"Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech

Contrary to my minimal expectations of the story, I actually really enjoyed it. I think that many young kids can relate to Jack considering many young boys share the same perspectives he does about poetry. Jack exclaims that poetry is "Just for girls" and refuses to participate for a while. Finally, his teacher struck a chord with his emotions and Jack became inspired by a male poet to write a poem about his deceased dog. After Jack realizes he enjoys expressing how he feels about his dog, he has a new found perspective regarding poetry. I think this story is great to integrate into a poetry unit in any classroom. It helps break down gender stereotypes/barriers that may hold back other male students from participating, similar to Jack. Although I have taken a variety of Gender + Society classes, it still baffles me where these stereotypes come from. Obviously, the media and other traditional influences tell our society what is expected of each gender. However, I believe there are deeper roots than just the media that these stereotypes have been formed - and that we must look at the origins of "the traditional" American gender roles to start looking for patterns. These gender biases will always exist, but I believe it is our job as educators to help introduce a variety of literature and role models to help break down these stereotypes so all students feel comfortable to participate in any activity.