After using the poetry lesson, "An Irritating Creature", students were willing to try tasks that seemed hard for them (survey item #4). They were willing to ask questions that helped themselves and others understand a topic better (survey item #9). This lesson addresses the framework standards for Language Arts,Grades 3-5,for comprehension strategies, to enhance understanding, and respond to literature. The students will improve in reading orally to develop fluency, expression, accuracy, and confidence as stated in the framework standards. The learning gap is addressed because they learned to appreciate and interpret poetry. By illustrating the poem, they are using what they know about this topic in another school subject (item # 12 in the survey).