Write It. Speak It. Teach It.: Spoken Word Poetry into the ELA Classroom

Join WPWP & WPCTE for an interactive evening of professional learning exploring spoken word and slam poetry as tools for voice, creativity. How can spoken word poetry create new possibilities for writing, voice, and community in the ELA classroom? Join the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project (WPWP) and the Western PA Council of Teachers of English (WPCTE) for Write It. Speak It. Teach It., an engaging, teacher-focused evening of professional learning centered on bringing spoken word and slam poetry into the classroom. Together, we’ll explore how teachers can use spoken word not simply as a performance genre, but as an invitation for students to experiment with language, develop their voices, write from experience, and share their work with authentic audiences. The evening will include: • Selected viewing from Louder Than a Bomb • Chalk talk and collaborative conversation • Hands-on poetry writing and teaching activities • Curriculum and classroom connections • Resources and strategies you can adapt for your own students • Guidance for educators interested in helping students prepare for the WPCTE Poetry Slam Whether you already teach poetry or are looking for new ways to invite students into writing, this session will offer practical approaches you can take back to your classroom.