Slam Poetry: Inside the Workshop with Emilie Zoey Baker
by Emilie Zoey Baker
Description
Whether through virtual visits or in-person workshops, Emilie’s approach to teaching slam poetry is always high-energy, interactive, and designed to meet the needs of every class. She works closely with educators to ensure that the sessions complement and enhance the learning goals of the curriculum.
Workshop Highlights Include:Collaborative Brainstorming & Creative Development:
Workshop Highlights Include:Collaborative Brainstorming & Creative Development:
- In this activity, students work together in teams to brainstorm ideas for their poems, building on one another’s thoughts and creativity. Through this process, they explore various themes, imagery, and language techniques, allowing them to draw inspiration from each other. After generating ideas, students take it to the next level by transforming their brainstormed concepts into a polished, original piece of writing. This step encourages them to think critically about structure, language, and expression as they refine and shape their ideas into a complete poem. By the end of the session, students have a final piece that reflects their collective creativity while still showcasing their individual voice.
Slam Performance Techniques:
While writing is at the heart of poetry, slam poetry comes alive in performance. In this segment of the workshop, students are introduced to the powerful skills needed to bring their words to life on stage. They learn how to use voice to convey emotion, body language to enhance the message, and movement to engage the audience. Through dynamic performance exercises, students gain the confidence to speak with passion and precision, understanding that poetry is not just about what is said, but how it’s said. Students practice delivery techniques that help them project their voices, control pacing, and connect with their audience on a deeper level, turning their poems into memorable performances. The goal is for each student to own their words—not just read them, but live them in front of others.
Collaborative Writing:
Working in groups to create poems fosters a sense of community while also honing teamwork skills and shared creative thinking. Collaboration allows students to combine their unique perspectives and ideas into one cohesive piece, learning how to compromise and incorporate others' feedback. This process encourages students to communicate openly, share their thoughts without hesitation, and respect diverse viewpoints. The result is a piece of poetry that is a reflection of their collective creativity, demonstrating the power of working together toward a shared artistic goal.
Details
Audience
Primary and Secondary (up to and including Year 8)
Duration
60-100 minutes. Please discuss timings with your booking coordinator. Two periods (90-100 mins) works best.
Requirements
Good quality data projector, with sound, in a room that can go dark, will bring own laptop (along with a USB for back-up). A mic if the room is big.