate creatively and expressively. The host spots a successful moment with a young poet named Oscar, whose heartfelt Mother's Day poem sets a positive tone for poetry sharing.
Exploring the Nature of Poetry
The conversation shifts to a discussion about what defines poetry, emphasizing its diverse forms and structures. An expert guest, Ted Shai, describes poetry as focused expressions of meaningful feelings or observations. He uses an analogy of making maple syrup, suggesting that poems distill complex thoughts into concise ideas. This flexibility in rules and forms allows for creativity, inspiring kids to experiment with their writing processes.
Encouraging Young Poets
The episode features various young poets who share their works, showcasing their creativity and unique perspectives. A collective poem written by a sixth-grade class highlights collaborative writing while Matisse’s nature-inspired piece resonates with the audience. Acclaimed poems about everyday experiences, such as bike riding and environmental themes, further illustrate kids' ability to express themselves through poetry. Each contribution reinforces the idea that poetry can be a personal yet shared experience.
Inspiration and Expression through Words
The podcast emphasizes that poetry can serve as a powerful tool for personal expression and communication. Young poet Rajni Eddins reflects on how his mother’s creativity sparked his interest in poetry, showcasing the importance of family influence. The dialogue suggests that writing poetry not only hones writing skills but also helps young people process their thoughts and emotions. This idea is reinforced by the variety of poems shared, each offering insights into the lives and feelings of young creators.
In this special live episode we learn about poetry and writing with Poetry Guy Ted Scheu, Rajnii Eddins, and we hear your poems! Get your pencils ready; we’ll be doing some fun writing exercises as well. You can listen to But Why live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 19, 2020. This program is part of a collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.