Master Poetry with Taylor Swift: Learn Through Lyrics

Does your learner love Taylor Swift? Do they want to write poems and songs like the global superstar? In this ongoing course, students will learn how to write poetry by reading and analyzing Taylor Swift songs. We will examine songs from every era, genre, and soundtrack. 

Students will also write their own poetry, receiving detailed feedback from the teacher. Learners will take what we’ve learned about poetry, and they will craft a variety of different poems. Students will also have the opportunity to share their poetry with their classmates. 

Through Taylor Swift lyrics, students will learn about rhyme, metaphor, simile, rhyme scheme, syllables, meter, rhythm, satire, allusion, alliteration, simile, metaphor, imagery, and much more. The goal is to use their love of Taylor Swift to learn how to write their very own poems and songs. 

Students will also develop their reading comprehension and critical analysis skills. They will work hard to develop their own opinions and interpretations of songs. In addition, they will collaborate with classmates to find the deeper meaning of songs. We will also discuss what Taylor Swift has said about songwriting, composing, and writing in general.

My goal is to ensure learners develop skills that go above and beyond their current grade level. I ensure this by taking a personal approach, building lessons week-by-week so they are tailored to the unique needs of the class. The aim of the class

The structure of the class will be similar each week. We will start each lesson with an inspirational quote from Taylor to get us in the mood to write. Then, we will learn about a new concept in poetry by studying relevant Taylor Swift songs. After, we will practice what we learned by completing writing activities in class together. 

Each class will end with a writing task. The writing task is designed to give learners consistent practice and get them familiar with writing standards. There will be time to write during class, but learners may have to finish their assignments outside of class. Learners can share their completed work with me for detailed feedback and advice on next steps. 

We will look at lyrics, interviews, and live performances. Everything will be carefully vetted beforehand to ensure it is appropriate for class. Classes will also include quizzes, games, worksheets, discussion, peer review and feedback from the teacher on their work. There will also be opportunities to read out loud. Each class will use a variety of teaching methods to engage every type of learner. 


💕 What is taught in this course? 💕

Week beginning 24/3/25: What is poetry? 
Week beginning 31/3/25: Rhyme and rhyme scheme
Week beginning 7/4/25: Metaphor vs. simile
Week beginning 14/4/25: How to tell a story in a poem
Week beginning 21/4/25: All about imagery 
Week beginning 28/4/25: Syllables and meter
Week beginning 5/5/25: Irony and humor in poetry
Week beginning 12/5/25: Write with the five senses
Week beginning 19/5/25: What is form poetry?
Week beginning 26/5/25: Allusion and self-reference
Week beginning 2/6/25: Who is the speaker of a poem?
Week beginning 9/6/25: Alliteration and anaphora 
Week beginning 16/6/25: Mood vs. tone
Week beginning 23/6/25: How to publish a poem
Week beginning 30/6/25: Songwriting according to Taylor
Week beginning 7/7/25: Taylor’s allusion to other literary works
Week beginning 14/7/25: What is spoken word poetry?
Week beginning 21/7/25: True rhymes vs. slant rhymes
Week beginning 28/7/25: How to structure a poem + stanzas
Week beginning 4/8/25: Villains…and villanelles 
Week beginning 11/8/25: To capitalize or not to capitalize 

Further topics to be added.


🎓 About my Qualifications 🎓

✏️ I have been an English teacher and tutor for more than 7 years. I have two degrees in English and writing, and I have spent 3 years as a children's librarian where I developed literacy programs for young learners. If you'd like to learn more about me and my qualifications, please feel free to visit my profile. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have!

📝 I have worked as a professional spoken word poet for four years. My poetry has also been published in several literary magazines. I have hosted poetry workshops for middle-grade students at various libraries. 

💖 I have been a Swiftie for most of my life. I discovered Taylor Swift when I was 11 years old, and she was in her “debut” era. I have followed her career ever since. I’m excited to share my knowledge and love for Taylor Swift with a new generation of Swifties!