All posts in Mayda del Valle

Letters To Self

As we come to the end of our workshop, I like to share more informal writing exercises with students that they can use on their own if they wish. A basic building block of […]

Tools of the Trade

This week was a departure from our usual read a poem, discuss a poem, write a poem format. When I’m able to, like to share some of the resources I use as a writer […]

Dreams

This week we read “Eating Dinner Alone at the 163rd Street Mall” by Ariel Francisco for both our English class and after school poetry club. Sometimes students shift around from different classes at LYHS, […]

That’s what makes me human…

Mario Benedetti’s poem, No Te Rindas has been a great addition to the curriculum arsenal. It’s always great when a poem can work across age groups because the message is so strong. For English […]

Like you I want the world to be a better place…

Today we introduced the concept of the list poem. Which is exactly what it sounds like! We read Pat Mora’s “To Do List” a silly poem about a student who imagines their perfect weekend, […]

I Will Never Forget

This week we got to read of my favorite poems to use with students. The Quiet Machine by Ada Limon works so well with students of all ages, and it gives them a really […]

In process alike

For class today we read “Versions of Me” by Aline Melo, a really wonderful piece that asks the reader to consider how all the different versions of us can be at peace with […]

Choose Your Own Adventure…with a Golden Shovel

This week Ms Caplan’s class continued working on their golden shovels. In Ms. Murray’s class we tried something a little different. Students did a quick free write exercise and then picked a line they […]

The Golden Shovel 

This week we explored the Golden Shovel form created by Terrance Hayes. We discussed how even now, there are forms of poetry still being created and invented. Hayes was inspired by one of our […]

The Hands

This week, we read an incredible poem by Gina Valdes, called The Hands. We talked about the concept of symbolism in poetry and what hands symbolize in Valdes’s poem. Our discussion about this poem […]

Donate

Support our student poets today!

CONNECT WITH US!

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram

STUDENT POETRY

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from current school partners.

POETRY ARCHIVE

Click on a school name below to browse student poems from our archive.

RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS

TESTIMONIALS

“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.

Search

CONTACT US

General Inquiries
info@poetrycenter.org

Programs (School & Organizational)
programs@poetrycenter.org

Reading Series and Events:
curator@poetrycenter.org

The Chicago Poetry Center is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
FEIN: 23-7400515

SEND US A POSTCARD

Chicago Poetry Center
1448 E. 52nd St, #256
Chicago, IL 60615

I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET