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Introduction to Poetry #4: Poetry Circle - Make Friends, Laugh, Write & Share

Hang out with creative friends and write a poem in a new style/form each week, like haiku, tricubes, acrostic, lyric, sonnet, and bop in our relaxed sessions that go beyond syllables and rhyming to celebrate international poetic forms.
Alaina Bell Gao
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(425)
Star Educator
Class
Play

What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per week
Assessment
I check comprehension orally and the learners also apply their understanding of the form as they write a poem in class.

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
⭐New learners are welcome to join at any time!
⭐Subscriptions renew every Sunday (like all ongoing classes.)
⭐Ask about sibling, friend, and loyalty discounts!
⭐Coupon codes below!
⭐Continue for as long as you want (and drop out when you need to.)
⭐Each week is independent!
⭐No prior knowledge is needed!

Each class begins with an introduction to the poetic form of the week, culminating with my example poem written specifically for this class. From there, I will help the learners brainstorm topics that make them excited since the rest of the class time will be spent writing poems in the style of the week. Each learner will be encouraged to embrace making their own choices as a poet, including whether they bend the rules of the form. I will provide guidance and support as needed. Finally, we will share our creations or works in progress at the end of each class and/or in the classroom. 

My classes are relaxed and creative. While learners must already be able to write independently for this class, I am a very encouraging teacher and I will applaud any attempt at creating these different poetic forms as I celebrate each learner's achievements! I will also guide learners if or when needed.

SCHEDULE:
The Week of September 22 - Rictameter
The Week of September 29 - Tilus
The Week of October 6 - Compound Word Verse
The Week of October 13 - Hir a Thoddaid
The Week of October 20 - Vispo
The Week of October 27 - Lannet
The Week of November 3 - Advertising
The Week of November 10 - Asemic writing
The Week of November 17 - Synchronicity
The Week of November 24 - Moving
The Week of December 1 - Paradelle 
The Week of December 8 - Octain Refrain
The Week of December 15 - Constanza
The Week of December 29 - The Pictorial
The Week of January 5 - Loop Poetry
The Week of January 12 - The Brevette
The Week of January 19 - Swap Quatrain
The Week of January 26 - Twin Cinema
The Week of February 2 - Inverted Refrain
The Week of February 9 - Florette
The Week of February 16 - Vers Beaucoup
The Week of February 23 - Song Lyrics
The Week of March 2 - Mirror Sestet
The Week of March 9 - Line Messaging
The Week of March 16 - Burning Haibun
The Week of March 23 - Sestina

▶️Free trial class code! BELLGPOETICFORM25
▶️$10 class in September 2024 - BELLGSEPTFORMS15
▶️$10 class in October 2024 - BELLGOCTFORMS15
▶️$10 class in November 2024 - BELLGNOVFORMS15
▶️$10 class in December 2024 - BELLGDECFORMS15

▶️Due to rising costs and lower enrollment, I have had to increase my prices. This is consistent with Outschool's current recommendations. However, I am dedicated to finding a solution for all families! Do contact me if your learner would like to take my class and you need a discount. I can set up pay-what-you-can plans.

▶️If you are able to pay the current fee, I thank you for your support since I work hard to provide creative, inspiring content while balancing the challenges of living with disability and chronic illness. Thank you!

PAST (Tuesday):
The Week of September 24th - Haiku
The Week of October 1st - List
The Week of October 8th - Alphabet
The Week of October 15th - Tricubes
The Week of October 22nd - Acrostic
The Week of October 29th - Found
The Week of November 5th - Bop
The Week of November 12th - Nonet
The Week of November 19th - Concrete
The Week of November 26th - Tanka
The Week of December 3rd - Narrative
The Week of December 10th - Cinquain
The Week of December 17th - Kwansaba
The Week of December 31st - Senryu
The Week of January 7th - Two-Voice/Multi-Voice
The Week of January 14th - Clerihew
The Week of January 21st - Triolet
The Week of January 28th - Bio
The Week of February 4th - Ekphrasis
The Week of February 11th - Ode
The Week of February 18th - Than-bauk
The Week of February 25th - Sound/Abstract
The Week of March 3rd - Echo Verse
The Week of March 10th - Sijo
The Week of March 17th - Golden Shovel
The Week of March 24th - Tautogram
The Week of March 31st - Duplex
The Week of April 7th - Pastoral/Bucolic
The Week of April 14th - Didactic
The Week of April 21st - Anagrammatic
The Week of April 28th - Elfchen
The Week of May 5th - Lyric
The Week of May 12th - Stornello
The Week of May 19th - Interlocking Rubaiyat/Rubai
The Week of May 26th - Zejel
The Week of June 2nd - Gnomic
The Week of June 9th - Flamenca
The Week of June 16th - Villanelle
The Week of June 23rd - Limerick
The Week of June 30th - Eintou
The Week of July 7th - Alphabet Haiku
The Week of July 14th - Alliterisen
The Week of July 21st - Brazilian Haiku
The Week of July 28th - Rimas Dissolutas
The Week of August 4th - Ballad
The Week of August 11th - Cyclone
The Week of August 18th - Behrquain
The Week of August 25th - Daisy Chain
Sonnet

PAST (Sunday):
The Week of November 26 - Magic 9
The Week of December 3 - Waltmarie
The Week of June 11 - Ch’i Yen Shih
The Week of June 18 - Tanaga
The Week of June 25 - Teacup Dictionary
The Week of July 2 - Caccia
The Week of July 9 - Blues
The Week of August 13 - Diamante
The Week of August 20 - Dinggedicht
The Week of August 27 - Dribble
The Week of September 3 - Emmett
The Week of September 10 - Epulaeryu
The Week of September 17 - Fable
The Week of September 24 - Forward/Backward
The Week of October 1 - Haibun
The Week of October 8 - Haikuette
The Week of October 15 - Lanturne
The Week of October 22 - Blitz
The Week of October 29 - Octelle
The Week of November 5 - Sedoka
The Week of November 12 - Mondo
The Week of November 19 - Reverse Word
The Week of December 10 - Minute
The Week of December 17 - Kwansaba
The Week of January 7 - Minuette
The Week of January 14 - Nashers
The Week of January 21 - Monotetra
The Week of January 28 - Cro Cumaisc Etir Casbairdni Lethrannaigecht
The Week of February 4 - Waka
The Week of February 11 - Luc Bat
The Week of February 18 - Fibonacci
The Week of February 25 - Gu Ti
The Week of March 3 - Diminishing Verse
The Week of March 10 - Shadorma
The Week of March 17 - Triversen
The Week of April 7 - Pantoum
The Week of April 14 - Rhupunt
The Week of April 21 - Quintilla
The Week of April 28 - Contrapuntal Poem
The Week of May 12 - Masnavi
The Week of May 19 - Viator
The Week of May 26 - Somonka
The Week of June 2 - Node
The Week of June 9 - Photo poetry
The Week of June 16 - Boketto
The Week of June 23 - The Skinny
The Week of June 30 - Exquisite Corpse
The Week of July 7 - Antonymic Translation
The Week of July 14 - Trinet
The Week of July 21 - Essence
The Week of July 28 - Mini-Monoverse
The Week of August 4 - Memento
The Week of August 11 - Experimental
The Week of August 18 - Oddquain
The Week of August 25 - Trolaan
The Week of September 1 - Tawddgyrch Cadwynog
The Week of September 8 - Conversation
The Week of September 15 - Chueh-chu
Learning Goals
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.5
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.5
Refer to parts of . . . poems when writing or speaking about a text, using terms such as . . . stanza; describe how each successive part builds on earlier sections. Explain how a series of . . . stanzas fit together to provide the overall structure of a particular . . . poem. Analyze how a particular . . . stanza . . . contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot. Explain major differences between poems . . . and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) 

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.5
Analyze how a drama's or poem's form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning

WRITING

2.2 establish a distinctive voice in their writing appropriate to the subject and audience (e.g., use punctuation, dialogue, and vivid language to create a particular mood or tone) 

2.3 use some vivid and/or figurative language and innovative expressions to enhance interest (e.g., strong verbs; concrete, specific nouns; unusual adjectives; unexpected word order) 

3.7 use a range of appropriate elements of effective presentation in the finished product, including print, script, different fonts, graphics, and layout
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
The topics in the class will vary depending on the learners in the class and what they bring up, and sensitive subjects may arise.
Supply List
Learners should have paper, pencils/pens, etc. on hand for each class or be able to open a word processor, etc. on their computer/device during the class to work on their composition.

Each week, I will write a unique poem in the style of the week to guide our discussions.
Language of Instruction
English (Level: B1)
Joined January, 2020
4.9
425reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Windsor
Associate's Degree in English from Canadian College of Educators
Hi! My name is Alaina Bell Gao, and I am an experienced Canadian English teacher with 15+ years of professional teaching experience. As a dedicated, creative, gentle, and patient neurodivergent teacher, many neurodiverse learners thrive in my classes, including those with ADHD, OCD, Autism, anxiety, and dyslexia. Additionally, I have experience working with gifted and 2E learners, many of whom have thrived in my classes. Finally, I am trained and experienced in teaching English as a second and foreign language and welcome international learners!

Teaching Style:
● Share the joy of learning
● Learn with my learners
● Welcoming class culture
● Patient and cheerful nurturer/encourager
● Passionate, fun, creative, and imaginative
● Interactive and engaging (with flexible requirements and accommodations)
● Inquiry and experiential teaching
● Creative projects and enrichment activities
● Academic deep dives with critical thinking
● Multidisciplinary real-world and culture-centred lessons
● Social-emotional connections
● Literature and writing specialty
● Unique content (self-designed)
● Passionate discussion, storytelling, games, projects, and activities

In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, I teach students “to long for the endless immensity of the sea" to stimulate a desire for learning in an encouraging and fun environment. To this end, I consciously model a lifestyle of endless learning.

Professional Highlights:
● Teaching English literature and history at a top-ranking national exemplary Sino-American high school in China 
● Tutoring gifted students in critical thinking, close reading, literary analysis, and essay writing
● Teaching college English and launching their social and cultural anthropology course
● Teaching English language learners (English as a second/foreign language; TESL/TEFL certified)
● Guiding AP English Language and Literature, IELTS, and TOEFL learners to success
● Teaching Chinese history and culture for a Chinese cultural association and in schools
● Developing specialized programs for student needs so struggling learners could thrive
● Developing curriculum for private use and for organizations
● Writing children's historical and cultural books
● Authoring a textbook on project-based learning (Teacher's Discovery)
● Authoring a high school English textbook (Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press)
● Performing as a Department of Tourism Management voice actor and for the exam board
● Teaching beginner readers with games and activities
● Transforming reluctant readers and writers into confident ones
● Leading book clubs and literature circles
● Transforming learner perceptions of poetry and close reading
● Facilitating the yearbook and drama clubs
● Connecting with learners from around the world

As you can see, I work with learners of all ages and abilities. I have much experience supporting learners in achieving academic and personal success, whether that is entering an Ivy League university, a gifted education program, passing an IB or AP English course/exam, reading branches and early chapter books with excitement, reading a novel with comprehension, learning to love reading for the first time, gaining the confidence to express themselves, overcoming personal barriers to success, picking up a pencil to write and to write with passion, voicing their emotions and experiences powerfully, or completing a large project for the first time. I celebrate every success! 

My classes are very creative and interactive, with an encouraging, caring, stimulating, and inspiring environment, which is full of thought-provoking questions, deep discussions, meaningful connections, social-emotional reflections, interdisciplinary learning, and an international worldview. For most of my classes, we take time to savour the literature and I host plenty of engaging literature circles and book clubs, with an increasing range of multicultural novel options, in addition to the classics and Newberry award winners.

My classes are an enthusiastic deep dive into literary appreciation, close reading, and literary analysis without overwhelming the learners with heavy terminology. (I still incorporate references to figurative language, as well as the reader's response, formalist, historical, socio-cultural, and archetypal lens into my lessons, but this is done in a way that the learners can grasp, even without prior training.) Annotation and research skills are a focus in many classes, too. Additionally, I often talk about the power of a learner's choices and the impact those choices will have on their audience. This is to encourage an awareness of the creative process and of themselves as writers, poets, artists, and creators.

As for social studies, I am fascinated by people and cultures, as I am by stories and histories. Although I am Canadian, I lived in China for ten years, integrated into the culture, studied the history extensively, learned Mandarin, and started an educational not-for-profit organization with my Chinese husband. I am an experienced educator and am trusted by Chinese parents, the Chinese Association of Mississauga, and local teachers to teach Chinese history and culture. I also have friends and connections within many other cultures, so building up global awareness, cultural competence, and empathy is important to me!

Additionally, I care about each learner's well-being, so learners are welcome to bring a snack, drink, or fidget spinner to class if that will help and won't be a distraction to others. Learners are also welcome to take stretching breaks. Please reach out to me for any concerns or accommodations. Also, I have recently raised my prices at Outschool's recommendation (smaller class sizes and inflation), but I want to make this work for you! Do reach out to me if you are interested in one of my classes and are in need of a coupon.

Finally, I am an experienced and passionate educator, but I also live with chronic illness and a disability, which means that I greatly appreciate your support. This is my main job and I can only do it thanks to fabulous parents like you! Thank you! So, what are you looking for? Let me know! I would be happy to accommodate you, if possible! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$25

weekly
1x per week
50 min

Completed by 31 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-14
1-6 learners per class

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