Heard it in the Playground (Puffin Books)

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I think that this book could be used in a variety of different ways within a classroom to familiarise children with poetry. The strong rhythm and rhymes within this collection combined with the comical use of nonsense words make the poems perfect for performance. This will allow the children the opportunity to focus on the rhythm, rhyme, language and tone of poetry. However, the different aspects of language can also be explored with the class following a dramatic reading by the class teacher. Listening to the poem being read expressively will allow the children to detect patterns and get a real feel for rhythm and rhyme. This a fantastic collection of poems about different aspects of life in a primary school. The poems are categorised into short, medium and long ones which I think is a really useful feature for use within the classroom. This is because poems can be selected with regards to time constraints throughout the day (short ones at the end of the day when there is a spare 5 minutes!). A great poem also is Heard it in the Playground. This poem, Ahlberg states, is for performance. It has repetition, rhyme, different sounds, nonsense words and changing dynamics which would be great to perform with a class. It would be an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

Many children and young people engage with poetry every day through music, but view poems as elite and inaccessible. This is simply not the case, as this collections demonstrate.I really like the humorous approach as I think it makes the poems very relatable to children who will be able to compare themes within the poems to their own school day. Whole class activities Shared writing. Begin by asking pupils to help you make a list of the things people say in school. This could be divided up into two halves: things teachers say, and things children say. Compare the different statements. What do the children's statements have in common with each other, and the teachers'? How are the two different kinds of statement different? What do they tell us about the people concerned? What kinds of tone of voice are they spoken in? Discuss the feelings of both parties.

Allan always dreamed of being a writer, but tried his hand at many other jobs before he achieved his ambition. He was a postman, grave-digger, plumber's mate and teacher - it was teaching that gave him such sharp insights into the minds of children, and enabled him to write his perfectly observed poetry about primary school life Heard it in the Playground is a collection of poems based on primary school life. The book is presented in three sections: short poems, songs and long poems. The collection is mostly light-hearted and humorous covering everything from grumpy teachers to the school’s escapee pet hamster.

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What makes this poem enjoyable to read however, is Ahlberg's creative use of language and imagery through metaphor. The line "While the teachers in vein, tried to burgle his brain" is particularly original and imaginative, and therefore causes amusement.