Walch Education Celebrates Poet Laureate Kay Ryan and National Poetry Month with Free Lesson Plan for Language Arts Teachers

Portland, ME, April 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- “Kay Ryan’s story is a remarkable one,” notes Walch Education’s Susan Graham, Director of Education. “She has worked steadily as a poet for many years, but it’s only recently that she’s come to national acclaim. As the country’s 16th Poet Laureate – she was appointed in July of 2008 – Kay joins an illustrious list of poets that includes Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, William Carlos Williams, and Gwendolyn Brooks. This new Teachable Moment uses Kay’s own words and ideas to prompt classroom discussions and projects.”

Developed for middle school and high school language arts classrooms, the Kay Ryan lesson plan is part of the Teachable Moments series, all available free through the Walch Education web site. Each Teachable Moment is a complete lesson plan, filled with direct instruction, worksheets, online resources and tools, a listing of national standards addressed, an answer key and more. Other recent Teachable Moments include:

Is the Internet Making Us Dumber?
Bubbles, Bank Runs, and Bailouts
Billboard Controversy Gives Lesson in Political Party History
Is It Easy Being Green? Zero Waste In Your Community

National Poetry Month, organized by the Academy of American Poets since 1996, is held every April. Publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.

About Walch Education (www.walch.com)
Walch Education extends and enhances learning, with flexible solutions for middle school, high school, and beyond, addressing national and state standards as appropriate. Founded more than 80 years ago, Walch Education’s accessible and affordable products are developed by experts and an in-house educational team, in partnership with leading schools and districts nationwide.

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