Approaching Poetry: Circles of Discussion

Circle Poetry is a tool that you can use to teach the skills of approaching any type of poem rather than teaching or learning individual poems.

Using the resources and teacher notes provided, students gather in three layers of a circle, with the inner circle starting the analysis.
Those on the second circle are in charge of keeping the inner circle accountable, challenging them with questions and ‘red carding’ them when ideas aren’t fully formulated.
The third circle is in charge of note-taking, recording the concepts and ideas discovered along the way.

This lively activity stretches the skills and provides opportunities for all students to work in groups, pairs and individually to extend their skills in approaching poetry.