Woodland Forrest Brings Poetry To Life With Rhythm Night

Woodland Forrest Elementary recently turned poetry into an experience students could see, hear, and feel.

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The school hosted Rhythm and Rhyme Night, an event designed to help students connect poetry and music in a creative and engaging way. The night served as a culminating event for second through fifth grade students who have been studying poetry in class, but families and students from all grade levels were invited to take part.

Assistant Principal Brancie Dawson said the goal was to show students that poetry exists in places they already enjoy, especially music.

“Songs are nothing but poetry put to music.” Dawson said.

To bring that idea to life, the school partnered with members of the community and local artists representing different genres. Students heard and interacted with performers covering country music, Disney songs, 90s and present day R&B, and even a visit from Tuscaloosa radio and media personality and Big Dawg DreDay.

Each guest helped students break down lyrics and explore the poetic elements hidden within songs.

Walter Hinton Jr., band director at Eastwood Middle School, used the Disney classic “A Whole New World” from Aladdin as part of the lesson. Students examined words and phrases in the song like “fantastic,” “dazzling,” and “crystal clear” before creating poems of their own inspired by the lyrics.

“We broke down the lyrics and talked about the phrases,” Hinton said. “Then the students were able to create their own poems based off the lyrics of ‘A Whole New World.’”

Beyond the fun, the event also addressed an academic need. Dawson said poetry is now included on the ACAP test, and recent data showed only about 7 percent of Alabama students were proficient in poetry.

“So we thought it was important that our students get the opportunity to experience poetry and really dive into it,” Dawson said.

With ACAP testing approaching, Woodland Forrest hopes events like Rhythm and Rhyme Night help students feel more confident when poetry appears on the test.