March 1, 2000
East Bay presents poetry in 'Prime Time'
By Justin Trapp
Herald staff writer
You can see the excitement on the children's faces, and the first thought is: no wonder; there's an immense television screen in front of them. The truth behind their expressions, however, is far more surprising.
East Bay Elementary School students, from kindergarten to fifth-grade, have been participating as an audience in the most popular TV show of the year at East Bay: Prime Time Poetry.
Performed, produced, and created by sixth-graders, Prime Time Poetry is the theme of this year's poetry presentation at East Bay Elementary.
Shaun Harvey, librarian of East Bay Elementary, thought of the idea for a poetry presentation three years ago. Poetry was already part of the required sixth- grade curriculum, and Harvey collaborated her efforts with sixth-grade teacher Mary Kay Hicks.
The results? A "Hot Cocoa Cafe" Beatnik presentation, a rap poetry session, and now, Prime Time Poetry. And those results don't even include the children's excitement - the audience and the performers.
Sixth-graders first brainstormed in the library, said Harvey. After that, it's to the classroom for props, writing, workshops and some serious research on the world of poetry.
Terry Wooten, ringmaster of the nationally renowned Stone Circle poetry gatherings, came into the school to help students with their work. Aside from Wooten, students learned about simile, metaphor, form and other poetic devices, Hicks said. Students perform all original poetry at the presentation, which was held last week and is the finale of the sixth-graders' efforts.
Harvey noted that some of the "channels" on Prime Time Poetry included Poetry TV and the Outdoor Living Network. Students chose their groups, which ranged in size from one to five students, selected their channel, and wrote, wrote, wrote. Hicks' sixth-grade class also made all of their props and costumes for the presentation.
Though the audience loves the event and looks forward to it, the spotlight really belongs to the sixth-graders. Through this event, they both learn about and get to actively participate in poetry.
Charlene Kolodziej, a sixth- grader at East Bay and co-hostess of Prime Time Poetry, agreed.
"I always liked watching the poetry performances when I younger, so I was really excited to come into sixth-grade so I could do the poetry performance. It's fun."