Found Poem 

A routine to engage learners to construct meaning together

Description: The purpose of the Found Poem routine is to engage learners to construct meaning together. This process can be accomplished while examining a text or artifact with the focus on capturing its essence.  

How to Use the Strategy:

1. Teacher will need to select a piece of text for students to examine. Each student will need a copy of the text to assist them in selecting key phrases. After students have read their assigned portion, students will need to select three phrases from the text that were meaningful and powerful to them. Each phrase needs to be written out on its own piece of paper. Three phrases are selected in the event that duplicate phrases are chosen from the text. 
2. All of the students need to go to a shared space where they will make meaning together as they create a group poem. This could be in the classroom, in the hall, or even outside.
3. Round 1-  Students can either add, rearrange, or take away a phrase. Students will take turns one at a time reading each phrase as they lay their particular one down. Phrases can be placed anywhere on the poem. They do not have to go in sequential order. After each student has had a turn, move on to round two. 
4. Round 2-  Students can either pass, rearrange, or take away a phrase. Students will take turns one at a time reading each phrase as they lay their particular one down.  Again, phrases can be placed anywhere on the poem. They do not have to go in sequential order.
5. Sharing the found poem.  Ask a student to read aloud the found poem students created together as a class. Find a place to visibly display your poem.
6. Notes: You can choose to read the entire poem aloud after round 1 before you move on to round 2. ​
   

Resources
Download these resources to use in your classroom. 

found_poem_routine_toolbox_card.docx
File Size:	18 kb
File Type:	docx

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