ABSTRACT
This Action Research project was developed to explore the question: how can I increase the engagement and enjoyment of poetry amongst my students? Creativity was at the very forefront of this project, with activities designed to aid students in the development of a shared understanding of each poem we studied. The research was grounded in interpretations of Vygotsky’s Social Constructivism, using terms such as ‘scaffolding’ and ‘the Zone of Proximal Development’ as frameworks. The study brought to light questions about the nature of ability grouping; the propensity to centre curriculums around exam cultures; the importance of fostering creativity to challenge the power balance within classrooms; and the importance of dialogic exchange in the education process.
