How to Present Poetry with Confidence

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This engaging video lesson guides students through the process of effectively presenting poetry to an audience. Set in the fictional "Verse Valley," the host, Caroline, overcomes her own stage fright by breaking down essential public speaking techniques such as voice projection, enunciation, and eye contact, as well as specific strategies for performing poetry like utilizing body language and timing pauses for impact rather than just at line breaks. The video explores three distinct types of poetry—lyric, ballad, and spoken word—demonstrating how the performance style should shift to match the genre. Through clear examples, Caroline models a "bad" presentation versus a polished one, and subsequently performs three original poems, showcasing the unique rhythm, emotion, and delivery required for each style. The lesson also addresses the psychology of performance, offering tips like "power posing" to build confidence. Ideal for Language Arts classrooms, this resource transforms the often-intimidating task of public speaking into a manageable skill set. It provides built-in pause points for students to practice immediately, making it a ready-to-use interactive workshop. Teachers can use this video to prepare students for poetry slams, recitations, or oral presentations, helping them move from simply reading words on a page to bringing literature to life through performance.