How to Analyse and Teach Poetry

(‘How to enroll’ instructions are given below. Please scroll down.)

We are happy to announce Mindsprings Online Poetry Course “How to Analyse and Teach Poetry” by Usha Pandit. It is scheduled for 19th & 20th October, 2024 (Saturday & Sunday) from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. This is similar to a very successful, well attended course on Poetry conducted in 7th and 8th October, 2023 by Usha Pandit .

A unique course, which deals exhaustively with one of the most difficult parts of literature study. Most people, having learnt poetry throughout school, are unable to understand poetry adequately, much less appreciate it or be inspired by it. Most teachers find that Poetry is one of the most difficult parts of English to teach. This workshop will change that forever. It will create personal and professional advantage.

Who is it for?

The online course is for teachers interested in understanding, appreciating and teaching poetry for middle and high school students. Ideally suited for English teachers, but high school students can also attend as it would benefit them in their exams. Besides, anyone who has a passion for poetry will gain a lot from this course. This course is not for absolute beginners, or for teachers of Primary grades. Subject coordinators and Heads of Schools will be able to give better direction to teaching poetry in their Schools if they do this course.

Course Structure-

The online course will have 2 sessions. The practical parts of the programme include:

1. Pre viewing on YouTube and pre-reading of teaching blogs given in advance to learn asynchronously.
2. Online discussion session using a variety of poems.
3. Homework Assignment on poems, the solutions for which will be provided.

Course Content-

1. The Barebones of Poetry (Purpose of poetry. Links and impact on literature, art, history, philosophy and creative writing. Terminology used in Poetry. A template to use for deconstructing poetry. Practice session.)
2. Fundamentals of poetry. (Themes, symbols, senses, diction, mood, tone, imagery. All poetic devices. Practice session.)
3. Four types of readings to interpret poetry. The power of recitation. Structure, punctuation and writer’s craft. Practice session.
4. The language of critical appreciation. Analysis and practice with challenging poetry – a shared workshop. Evaluating poetry skills. Teaching using volume, frequency and context. Practice session.

Outcomes-

1. Gain superb clarity and deep understanding of all aspects of poetry
2. Learn to appreciate all kinds of poetry by using clear steps to deconstruct poetry
3. Understand terminology for interpretation and language of appreciation
4. Practice using fail safe templates and strategies to run poetry classrooms.
5. As a bonus, all contributing participants will get a ready collection of poems with relevant questions in a question bank.

Mentorship through WhatsApp-

You will be part of a WhatsApp group and be mentored for consultation, doubts, and continued direction and support. You will belong to a community of like-minded learners.

Participation Certificate-

You will receive a participation certificate on attending both the sessions of the workshop.

Course Fees-

The fees for the course of 2 sessions is Rs.2500 (including GST) Participants have the option of buying our popular book ‘Writing with Ease’ which has an excellent Poetry section. This is voluntary and optional.

About the Trainer-

Usha Pandit is an English language and literature expert. She infuses meaning and power in her work by using critical skills, enquiry and integration. She has taught K – 12 in 4 countries in the past 30 years using several advanced global ‘inquiry’ curricula, and particularly worked with a progressive gifted education programme in New Zealand.

She has authored 40 English textbooks which are currently used in the best schools pan India, she is a successful YouTuber with 91k subscribers and 6 million views. She has been an academic consultant for a variety of Boards to some of the best schools in the country. She is a much sought after teacher trainer and has run much acclaimed courses online in which value for money quotients, and attendance retention ratios are excellent.

Here are some of their glowing testimonials from our previous batches. Teachers continue to tell us how the strategies are working brilliantly and transforming their poetry classrooms into empowered, active and learning spaces.

Testimonials –

“The session on poetry was indeed beneficial. The amount of hard work and rigour put into it to formulate it, is commendable. The pre-readings/ pre-viewings, notes etc. are a good source of information for me. I feel armed to the teeth. There has been a personal growth in me as a teacher. I was always fond of literature more than grammar but you empowered me with the umpteen knowledge that you have to love poetry and understand its different dimension that it has to offer. I feel enlightened. I would definitely recommend this course to other teachers (of other states, as I am new to this place) I know. I specially enjoyed the poetic devices taught in one of the sessions. I felt like a child, curious, excited and at the same time overwhelmed. Ma’am, you are a vast sea of knowledge and like you always say practice is must to master such things. It will take time but slowly and gradually we (my students and I) will have that valuable experience under our belt.” – Christy Ashley Thompson, Lodha World School, Thane

“The expectations that I had carried with me in this course have not just got fulfilled but gone beyond what I imagined. The true expanse of mountainous knowledge put forth for us not only helped me in understanding poetry better but also improved my literary knowledge. I would definitely recommend this course to any middle, secondary and senior secondary English teacher. Why? Because my students have already started enjoying my lessons much more than what they did earlier. Reason- my increased confidence and knowledge through this course.” – Mariya Hozefa, AMSB Indian School, Kuwait

How to Enroll –

Step 1 – New users need to register first. To register click here. If you have already registered before, you can skip this step.

Users who have registered before, please login to your account -> https://courses.mindsprings.in/my-account/

Step 2 – After registering yourself/logging in, please click ‘All Courses’. 

Step 3 – Select the course you are interested and click the button ‘See more…’

Step 4 – Click ‘Take this Course’

Step 5 – Click ‘Add to Cart’

Step 6 – Click ‘View Cart’

Step 7 – After checking the price, please click ‘Proceed to checkout’

Step 8 – Enter the billing details and click ‘Place order’

Step 9 – Select your payment option and make the payment. After successful payment, you will be automatically enrolled in the selected course.

If you have any doubts or queries regarding the workshop, please email us at courses@mindsprings.in.

Helpline No. – 8104 783119