Bio Poems for Connection and Content

What is a Bio Poem?

A bio poem is a formulaic poem written about a person following a predictable pattern. Bio poems generally do not need to rhyme. Depending on your purpose, they can be autobiographical or biographical. To make connections with students, it makes sense to guide students to write Bio Poems about themselves. Later, you can have them create group bio-poems about historical figures or story characters using the same formula.

Why is this effective for Multilingual Learners?

• Draws on their family cultures and countries

• Develops connection

• Builds community among classes a diverse backgrounds

• Requires higher order thinking but isn’t language heavy

• Allows for participation from a wide variety of WIDA levels

How to implement Bio Poems in your classroom?

1. Introduce the Bio Poem by sharing one that you created. After that, share the format for creating their own.

2. Encourage them to access a dictionary to look up vocabulary words to express their ideas. Let them know that can use whatever language they want and that they can draw on their language repertoire in one poem.

Sample Bio Poem

Marilee Friendly, creative, positive, thoughtful Mother of Aidan and Emilia Lover of justice, community, and family Who feels joy, sadness, and peace Who fears violence, rats, and being misunderstood Who has taught, advocated, and loved Who wants to see engaging education, cleaner earth, global understanding Lives in the mountains Coles-Ritchie

Format for Bio Poem

(Line 1) First name

(Line 2) Three or four adjectives that describe the person

(Line 3) Important relationship (daughter of . . . , mother of . . . , etc)

(Line 4) Two or three things, people, or ideas that the person loved

(Line 5) Three feelings the person experienced

(Line 6) Three fears the person experienced

(Line 7) Accomplishments (who composed . . . , who discovered . . . , etc.)

(Line 8) Two or three things the person wanted to see happen or wanted to experience

(Line 9) Their residence

(Line 10) Last name

3. Allow students to change the writing prompts as needed according to their circumstances. They can also arrange the lines in any order they would like.

4. Put students in pairs to read their poems and ask for feedback or support.

5. Give students time to rework their poems after a pair/share conference.

6. Bring students together in a large circle. Project each student’s poem on the screen so all can see it as the student reads their poem.

7. Ask those listening to ask at least one question of the poet.

8. If you don’t have time to share all poems in class, create a bulletin board using photographs of each student placed next to their poems.

Variation

To enhance content area goals, you can repeat this idea with characters from a book they are reading, historical characters, scientists you are studying, or inanimate objects.

Have you tried bio poems? What worked? How did you adapt this idea?