Poetry From the Plains Arrives in Lincoln

Poetry is one of the best ways we can explore and enjoy language. We as teachers can encourage the appreciation and creation of poetry, thus, helping our students towards better language skills, greater creativity and new ways of thinking. Having fun with poetry is a great way to help improve students' abilities in literacy, thinking, and exploring emotions. From this philosophy, Poetry From the Plains was conceived. Poetry From the Plains is an annual event with this year's display featuring more than 400 works of poetry written by students and their teachers, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Poetry From the Plains is a joint project of Nebraska's Department of Education (NDE) and the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center. The purpose of the project, according to NDE Reading & Writing Director Kim Larson, is to encourage the writing of poetry by providing students and teachers with recognition and an audience for their work beyond the classroom. The event is non-competitive and all Nebraska students and teachers are invited to contribute.

"Poetry encourages the development of literacy," says Dr. Guy Trainin, co-director of the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center, and one of the project's coordinators. "The emphasis on single words fosters development of vocabulary and word choice in writing. Reading poetry out loud helps the development of reading fluency. And finally, reading and writing enhances comprehension as we strive to understand others."

Now in its 8th year, Poetry From the Plains for 2008 also includes some poetry in Spanish. In cooperation with the Spanish Studies Institute in UNL's Department of Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education, poems written in Spanish were solicited from learners of Spanish and native speakers from schools in Nebraska. As a result of participating, native speakers of Spanish had the chance to express themselves in their first language, while language learners discovered that they can create something beautiful in a language that is new to them.

For more information about Poetry From the Plains, contact Dr. Guy Trainin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (402-472-3391).