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How would you describe poetry? Robert Frost once said, “A poem begins in delight and ends in wonder.” Isn’t this the beautiful truth? Poems may be the perfect way to read about and express what is true, good, and beautiful in the world our gracious God has created. After all, poetry is the art of naming our inner and outer experiences by using figurative language in a way that hopefully connects with and often uplifts others. Poetry is truly an art, igniting the senses and thereby our minds. In Sarah Mackenzie’s book Teaching from Rest, she quotes the Greek historian Plutarch, who said, “The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.” One might even say that poetry, as it draws upon the senses, ignites the greatest spark and flame within us. With that flame comes understanding, inspiration, and creation, the reflection of which praises God and His creations—the truth, beauty, and goodness surrounding us.
In this yearlong course, students will read, interpret, enjoy, and interact with beautiful poems from Christine Perrin’s The Art of Poetry textbook. This course is the equivalent of one high-school elective credit and is designed for students who want to delve deeper into poetry by learning to read closely, interpreting poems in a group setting, writing, looking at historical perspectives and poet case studies, and doing hands-on activities that will help students capture the beauty of this art form and hopefully draw from its well throughout their whole lives. Perrin’s textbook shares inspiring explications of thoughtfully chosen chapter poems, laying a strong foundation that will guide classes and promote understanding while fostering students’ own creativity. The class will complete two chapters per month, supplemented by poet biographies, a glossary, and a detailed timeline in the back of the book. Students will grow in their consideration of imaginative comparisons while studying the poetic elements; focusing on how a piece of writing achieves its meaning, rather than simply looking at what it means. This curriculum dovetails nicely with writing and rhetoric units as well as literature classes as students learn how to interpret language and write both analytically and figuratively.
This class will offer a comforting, fun, and collaborative space for students to experience the expansive reach of poetry together. These rich, thoughtful, and faithful in-class discussions, along with a Canvas "Poem Cares & Shares" board, fun collaborations, inspiring read-alouds, "open mic" shares, and other special projects, will give students a beautiful, holistic approach to studying poetry and the beauty of God’s world. Just as Frost described, I hope that we begin each class in delight and end it together in wonder.
Required Materials: Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course. These resources are listed to help inform your decision-making as you make course selections and build your course schedule. Please reach out to the instructor if you have any questions about materials.
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Alison Grace Johansen serves as a Scholé Academy instructor, tutor, and host of the Poetry Club. While tutoring in grammar and writing, she teaches Upper-School American Literature, Art of Poetry, and Introduction to Law & Justice, along with Middle-School Creative Writing and Classic Literature VII. Alison earned her Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in French, from the University of Richmond. She worked as a legal journalist in Washington, D.C., for over 13 years, while also freelancing in writing, editing, and marketing for over two decades. She hopes to inspire her students to find joy in discovering the many ways they can use their own words to express themselves with truth, goodness, and beauty. Alison lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. Her faith and family influence every part of her life, from teaching Sunday school and writing a children’s picture book about food allergies to exploring the beauty of God’s world together. If they aren’t walking (or running) with their sweet Goldendoodle, Nugget, you might find them doing art projects, reading together, or delighting in music on the piano, flute, guitar, ukulele, and drums!
First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student’s previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
Make sure they don’t conflict with other activities in your schedule or other courses you are purchasing. Our system will not catch double-bookings!
Our Assistant to the Principal will be in touch with you after your enrollment to help you with next steps, including any placement evaluations that may be required for your course selections.
This registration will be finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
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