The annual Park Ave Poetry Slam was slammin'!

This week, Park Avenue Elementary students in Diane Kilbride, Carolyn Weller, Ashley McPherson,  Krystie Gilmore and Isabella Zayas' classrooms held their annual Park Avenue Poetry Slams. The five separate readings were held in the outdoor classroom, and each was well attended by family, fellow faculty and students.

The poetry slams featured many different poetic forms and techniques that the students have been studying this year, and showcased the sense of both playfulness and power that students have come to realize that poetry and other types of writing can carry. The slams included haiku, limericks, acrostics, free verse poems, and even songs.

"You're also going to hear a lot of figurative language, alliterations, similes, metaphors," said Ms. Gilmore during her session.

She also shared with the audience some of the specific benefits that an event like a poetry slam provides students beyond foundational reading and writing skills. Specifically, she spoke about confidence.

"This is a big moment. It takes a lot of courage to get up and talk in front of a whole crowd. We've worked really hard at this, and we really appreciate everyone being here."

Each class had poets perform individual works as well as group pieces, and Ms. Gilmore's class even wrapped their slam up with an original novelty song about not wanting to do homework, set to the tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

The students' work was collected into a printed poetry zine, which was handed out at the event. 

"Afterwards, you can definitely get your poetry book signed by one of the poets," offered Ms. Gilmore with a smile. 

Enjoy this gallery from the Poetry Slam by Ms. Gilmore's class! And watch a video of their performance on our WVCSD Facebook Page.