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Reginald Dwayne Betts, Poet and Prison Reform Advocate

A Voice for the Incarcerated (Season One)

*An 826 Digital Lesson Partner

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Reginald Dwyane Betts Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"What does it mean to profoundly figure out how to hold ourselves to account for what we do?" - Reginald Dwayne Betts, The Thread

Reginald Betts recalls spending nine years in prison starting when he was 16. He examines the impact of incarceration on creativity and what led him to become a poet. Betts discusses the harsh realities of the criminal justice system from his perspectives as a person previously incarcerated, and then as a law student at Yale and a public defender, and as a poet.

 

Watch "A Voice for the Incarcerated" 

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Lesson Objectives

Social Studies

*Examine mass incarceration and the Eighth Amendment through the story of Reginald Dwayne Betts

*Explore Supreme Court cases as they pertain to juvenile incarceration (Graham v. Florida)

*Connect one life story to the issues of punitive and restorative justice

English Language Arts

*Inspire students to tell their own coming-of-age stories

*Examine perspective taking from the point of view of one poet and reform advocate

*Explore the idea of purposeful work and a meaningful life

*Use Reginald Dwayne Betts’episode as evidence to write a rhetorical argument, commentary, or synthesis essay

Social Emotional Learning: By offering engaging personal narratives, students can discuss and strengthen the five SEL competencies - self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Media Literacy: Students will practice media literacy skills by analyzing information, points of view, and claims made in The Thread and be able to translate these strategies with all forms of media to make more informed decisions.

Reginald Dwyane Betts Lesson | Teaching The Thread

First Take >

The "First Take" activity is a warm-up writing or conversation exercise created uniquely for The Thread to strengthen media literacy skills. Like an opening song in a musical, the first stanza of a poem, or even the first impression one person makes on another, the "First Take" asks students to reflect and share their initial thoughts and feelings about the episode’s opening and why the filmmaker and editor made these choicess.

Download Reginald Dwayne Betts's lesson to access the complete "First Take" activity.

 

Reginald Dwyane Betts Lesson | Teaching The Thread

The Thread Up Close >

After watching the interview, students will debrief and discuss the life story and engage in a close read and analysis of his interview using the "A Voice for the Incarcerated" episode and transcript.

In this lesson, students will explore the important role writing and poetry played in Reginald Dwayne Betts' life as a youth and today.

Download the lesson to access "The Thread Up Close" activity.

 

Reginald Dwyane Betts Lesson | Teaching The Thread

"A Voice for the Incarcerated" >

In this lesson students will explore the title of this lesson and, among many activities, reflect on Betts' point of view on redemption.

Download the lesson to access the complete "A Voice for the Incarcerated" activity.

 

Resources

See lesson for resources

826 Digital Lesson: 
"Moments As Poetry"

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