Teaching “Level of Difficulty” through Close Reading, Reflection, and Performance

What makes a poem difficult? Explore that topic and more with your class as you work through the instructional activity detailed here. Using materials from Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest, individuals or small groups examine poems and determine what makes them difficult. A graphic organizer is included for this portion and several options are included for other activities. Close the instructional activity by brainstorming strategies for interpreting complex poems.