Poetry can serve as a form of therapy, self-expression, and a means to explore personal and cultural identity. In this episode of Extra Credit, Brooke and Ari visit the Poetry Out Loud state competition in Lansing, Michigan; Lansing Poet Laureate Masaki Takahashi shares how his non-profit, The Poetry Room, aims to create space for writers of color; Flint Public Art Project and Flint Mural Poems combine visual art and poetry to spark important conversations and inspire positive change; Brooke shares her experience meeting Nandi Comer, Michigan’s history-making Poet Laureate; Leah checks in from Chassell, MI with a poem inspired by nature; and Brooke and Paige learn about Ypsilanti’s Youth Poet Laureate program with award-winning poet, Ciatta Tucker.

Learn more about the people and organizations featured in this episode:

Related Lessons

  • Identifying letters and their sounds helps to build the understanding the letters make up words and words make up sentences.

  • Arabic Language - Identifying letters and their sounds helps to build the understanding the letters make up words and words make up sentences. يساعد التعرف على الحروف وأصواتها في بناء فهم الحروف تشكل الكلمات والكلمات تشكل الجمل.

  • Identificar letras y sus sonidos ayuda a desarrollar la comprensión de que las letras forman palabras y las palabras forman oraciones. Identifying letters and their sounds helps to build the understanding the letters make up words and words make up sentences.