Rationale for poetry Essays -- Economics

Rationale for poetryThe areas of English taught at Key Stage 1KS1 and Key Stage 2 KS2are set out in the National Curriculum NC document. Poetry is one ofthese areas. At KS1 children should read and listen to nursery rhymesand poetry, learning some by heart, and read aloud. At KS2 childrenshould read aloud, sexual intercourse and enacting stories and poems. TheNational Literacy Strategy NLS guides teachers on which poems andpoetic forms to teach in the classroom. There are two recent viewsthat the NC and the NLS are failing in their approach to poetry. accord to Carter, the NC for English is very limited in its approach to poetry Carter, 1998. He argues that the NC fails to take on board the potential poetry has to offer in some(prenominal) areas of a childs development such as language, sensibility and dream power. Bielby 1999, as cited by Lambirth, argues that children come to school already enjoying rhyme and poetry yet this cheer is being corrupted by the analytical and t echnical approach of the NLS. Poetry should be about exposing children to poetry and allowing them to respond as children.Lambirth, 2001These are both reasonable points, but is it the fault of the NC and the NLSthat poetry is seen as a challenge and daunting area both to teach andlearn. I briefly intend to illustrate why it is important to teachpoetry as part of the NC.Promotes awareness of languageChildrens ability to respond to words and sounds is almost innate.According to the Oral Language nurture Continuum 1997 babiesunder one year old, when they babble, include all sounds andselectively drop those that do not occurring their own language. Thisplaying continues with the development... ...ed the importance of poetry or donot have the confidence to teach poetry. Therefore poetry does notachieve it full potential for the children.Bibliography- Bentley et al, 2001- The Really Practical Guide To Primary English, Nelson Thornes, UK Carter, D 1998- commandment Poetry In The Primary School, David Fulton Publishers, London Ed. Fisher, R and Williams, M 2000- Unlocking Literacy- A Guide For Teachers, David Fulton Publishers, London Lambirth , A Feb 2001- Gaining confidence and conviction, The Primary English cartridge p30- 32, 1997- Oral Language Developmental Continuum, Rigby Heinemann, Perth, W.A Whitehead, M 1990- Language And Literacy In The Early Years, Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd, London Background reading Marsh , G 1988- Teaching through poetry, Hodder and Stroughton, London Tann, S 1992