Poets

The SPI Learning Lab contains the voices and stories of nationally and internationally renowned poets. We combine their stories with suggestions for projects that engage students in the art and craft of poetry writing.

The poets in our collection come from various states but, proudly, New Hampshire boasts a large number of highly esteemed poets including former US poet laureates Donald Hall and Maxine Kumin. Wesley McNair hails from New Hampshire and is today the Poet Laureate of Maine. Doug Anderson’s work is largely informed by his Vietnam experience. Through his writing, Stephen Kuusisto illuminates the world of the blind. Story Preservation board member Chard deNiord is not only the Poet Laureate of Vermont but also an accomplished oral historian. Jane Hirshfield’s poetry draws on a lifelong engagement with Zen Buddhist practice. And poet, businessman, and divinity school graduate Bruce McEver sees the world through a unique lens of poetry, commerce, and theology.

Begin by engaging the hearts and minds of students and introducing subject matter in ways both personal and compelling with the Story Preservation audio embedded in each course offering. In many cases, the images seen are the personal photos and memorabilia made available to Story Preservation by the speaker.

Then expand that learning outward. Ask students to consider the background and viewpoint of the speaker and who they believe is the intended audience. Investigate other sources to put the story into context. Create projects around the oral histories.

Story Preservation is working with teachers to develop and share lesson plans and projects that have tested and evaluated in classrooms. In some cases the speaker has added a lesson plan to further the conversation started in the oral history.

Take a look at our links of interest. They’ll direct you to libraries, museums, and other resources that pertain to the subject matter.

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