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

  • Playing with words sounds can help to build understanding of letter sound relationships and how letters build words.

  • Arabic Language - Playing with words sounds can help to build understanding of letter sound relationships and how letters build words. يمكن أن يساعد اللعب بأصوات الكلمات في بناء فهم للعلاقات الصوتية بين الحروف وكيفية بناء الكلمات للكلمات.

  • Jugar con los sonidos de las palabras puede ayudar a desarrollar la comprensión de las relaciones entre los sonidos de las letras y cómo las letras forman palabras. Playing with words sounds can help to build understanding of letter sound relationships and how letters build words.