Featured Lesson Designer
Of Poetry and Prose
An Interview with Nyoka Hall
When you think of poetry, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many of us, it may be “Rain, rain, go away! Come again some other day!” or maybe some other familiar rhyme we learned as a child. But to those who have developed this often overlooked language arts skill, poetry is so much more than rhyming words and silly songs. Poetry is literary self-expression in verse form intended to invoke the imagination or emotion. Poetry can be serious, silly, or a mix of the two. Poetry has been used to express influential thoughts for centuries.
Thanks to Nyoka Hall, lesson designer of Introducing the Many Faces of Poetry, accessible to SchoolhouseTeachers.com members, your students can have the opportunity to learn and develop this important language arts skill. Nyoka shared some valuable insight in a recent interview.
TOS: What inspired your interest in poetry?
Nyoka: My interest in poetry started when I was in third grade. My awesome teacher, the late Geraldine Jones, sparked the love of words in my life. She challenged us to learn and recite three to five poems every week for my entire third grade year. She also allowed us to perform in the military base’s program where we wrote and performed our original works. She helped me become a published author in the young authors program at the age of eight.
TOS: What inspired you to write this course?
Nyoka: My desire to honor God with the gift He has given me. My children also were in the age range that I was teaching, so they inspired me to make it enjoyable as I taught it to them first.
TOS: How did you become involved as a lesson designer with SchoolhouseTeachers.com?
Nyoka: I saw an email asking for different curriculum needs to be filled and that’s where I saw the poetry class need. I absolutely love poetry, so I had to reach out.
TOS: Do you have any advice for parents teaching this course?
Nyoka: Yes. Parents, have fun with your brilliant blessings and watch their creativity flourish. It is designed in smaller bite-sized lessons to keep the creativity flowing.
TOS: Can give us some tips on writing poetry?
Nyoka: When you decide to write poetry, use your whole heart. If it’s serious or kooky, be one hundred percent yourself and enjoy. Anyone can write poetry. Just start with the first word. I remember picking classical songs, only listening three to five minutes out, then writing immediately about what I felt.
TOS: Please share with us about your homeschool journey.
Nyoka: Our homeschool started about ten years ago. We only knew one way before we started homeschooling and that was to utilize public or private schools. After much trial and error and physical injuries, we had to make some hard decisions. I needed to leave my job and be a full-time homemaker and home educator. Homeschooling for us has had its challenges, but the rewards and triumphs outweigh them all. Places like SchoolhouseTeachers.com, co-ops, and our church family have helped equip us to confidently navigate these tumultuous waters. Homeschooling allowed us to get the best part of their day and be the main influence. All three of our children have developed a deep love for God and reading. All of them read early, started school early, and are thriving in their walk with the Lord. Glory to God!
TOS: Thank you, Nyoka, for sharing your enthusiasm for poetry and homeschooling with us!
Parents, be sure to go check out Nyoka’s course at SchoolhouseTeachers.com, so your students can begin honing their poetry skills today! Who knows? Maybe you have the next Phyllis Wheatley, Psalmist David, Henry Longfellow, or Fanny Crosby in your home!
If you’d like more information about designing lessons for our site, please email the Executive Manager at stmanager@theoldschoolhouse.com.
