Poetry voices
Match each reading direction to the way you would use your voice.
For parents and teachers
About this game
These short original lines use explicit directions so each matching task has a clear answer. Children then try the direction aloud, thinking about volume, pace, repetition and the listener. The game does not decide the only correct way to interpret a poem or score a performance. Explore different choices together after matching.
Common Core connection: SL.1.2. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Suggested for ages 6–7. Grade 1 is a starting point, not a rule for every class.
How to play
Read the direction in [ ] marks beside each little line. Match it to the instruction for your voice. Then try performing the line. Find six pairs with no timer.
Step by step
- Read. Read the card, sentence or story clue all the way through.
- Choose. Use the meaning, not a guess from the first word.
- Talk. After the round, explain one choice out loud.
Worked examples
Use the first item as a model. Read it aloud, name the clue that decides the answer, then choose. The same steps work for the next item.
Common mistakes
Choosing too quickly. Slow down and use the whole sentence or clue. A familiar word can still be the wrong choice.
At home
Play one round together, then let the learner try the next round. Ask which words decided the answer.
In class
Use one round as a warm-up. Invite a learner to explain a choice before the next card.
Printable
This on-screen game does not include a worksheet. Practice the same idea with paper and a pencil, using an example from the guide.
Questions
Does this cover a whole standard?
No. It practices one part of the connected standard.