'I HATE Poetry!' Understanding through Unlearning: A Poetic Inquiry

Engaging the methodology of poetic inquiry, this paper explores both the teaching and learning of poetry. Through a combination of interpretation and reflection, the reader embarks on a journey from the author's childhood experiences with poetry to the experiences of her students in an ELA class. Pinar's method of currere provides a lens to explore the ideas of understanding through unlearning. Weaving original, found, and fusion poetry into a conversation with relevant literature, the author hopes to inspire other teachers to approach poetry in their lives and their classrooms with a sense of wonder and curiosity.