Please spend some time this weekend finding a poem to recite as we will be compiling a list of chosen poems next week.
Here are some useful links to help you find a poem which you would be keen to learn.
The Guardian - 10 Poems to Remember and Recite
Michael Rosen - Poems to Perform
Poems for Kids to Memorise
BBC - Off by Heart
Below is the letter from Mrs Butcher which gives full details of the Poetry Recital Competition.
Dear Parents,
I am delighted to inform you that our annual Poetry Recital (Spoken English) Competition will launch
at the start of the Lent term. The Final will be on Wednesday 22nd March, in the Front Hall at the Prep,
at 6 pm.
All pupils from Years 3 – 8 inclusive participate in this Competition. Each child must select a poem,
have it approved by his/her English teacher, learn the poem, and then recite it to their class. The best
from each year group will then recite their poem to a panel of the English teachers, and approximately
four finalists from each year group will then be selected to compete at the Final, to which parents and
friends are warmly invited.
The purpose of this exercise is two-fold. Firstly, to inculcate a love of poetry, and especially spoken
poetry, in all our children; and secondly, to build their confidence. Learning and reciting a poem is not
an easy task, but the sense of achievement they all feel having completed the task is wonderful to see
– and for shy children, who need only perform in the safe environment of their classroom, this is a
particularly important skill we like to foster.
Obviously the length, complexity, and subject matter of the poems chosen should be appropriate to
the age and ability of each child; the English teachers will have plenty of material for the children to
choose from, or poems can be brought in from home. For children who take LAMDA classes, I would
ask that any poem which has been used for examination or competitive purposes is not repeated for
this exercise; though of course, practising the competition poems in their lessons is a huge help which
I would encourage.
The competition focuses on Spoken English: therefore props/costumes etc are not allowed; “acting”
as such is not expected, but of course the well-timed gesture and facial expressions which complement
the poem are usually well regarded by the panel and the Final judge. Clear diction, a lively and
engaging recitation, and, especially, the communication of a proper understanding of the meaning of
the poem are key.
I do hope you will encourage your child to enjoy participating in this exercise, and also I remind you
to put the Final date into your diary – do join us, whether or not your child reaches the dizzy heights
of the Final!
If you require further information about the Poetry Recital Competition, do please contact me by email
– butchers@mountkelly.com
Yours sincerely,
Sally Butcher
Head of English Faculty (Prep)
