reading poertry

my son has to read a poem at school, its only short and humorous and was wondering if anyone has any tips on reading peotry. will try and post it on here if anyone wants to read it to see when to pause or whatever?!

Insomnia

by Kathy Kenney-Marshall


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I cannot get to sleep tonight.
I toss and turn and flop.
I try to count some fluffy sheep
while o'er a fence they hop.
I try to think of pleasant dreams
of places really cool.
I don't know why I cannot sleep -
I slept just fine at school.
Text © Kathy Kenney-Marshall, reprinted from Rolling in the Aisles published by Meadowbrook Press. Illustration © Stephen Carpenter. Any copying or use of this poem or illustration without consent is unlawful.

Click the cover for more information or to buy the book.



hey!!! managed to copy and paste it!! any hints!

What a lovely poem, it made me smile.

When I was at school we were told to read a poem like a song because it has a certain rhytm, but this might be old fashioned now. Although when you think of it this is exactly what rappers do.They take a poem and make musical thing out of it.

But this is not that kind of a poem, so I think the main thing is not to hurry the reading and to relax, just as if he was telling you about his own experince, in a slightly puzzled voice if he can manage it. But it is easy to imagine feeling like that.

He could do one thing to get more dramatic effect.
After he reads: "I slept just fine" make sure that he pauses for a few seconds before he continues with the ending "at school". Something like that:
I slept just fine.......at school.
I think this is what comedians call, timing - if you make them wait, the surprise makes it more funny.

Try to practice it with him at home to get the right "gap" before he reads it at school. I am sure he will do fine.
I am sure alsmost every child, can relate to that poem, I certainly could.

thanks for the help.

A.A. Milne has some really cute poems for kids! I had to recite a poem every year in school, and usually I chose something by him. Another author you might look up (although I think most of his poems are longer) is Dr. Seuss. I won a prize for best humorous poetry recitation in 8th grade for reciting "And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street." How old is your son? That would help give a better idea of poems.

A popular poem that you could do is Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore by W.B. Rands.

Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore —
No doubt you have heard the name before —
Was a boy who never would shut a door!

The wind might whistle, the wind might roar,
And teeth be aching and throats be sore,
But still he never would shut the door.

His father would beg, his mother implore,
"Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore,
We really do wish you would shut the door!"

Their hands they wrung, their hair they tore;
But Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore
Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore.

When he walked forth the folks would roar,
"Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore,
Why don't you think to shut the door?"

They rigged up a Shutter with sail and oar,
And threatened to pack off Gustavus Gore
On a voyage of penance to Singapore.

But he begged for mercy and said, "No more!
Pray do not send me to Singapore
On a Shutter, and then I will shut the door!"

"You will?" said his parents; "then keep on shore!
But mind you do! For the plague is sore
Of a fellow that never will shut the door,
Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore!"

You may also want to check out the works of Shel Silverstein. He has a lot of really cute children's poems. His books were ones that my mom would often read to her junior high students just to show them that poetry can be fun. The poems were geared towards much younger children, but her kids LOVED them!

thanks for the reply vicky! loved that poem, tom is only 7 so have opted for the shorter poem as he also has to do a 5 minute talk on his hobby and read an article for his public speaking exam so wanted the poem to be short but able to recite it well!!

This all sounds so interesting Dawn. His school must be doing a great job. Let us know how he got on, please.

thanks mini, i will certainly let you know!