Journal Evaluation in Education (JEE)
Journal Evaluation in Education (JEE)

an Open Access Journal

SINTA

1.6519

Impact

GScholar

16

H-Index

Journal Evaluation in Education (JEE)

an Open Access Journal

Poetry as a Multidimensional Medium for Language, Literacy, and Social Reflection in Elementary Education

Diplan Diplan ORCID
University of Palangka Raya ROR
Indonesia
surawan@iain-palangkaraya.ac.id
Share

  • Purpose of the Study: Poetry offers not only aesthetic value but also potential as a learning tool that supports children’s language growth, literacy competence, and social awareness. However, poetry is still rarely positioned as a multidimensional pedagogical medium in elementary education. Therefore, this study aims to analyze how poetry functions as a medium for language development, literacy education, and social reflection in elementary classrooms.

    Methodology: This study used a qualitative descriptive design involving six purposively selected elementary schools. Data were obtained from five Indonesian language teachers, twelve students, classroom observations, and documentation of students’ poetry works. Data were analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana model, through data condensation, display, and conclusion drawing, with validity ensured using source and methodological triangulation.

    Main Findings: The findings indicate that poetry improves linguistic competence, particularly vocabulary, diction, and figurative language understanding. Poetry also strengthens students’ literacy through close reading, interpretive discussion, and creative writing engagement. Furthermore, poetry becomes a reflective tool for students to express environmental issues, family dynamics, friendship, and cultural identity.

    Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study demonstrates that poetry is a multidimensional learning medium that simultaneously develops language skill, literacy depth, and socio-emotional awareness. The novelty lies in its integration of three learning outcomes within one instructional model. Implicationally, poetry-based learning can be adopted as an alternative strategy for teachers to create contextual, expressive, and character-oriented literacy practices in elementary schools.

  • How to cite

    [1]
    “Poetry as a Multidimensional Medium for Language, Literacy, and Social Reflection in Elementary Education”, Jor. Eva. Edu, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 12–21, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.37251/jee.v7i1.2319.

    More Citation Formats

  • 499
    Abstract views
    241
    Downloads

    Metrics — Badges

    1. E. Anwas et al., “Students’ literacy skills and quality of textbooks in indonesian elementary schools,” Int. J. Lang. Educ., vol. 6, no. 3, p. 233, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.26858/ijole.v6i3.32756. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v6i3.32756
    2. W. Furbani, “Building a culture of literacy in schools: The role of students in improving the quality of elementary school education,” MSJ Major. Sci. J., vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 103–111, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.61942/msj.v2i4.263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61942/msj.v2i4.263
    3. J. Fletcher, Teaching Literature Rhetorically: Transferable Literacy Skills for 21st Century Students. Routledge, 2023. doi: 10.4324/9781032682709. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032682709
    4. N. Leggett, Creative and Critical Thinking in Early Childhood. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2023. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-15963-3_7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15963-3_7
    5. E. Harista, Learning Indonesian Language in Elementary School : A Study of Literacy Problems and Their Solutions in Strengthening Character, Dissertations & Theses, 2023.
    6. N. Schmitt and D. Schmitt, Vocabulary in Language Teaching, 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020, doi: 10.1017/9781108569057. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108569057
    7. K. I. Hossain, “Literature-Based language learning : Challenges, and Opportunities for English Learners Literature-based language learning : Challenges , and opportunities for English learners,” Ampersand, vol. 13, p. 100201, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.amper.2024.100201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2024.100201
    8. Z. Apostolou, “Literacy: A lifelong process through a balanced literacy approach in Educational Studies,” Presch. Educ. Glob. Trends, vol. 3, pp. 44–68, Jun. 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.31470/2786-703X-2023-3-44-68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31470/2786-703X-2023-3-44-68
    9. D. Buehl, Developing Readers in the Academic Disciplines (2nd ed.). Routledge, 2023. doi: doi: 10.4324/9781032680996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032680996
    10. N. I. Fenner, Exploring Poetry as a Tool for Critical Literacy, University of the Western Cape, 2021.
    11. J. Curwood and K. Bull, “In their own words: amplifying critical literacy and social justice pedagogy through spoken word poetry,” English Educ., vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 1–15, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.1080/04250494.2023.2183837. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/04250494.2023.2183837
    12. F. E. A. Jr, “Poetic devices, thematic significance and social realities in poetry: A critical literature review,” Randwick Int. Educ. Linguist. Sci. J., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 70–85, 2024, doi: 10.47175/rielsj.v5i1.935. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47175/rielsj.v5i1.935
    13. M. Azizi, N. Azizi, E. Lewandowska, Y. Gosteva, and P. Majda, “Cultivating critical thinking in literature classroom through poetry,” J. Educ. Cult. Soc., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 285–298, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.15503/jecs2022.1.285.298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2022.1.285.298
    14. K. Jack and S. Illingworth, “Rehearsing empathy: exploring the role of poetry in supporting learning,” Arts Health, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 1–14, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1080/17533015.2023.2256361. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2023.2256361
    15. K. Guttesen and K. Kristjánsson, “Cultivating virtue through poetry : an exploration of the characterological features of poetry teaching characterological features of poetry teaching,” Ethics Educ., vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 277–293, 2022, doi: 10.1080/17449642.2022.2114062. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17449642.2022.2114062
    16. P. E. P. Paramitha, “Upaya pengembangan keterampilan menulis puisi siswa kelas v sd dengan memanfaatkan media lingkungan [Efforts to develop poetry writing skills of fifth grade elementary school students by utilizing environmental media],” Metta J. Ilmu Multidisiplin, vol. 3, no. 4 SE-Articles, pp. 479–492, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.37329/metta.v3i4.3010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37329/metta.v3i4.3010
    17. N. Rohayati, Pembelajaran Inovatif Menulis Karya Sastra Bahasa Indonesia. Bandung: CV Widina Media Utama, 2025.
    18. A. Prawiyogi, R. Rahman, A. Sastromiharjo, A. Anwar, and T. Suparman, “The implementation of local wisdom-themed poetry musicalization model and its influence on elementary students’ poetry writing and reading skills,” AL-ISHLAH J. Pendidik., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 1780–1788, May 2023, doi: 10.35445/alishlah.v15i2.3003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v15i2.3003
    19. D. Hadianto, V. Damaianti, Y. Mulysti, and A. Sastromiharjo, “Effectiveness of literacy teaching design integrating local culture discourse and activities to enhance reading skills,” Cogent Educ., vol. 9, no. 1, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2021.2016040. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2021.2016040
    20. J. P. Gee, "Game-based learning: A design-based theory of teaching–learning–assessment systems." Handbook for Assessment in the Service of Learning 2. 2025. doi: 10.1162/dmal.9780262693646.021.
    21. J. P. Gee and A. Price. “Game-Design Teaching and Learning.” Strategies, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 35–38, 2021. doi: 10.1080/08924562.2021.1896928. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08924562.2021.1896928
    22. B. V. Street, Social Literacies Critical Approaches to Literacy in Development, Ethnography and Education. Routledge, 2014. doi: 10.4324/9781315844282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315844282
    23. G. J. Wilson and S. S. Shields, “Troubling the ‘WE’ in art education,” J. Soc. Theory Art Educ., vol. 39, no. 2, 2019, doi: 10.20961/ddi.v10i1.49858.
    24. N. Sari, R. Rukayah, and S. Kamsiyati, “Analisis kesulitan dalam memahami teks fiksi bahasa indonesia kelas iii di sekolah dasar [Analysis of difficulties in understanding Indonesian language fiction texts for grade III in elementary school],” Didakt. Dwija Indria, vol. 10, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.20961/ddi.v10i1.49858. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/ddi.v10i1.49858
    25. S. Sumiati, “Implementation of literacy movement policy in elementary school,” in Proceeding of International Seminar on Agricultural Conservation and Cultural Heritage, Jun. 2025, pp. 1–6.
    26. M. Nikolajeva, “Memory of the present: Empathy and identity in young adult fiction,” Narrat. Work., vol. 4, no. 2, Jul. 2019, doi: 10.7202/1062101ar. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/1062101ar
    27. G. Gay, Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. teachers college press, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429331435-16
    28. M. Stanley, "Qualitative descriptive: A very good place to start." Qualitative research methodologies for occupational science and occupational therapy. Routledge, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003456216-4
    29. J. W. Creswell and J. D. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches(4th ed.). Sage publications, 2020.
    30. M. Q. Patton, and C. E. Campbell-Patton, “"Using principles to guide evaluation theory and practice." Research Handbook on Program Evaluation. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803928289.00016
    31. S. B. Merriam and E. J. Tisdell, Qualitative Research A Guide to Design and Implementation. San Fransisco: Sage publications, 2025.
    32. S. Brinkman, Qualitative interviewing: Conversational knowledge through research interviews. Oxford University Press, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197648186.001.0001
    33. M. B. Miles, A. M. Huberman, and J. Saldana, Qualitative Data Analysis A Methodss Sourcebook. 2020.
    34. V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Is thematic analysis used well in health psychology? a critical review of published research, with recommendations for quality practice and reporting,” Health Psychology Review, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 695–718, J2023, doi: 10.1080/17437199.2022.2161594. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2022.2161594
    35. Y. S. Lincoln and E. G. Guba, Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage Publication, 2021.
    36. N. Sukavejworakit, N. Aeknarajindawat, P. Raksakaeo, and S. Pulphon, “Exploring the importance of literature-based activities for early childhood education: A comprehensive review,” . J. Namibian Stud., vol. 34, 2023.
    37. L. Jeffries, The language of contemporary poetry. Springer e-Books, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09749-2
    38. S. Ramachindran and M. Ramasamy, “Exploring the use of teaching techniques and multimedia resources in language and poetry education,” MJSSH Online, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 16–27, 2024, doi: 10.33306/mjssh/263. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33306/mjssh/263
    39. D. Crystal, “Language play and linguistic intervention,” Child Lang. Teach. Ther., vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 328–344, Oct. 1996, doi: 10.1177/026565909601200307. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026565909601200307
    40. J. Dutton and K. Rushton, “Using the translanguaging space to facilitate poetic representation of language and identity,” Lang. Teach. Res., vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 105–133, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1177/1362168820951215. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820951215
    41. E. Winner, The point of words : children’s understanding of metaphor and irony , First Harvard University Press paperback edition. Cambridge, Mass. ; Harvard University Press, 1997.
    42. D. Gentner, B. Bowdle, P. Wolff, and C. Boronat, “Metaphor is like analogy,” in Metaphor Is Like Analogy, 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/1251.003.0010
    43. A. Shahini, “Sociocultural theory in language learning,” in Language Learning Theories: A Student’s Guide (pp. 173-188), Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025, pp. 173–188. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-92210-7_11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92210-7_11
    44. W. M. Faisal and N. S. Fadhil, “The role of scaffolding in second language acquisition,” Oscar Publ. Serv., vol. 5, no. 128, pp. 128–133, 2025, doi: 10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue05-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue05-32
    45. F. I. Putri and W. B. Maundeni, “Effort increase learning outcomes on subject poetry people eye lesson language indonesia student through media videos learning”, Jor. Eva. Edu, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 128-137, Jul. 2024. 10.37251/jee.v5i3.832. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37251/jee.v5i3.832
    46. D. T. Sulistia, “The use of poetry to facilitate students’ lexical enrichment in a junior high school,” Islamic University Of Indonesia, 2023.
    47. H. Tinmaz, Y. T. Lee, M. Fanea-Ivanovici, and H. Baber, “A systematic review on digital literacy,” Smart Learning Environments, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 21, 2022, doi: 10.1186/s40561-022-00204-y. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-022-00204-y
    48. E. Creely, D. Bao, and P. Waterhouse, “Enhancing initial teacher education through poetry: Explorations of the pedagogical practices of three poet-educators,” Teach. Teach. Educ., vol. 119, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2022.103847. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103847
    49. Y. Yuliana, S. Surawan, and N. Norjanah, “Practicing critical thinking: Literacy education to filter news in the digital world,” in Proceeding International Conference on Religion, Science and Education (2025), 2025, pp. 681–685
    50. L. M. Rosenblatt, Writing and reading: The transactional theory. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign., 1988.
    51. A. Wilson, “The reader, the text, the poem: the influence and challenge of Louise Rosenblatt,” Educ. 3-13, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 1–17, Nov. 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2020.1824704. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2020.1824704
    52. J. Bruner, Actual Minds, Possible Worlds. Harvard University Press, 2009.
    53. T. N. Fitria, “Creative Writing Skills in English : Develop Students ’ Potential and Creativity,” EBONY J. English Lang. Teaching, Linguist. Lit., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1–17, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v4i1.10908. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v4i1.10908
    54. J. Emig, “Writing as a mode of learning,” Coll. Compos. Commun., vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 122–128, Nov. 1977, doi: 10.2307/356095. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58680/ccc197716382
    55. R. Carter, Language and Creativity: The art of common talk. Routledge, 2015. doi: 10.4324/9781315658971. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315658971
    56. C. Audrin, and B. Audrin, “Key factors in digital literacy in learning and education: a systematic literature review using text mining,” Education and Information Technologies, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 7395-7419, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10639-021-10832-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10832-5
    57. G. Kress and T. Van Leeuwen, Reading Images The Grammar of Visual Design. Routledge, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003099857
    58. M. Raisa, “A study on figurative language covering simile, matphor, personification and symbol in poem,” J. Pendidik. dan Pembelajaran Khatulistiwa, vol. 6, no. 10, 2017, doi: 10.26418/jppk.v6i10.22318.
    59. S. W. C. Purnama and P. D. Purwati, “Smart apps creator warak ngendhog with SAVI learning model to enhance critical thinking and poetry comprehension”, Jor. Eva. Edu, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 960-971, Jul. 2025. Doi: 10.37251/jee.v6i3.1688. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37251/jee.v6i3.1688
    60. D. Barton and M. Hamilton, Local Literacies Reading and Writing in One Community. Routledge, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203125106
    61. S. Farias-Gaytan, I. Aguaded, and M. S. Ramirez-Montoya, “Transformation and digital literacy: Systematic literature mapping,” Education and Information Technologies, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 1417-1437, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10639-021-10624-x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10624-x
    62. C. T. Philibert, Everyday SEL in Early Childhood Integrating Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness Into Your Classroom. Routledge, 2017. doi: 10.4324/9781315461052. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315461052
    63. A. Luke, “Regrounding critical literacy: Representation, facts and reality,” in Theoretical models and processes of literacy (pp. 349-361)., Routledge, 2023. doi: 10.4324/9781315110592-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315110592-21
    64. C. Glotfelty and H. Fromm, The Ecocritism Reader Landmarks In Literary Ecology. University of Georgia Press, 1996.
    65. L. Kohlberg and C. Power, “Moral development, religious thinking, and the question of a seventh stage,” Zygon J. Relig. Sci., vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 203–259, Dec. 1981, doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.1981.tb00417.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.1981.tb00417.x
    66. H. Hilmiati and A. Listiawati, “Developing learning material of descriptive text contained lombok local culture for high school students,” J. Innov. Educ. Cult. Res., vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 287–293, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.46843/jiecr.v3i3.105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46843/jiecr.v3i3.105
    67. J. A. Schmidt, “Three Very Short Poems: The Verbal Economics of Twentieth-Century American Poetry,” ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2020.