Last week, Manchester Libraries had poet and author Joseph Coelho visit us as part of his Library Marathon around the UK. Joseph is aiming to join the library in every authority around the country and he has now joined 138 out of 209 authorities.
While he was in Manchester he spent the day at Central Library where he put on 3 sessions speaking to primary school children about his work and different tricks and tips for helping to write their own poetry. We had almost 300 children from 6 primary schools attend these sessions.
Joseph involved the children throughout the sessions asking them questions and using their ideas to write a ‘MORERAPS’ poem of their own as well as getting them to join in with some of his poems by repeating after him. He gave them many different poem structures that they could use themselves including one word poems (use a long title to help with this!) and an example of an abecedarius.
Teachers wanted the children to be inspired by poetry, meet an actual poet and commented:
‘’Joseph was wonderful with the children.” William Hulme’s Grammar School. “Joseph was superb; very engaging with useful tips that can be used back at school.” St John Fisher and Thomas More Primary School. “Inspiring, motivating and cool for the kids!” Crumpsall Lane Primary School
Pupils said
“It was great to meet a poet!”
“Joseph was very funny!”