A Poem for Every Student: Creating Community in a Public School Classroom

by Sheryl Lain

Book by Lain, Sheryl

212 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I agree with Wendy’s original review that this should have been edited better. It’s ironic that an English teacher and published author would have so many typos, and inconsistencies. My biggest issue was that multiple times she referred to her “first year teaching,” so what *was* her first position? Was it the school with 13 students in the grade, or the one on the reservation, or the one 45 minutes away that she left early each day so she could pick up her children from daycare?

This book is a neat idea to write poems inspired by one’s students, and Lain gave most of her students the poems, so they knew how she saw them. This built relationships and her classroom sounds like an awesome place that involved writing across many genres, which taught students and developed their confidence. This was a sweet book, that highlighted students’ strengths or circumstances, all divided by topic or category. But it was almost too sweet. Even if teachers really view their students so fondly, some parts were too sentimental and even hokey. This book was written as part of the 1998 National Writing Project, so she used her previous writing that reflected on her career; no doubt she left out a lot of the bad or ugly moments, and students in the 21st-century are vastly different. Still, the notes her students wrote to her and the bonds they shared seemed too good to be true—or at least played up. This was a feel good read, albeit a little cheesy, and I enjoyed reading another teacher’s perspective.

[Mandie Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "A Poem for Every Student" Lain's method goes beyond simply teaching writing; it is about truly seeing and celebrating each individual. As students bravely shared their poems—and the personal stories within them—a profound sense of community blossomed, paving the way for deeper empathy and vulnerability among classmates. A Poem for Every Student is an inspiring testament to the transformative power of words, showing how a simple act of attention can create a ripple effect of connection, understanding, and belonging for students.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love and totally agree with the main tjeme of this book - good teachers must know their students to teach them well. I try hard to know mine, but some are elusive. the idea of writing poems to focus yourself on a particular student is interesting. While I really enjoyed most of the book, I do think an editor could have/ should have pruned it a bit. Definitely worth reading!