Poetry Explorers: Words, Pictures, & Writing Part I | Fall

Poetry Explorers: Words, Pictures & Writing Part I

This course can be taken in two unrepeatable semesters, Part I in the Fall and Part II in the Spring. Students have the option of taking unrepeated material for the whole year or can only take one semester of the course. It is intended to be the starting point for young learning to poetry. Students should be able to read and write independently and have an attention span for a one-hour class of discussion and sharing.

This course is intended to be a starting point for young poetry learners. Using the text The Random House Book of Poetry for Children and Orthodox Hymnography students will grow in their love for literature through the study of poetry. The Fall semester course will explore Nature and the World Around Me through study of the following:
• Sound, rhythm, cadence, and rhyme
• “Nature”, “The Four Seasons”, and “The Ways of Living Things” in our text
• The Akathist Hymn “Glory to God for All Things”

In this course we will enjoy the ways we use words to describe and mimic the natural world, and experiment with ways of combining sounds, rhythm, and rhyme. We will read and write poetry every week and share with each other the joy of using words well!

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

Composition book or notebook for daily written exercises at the start of class.
Random House Book of Poetry Hardcover selected by Jack Prelutsky
Hymns, Prayers, and Other Supplementals will be given by the instructor.

Mrs. Kelley Kohout

[email protected]

Kelley Kohout brings more than 26 years of diverse teaching experience to her work as an educator and mentor. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Cameron University in Oklahoma, with certifications in both elementary education and science. Her career has spanned public and private school classrooms, homeschool co‑ops, adult art instruction, and online education, giving her a rich and adaptable teaching skill set.

For the past 12 years, Kelley has homeschooled her own children, graduating her daughter in 2022. This firsthand experience has deepened her understanding of individualized learning, family‑centered education, and the unique needs of students in a home environment.

Kelley also serves as the Sunday School Director at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, where she joyfully teaches catechism to upper‑elementary and middle‑school students. Her work in parish education reflects her love for Christ and commitment to nurturing both the minds and the hearts of young learners.

In addition to her academic and ministry roles, teaches creative classes and contributes to product development. Her artistic background enriches her teaching with creativity, hands‑on learning, and an eye for beauty.

Kelley’s husband, Chad, is recently retired from the United States Air Force, and their family currently resides in South Carolina.

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.

Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:

Visit zoom.us/download.
Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
Open and run the installer on your computer.
In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.

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