The director and host of PBS’s Poetry in America, Elisa New, joined NCTE in honor of National Poetry Month. She shared the poetry of Phillis Wheatley and featured clips from the season four premiere episode of the program. The work of Poetry in America and the resources shared make great additions to classrooms not only during National Poetry Month, but year-round.
Two of Phillis Wheatley’s Poems, “On Being Brought from Africa to America” and “To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth,” are available in full for many types of learning opportunities, but close reading was demonstrated during the event. Poetry in America offers a Reading Framework guide that educators can use with students for these poems. It is also easily adaptable for other types of texts and circumstances.
We’d love to hear how you use these resources!
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