Finding poetry in music

[Drew Lipski]

Finding poetry in music
Educator teaches students to identify literary devices in the lyrics of music

By TAJUANA CHESHIER
tcheshier@jacksonsun.com

In the last weeks before school is out for the summer, Northeast Middle School eighth grade English teacher Margo Martindale covers poetry with her students.

But students aren't clinging to the works of Emily Dickenson, Shel Silverstein or Langston Hughes.

Instead Martindale gives them the lyrics to Ludacris, John Mayer and Kellie Pickler and tells them to identify literary devices in the lyrics.

Martindale asked her students to point out the setting, hook, plot, repetition, rhyme and climax in the songs.

"Most of us can relate to music," Martindale said.

Martindale came up with the lesson to use music lyrics to teach poetry two years ago.

"I've got to draw their interest," Martindale said. "I try to keep them physically involved, I don't like to sit and lecture."

Last week in class while the song "Runaway Love" by Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige played on a small compact disc player at the front of the room, several of Martindale's students stood in front of the class to sing and dance to the lyrics.

"Her class is a lot of fun," said Joshua Smith, 14. "She lets us do a lot of different things."

Smith said it wasn't until Martindale began teaching them literary devices that he noticed the hook in some of his favorite songs.

Bryanterica Chapman, 14, said the unit has helped her relate to music more. Martindale told her students to tap into the writers inside of themselves.

"If you can rap, you can write," Martindale said. "If you can talk, you can write. There's a writer inside of everyone of you."

Martindale is on a mission with her students to encourage them in any way she can.

"There are lessons to be learned from bad to good in life," she said. "Do not let anything keep you from obtaining your dream."

Martindale's weekend assignment for her students was to write down three things they want to achieve in life.

"My greatest hope is to inspire them to think positively about life,'' Martindale said. ''Having a plan. Everyone has a special gift, but so many kids get beaten down.''

Finding poetry in music | jacksonsun.com |

[kelliedawnpicklerfan]

Cool Kellie mention!!!!

[lucassmith]

Thats really cool... where did you find this article at? That teacher has good taste in music lol.

[werss]

That's great that a teacher is using Kellie's lyrics to teach literary devices

[fanofkellie]

This is very cool and complimentary to Kellie that this teacher is using Kellie's lyrics to teach examples of poetry in music.

[Countrygal919]

That's an eclectic group of artists there. I wonder which Kellie song was used and what she taught.

[KellieShellieGirl]

This is quite true,as most poetry are written in song lyrics.It's what got me into writing lyrics,I found a love for poetry during my senior year of high school. You get really tapped into your emotions spiritually.It's very much an escape for me when i'm writing.
It's amazing to hear educators teaching their students the fundamentals of poetry.

[Kelliefanatic26]

Originally Posted by lucassmith

Thats really cool... where did you find this article at? That teacher has good taste in music lol.

I totally agree. I am assuming she used 'I wonder' and most likely 'Things that never cross a man's mind'.