​Poetry Text Set

I, too, am America - Langston Hughes,  Illustrated by Ryan Collier

 

This picture book brings to life the classic poem “I, Too, Am America” by Langston Hughes. The poem itself talks emphasizes the feelings of African Americans before the Civil Rights movement. The speaker is optimistic that African Americans will have a better future and that they will eventually be treated equally.

 

When teaching poetry to a third grade class, it is important to teach poems with substance. For example, a poem like “I, Too, Am America” is a perfect poem to teach in the classroom. Students are not only learning how to read and comprehend poetry, but are also gaining knowledge about African American history. Students are also being exposted to This poem could even be taught with a history lesson about Civil Rights. Often, history lessons simply teach the mere details of what happened in the past. This poem provides actual feelings of African Americans during this time, thus making a simple history lesson real and interesting to the students.

 

Ryan Collier does an excellent job of illustrating this book. His pictures make the text come alive. Each page does not contain words, yet there is continuity in the story. Picture books can aid in teaching poetry, especially with children in  younger levels. It is helpful for students to be able to visualize a poem, especially when trying to comprehend texts and draw conclusions. Students could also analyze the title and picture on the cover of the book, and make predictions about what the poem is trying to convey.

 

 

Hughes, Langston (1925) I, Too, Am America. New York, New York: Simon &              Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.