New
New
Year 3

Reading and responding to 'Miss Flotsam' by Joseph Coelho

I can give a personal response to the poem and read it aloud.

New
New
Year 3

Reading and responding to 'Miss Flotsam' by Joseph Coelho

I can give a personal response to the poem and read it aloud.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Joseph Coelho’s poems are easy to read and engaging, with playful rhythms and subjects that young readers can relate to.
  2. Joseph Coelho often writes poems about his personal experiences.
  3. The poem ‘Miss Flotsam’ is inspired by the teachers Coelho had when growing up and those he has met as an adult.
  4. The poem depicts ‘Miss Flotsam’ as a kind, understanding and caring teacher, who has an inclusive approach to teaching.
  5. Alliteration can be used to emphasise key themes and draw the reader’s attention to important parts of a poem.

Common misconception

Pupils may find some of the language in the poem difficult to understand.

Pre-teach some of the language in the poem before reading e.g. "adolescent", "gamelan", "dengue" and "dialects".

Keywords

  • Alliteration - the repetition of the same sound found at the start of words that come close together

  • Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text

There are many videos on the internet of Joseph Coelho himself reading his poems. These would be nice to watch as a class.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the poem ‘Miss Flotsam’, which is in the 2014 Frances Lincoln Children's Books edition of ‘Werewolf Club Rules’ by Joseph Coelho, for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? A poet is someone who creates poetry.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q2.
True or false? A poet is someone who does not use language to express themselves in a creative or artistic way.
Correct Answer: false, False
Q3.
True or false? A poet draws inspiration from the world around them.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q4.
Fill in the blank. Joseph Coelho is a __________ poet and children’s author.
French
Correct answer: British
American
Q5.
Fill in the blank. Coelho grew up during the 1980s and lived in a __________ with his mother and little sister.
house
Correct answer: tower block
house boat
castle
Q6.
What is the name of Coelho's first published collection of poems?
'Overheard in a Tower Block'
Correct answer: 'Werewolf Club Rules'
'Luna Loves Library Day'

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these themes does Joseph Coelho often explore in his poetry? Select three.
Correct answer: identity
Correct answer: family
religion
Correct answer: friendship
Q2.
In 2022, Joseph Coelho was appointed as what?
Poet Laureate
Correct answer: Children's Laureate
Book Prize Judge
Q3.
Which of these is the title of a poem written by Joseph Coelho?
'Miss Fletcher'
Correct answer: 'Miss Flotsam'
'Miss Flounder'
Q4.
'Miss Flotsam' is a poem about a ...
Correct answer: teacher
nurse
child minder
Q5.
What class does 'Miss Flotsam' teach?
Correct answer: Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Nursery
Q6.
Fill in the blank. The second verse recounts an emotional moment at the school gates when the speaker's __________ cried and Miss Flotsam comforted her.
sister
Correct answer: mother
aunt