I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery
Author: Cynthia Grady
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2012

Awards: 2013 Notable Book for a Global Society

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud (5th and 6th)
Reading Level:
Grade Level: 5^th - 6^th

Key Words:

1.      Slavery
2.      Quilt
3.      Poem Anthology
4.      Patterns
5.      African American history

Vocabulary: dilapidated, shrill, wren, righteous, discord, Pythagoras

Summary: In this collection of poems, Cynthia Grady chronicles the experience of an African American slave. Through her use of metaphoric quilting references, Grady exemplifies the various perspectives of house slaves, Underground Railroad fleers, and more.

Teaching Strategies

Before: Before students read this collection of poems, they should first have an understanding of what a quilt is, and what it is made with. To bridge their understanding of a basic quilt to this metaphorical collection, the teacher should read aloud Cynthia Grady’s foreword. In this explanation, she shares that she has written her poems with ten lines of ten syllables, all of which are unrhymed.More importantly, she has engaged three types of references in each poem, in order to make a unique pattern. These references include a biblical reference, a musical reference, and a sewing or fiber arts reference. Students should be broken into six groups, with two groups for each type of reference. In accordance group’s assignment, they should brainstorm and predict words that might appear in the poems they read. After, a collective list will be made for the class to serve as a visual aid throughout the readings.

During: Throughout the reading of the poems, students should be noticing words that the author specifically planted to reference to one of the three categories. These words should be added to the class list. Additionally, students should be attempting to summarize the plot line and meaning of each poem as they hear them. A couple of students should share their interpretations after every page. Once students have shared their thoughts, the teacher should read the small paragraph present on the bottom of each page, which shares the author’s intentions and insights. The students and author’s perspectives can then be compared and contrasted.

After: In order to fully understand the use of metaphor, students should pick the title of one poem and attempt to connect it to their lives. Questions to consider:

· What does this poem remind me of in my own life?

· What is the first thing that comes to mind when I read this title?

· Can I relate to the subject of the poem?

They will write about their connections in the writing assignment below.

Writing: Now that you have seen metaphor of quilting be used to describe certain aspects of slavery, it’s time to create your own poem! In 10 lines of 10 syllables each, attempt to write a poem based on one of the titles you have made connections to.

Electronic Resources:

Author’s Website: Gives deeper insight into reasons why she wrote the book.
o   http://eerdword.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/stitching-poetry-by-cynthia-grady/
Video: gives basic information about the history and nature of slavery.
o   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iy8ILTwaSU

Grady, C. (2012). I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.