English Language Arts Grades 7-9

In this 12 minute video, learn about what makes a sonnet, the history of sonnets, and how reading poetry helps us understand how to be human beings.

The Dead Poets Reading Series is a program by the Vancouver Public Library where each presenter gets 15 minutes each to introduce one of their favourite dead poets and read a selection of that poet's work.

Listen to Shakespeare's Sonnets read aloud with inflection and drama. Select from 6 different sonnets.

A great resource for poems and related resources on a huge array of topics.

A great resource for poems and related resources on a huge array of topics.

This Poetry Everywhere section has a selection of poems have been animated with an audio telling of the poem.

Over 50 great poems perfect to read in middle school, high school, and beyond...

This is a great way to read poetry. Choose a poet, mood or tag. If you don't like what you are given, spin again. Once you have made your second choice, you will be given a poem to read. Hit the blue back arrow to spin again and read more poems.

Introduce your students to Elizabethan English and translating Shakespeare through turning popular songs into sonnets. This page offers examples.

Canadian poet, Sabrina Benaim, stages a conversation with her mother through poetry. It is a spot-on description of what it's like to explain depression to someone who loves you, but just doesn't get it.

Governor General Award-winning Métis poet, Katherena Vermette, is using the power of words to change the perception of her home neighborhood in Winnipeg. She speaks of resilience and community in Anishinaabe Treaty 1.

Canadian, 2010 World Slam Poetry champion, Ian Keteku, explores seeing the world from a different perspective in this animated video with vocal backings.

Canadian poet and spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan shares words of hope for when it seems everything is going wrong.

This poem was performed during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremonies in Vancouver. Poet, Shane Koyczan explores what it means to be Canadian.

What exactly makes a poem … a poem? They can be a variety of styles and lengths. This video shares three recognizable characteristics of most poetry.

This is a powerful and beautiful slam poem by Shane Koyczan. The animated poem describes how bullying touches us all. There is a short quiz in the Think section and additional information about Shane in Dig Deeper.

This site can be very helpful for writers. Type in a word and in an instant find a word that rhymes with it, is a synonym or explore the many other options.

Watch this great video with 5 steps to becoming a slam poet. Click on the "Think" link on the right side to find a short comprehension quiz. If you have time, "Dig Deeper".

In this animated video, David Silverstein describes what poetic repetition is and why it appeals to us. Rhythm and repetition, of language in this case, is something that brings pleasure to listeners and readers.