After writing poetry for more than twenty years, Michael Salinger experienced an epiphany. A veteran of the National Poetry Slam competition, he recognized the correlation between the rich rhythms of the English language and the complexities of its vocabulary. He has since created an innovative teaching method, incorporating rhyming and vocal performance, to help students understand and remember such challenging vocabulary words as “credulous” and “instigate.” Salinger's playful poems and animated delivery make this program family-friendly. The poet also discusses his work on stage and in the classroom as a literary advocate, champion of both poetry and words.