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.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Joseph Coelho’s poems are easy to read and engaging, with playful rhythms and subjects that young readers can relate to.
- Joseph Coelho often writes poems about his personal experiences.
- The poem ‘Miss Flotsam’ is inspired by the teachers Coelho had when growing up and those he has met as an adult.
- The poem depicts ‘Miss Flotsam’ as a kind, understanding and caring teacher, who has an inclusive approach to teaching.
- Alliteration can be used to emphasise key themes and draw the reader’s attention to important parts of a poem.
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
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".
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 (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Starter quiz
Download starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
True or false? A poet is someone who creates poetry.
Q2.
True or false? A poet is someone who does not use language to express themselves in a creative or artistic way.
Q3.
True or false? A poet draws inspiration from the world around them.
Q4.
Fill in the blank. Joseph Coelho is a __________ poet and children’s author.
French
American
Q5.
Fill in the blank. Coelho grew up during the 1980s and lived in a __________ with his mother and little sister.
house
house boat
castle
Q6.
What is the name of Coelho's first published collection of poems?
'Overheard in a Tower Block'
'Luna Loves Library Day'
Exit quiz
Download exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
Which of these themes does Joseph Coelho often explore in his poetry? Select three.
religion
Q2.
In 2022, Joseph Coelho was appointed as what?
Poet Laureate
Book Prize Judge
Q3.
Which of these is the title of a poem written by Joseph Coelho?
'Miss Fletcher'
'Miss Flounder'
Q4.
'Miss Flotsam' is a poem about a ...
nurse
child minder
Q5.
What class does 'Miss Flotsam' teach?
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
aunt