Module 5 Performance Poetry: Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices

Franco, Betsy. 2009. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and other School Poems for Two Voices. Ill. by: Jessie Hartland. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN-10: 9780763631741 ISBN-13: 978-0763631741

The title alone, Messing Around on the Monkey Bars, brings memories of school and recess. This book of school time poetry will make you smile with subjects on homework, new kid, librarian, and more. This book is for reading out loud with partners. Be prepared to have fun!

Betsy Franco has written some very fun poems to be read using two voices. She provides an author’s note at the beginning, explaining how the lines are outlined for each reader’s voice. Voice 1 speaks lines that look like this, Voice 2 speaks lines that look like this, and Both voices speak lines that look like this, at the same time. This is such a great idea and very helpful for the students to know exactly what they are going to read without having to think about it. Reading out loud can be stressful sometimes but with the lines already designated takes the stress of remembering away allowing the students to concentrate on their performance. Not only will the students enjoy performing these poems out loud but it will be fun with partners, dividing the class into two groups or however they want to will allow for creativity. The use of rhyming and rhythm encourages anyone who is reading them to want to jump, hop, sing, and rap these poems. The poems also allow for adding new words. For example, New Kid at School pg. 10 could easily be read over and over adding each student’s name for the new kid. Animal Reports pg. 14 can be adapted with different animals which will encourage the students to find words that rhyme with the new animal names. Franco has provided many opportunities for reading, learning poetry and having fun with this book. There should be several copies available in the library or the classroom library to encourage reading these poems together out loud. Betsy Franco provides her ideas for Adventurous Ways To Read The Poems at the back of the book.
Jessie Hartland captured the essence of a school environment in her drawings. They look like students drew the pictures. The drawings are colorful and fun.

Jump Rope Jingle

Come on in.
I’ll jump with you.
It’s double fun
to jump with two.

Jump, jump,
spin around.
Jump, jump,
slap the ground.

Turn to the east.
Turn to the west.
Choose the one
you like the best.

Jump, jump,
A, B,
C.

Jump, jump,
1, 2,
3.

Turn in circles.
Keep the beat.
Feel the rhythm
in your feet!
(Franco, pp. 28-29)

Poetry doesn’t always have to rhyme and this needs to be reinforced because when thinking about a poem usually we associate rhyming. Jump Rope Jingle is a fun, interactive poem that is read using two voices individually and then together. Have the poem printed on poster board, chart paper, or the overhead with the voices delineated by different colors and numbers. Color codes will be Red and 1 for the first voice, Blue and 2 for the second voice, and Green and 3 for the combined voice. This will allow the students reading to know when it is their turn. I would give each student a color card that coincides with the color on the poem which will also reinforce helping to remember their part. Once the students are comfortable with this poem then it will be fun to change words or add new jingles.