Vote on the most interesting topic to pursue. Due to COVID-19, current processing is 30 business days. Poetry is included in most reading curriculums, and almost every standardized reading test has at least a few poems. The most powerful lesson you can pass on to your elementary students while teaching them about poetry is that their words carry weight and their voices are heard—and the best way to do that is to publish their work. Although, the lyrics were written to go along with music, you can point out features that the lyrics share … visible while they write helps your students remember rules like stanza length, rhyming scheme and syllable count per line. Tip #9: Share Your Slam Poetry Ideas! Rather than asking every student what he or she is going to write about (which is time consuming and allows for only a brief response), I will ask several to talk in detail about what they think they might like to write a poem about. Poetry is included in most reading curriculums, and almost every standardized reading test has at least a few poems. Your publishing date is the date you choose that your kit(s) are due back to us. I LOVE reading and teaching poetry to my 4th graders! The webinar has been hit each time I’ve presented it, and it’s equally popular with teachers who love poetry and those who don’t… or those who didn’t enjoy it in the past! Before I tell you more about the webinar, I’d like you to reflect on your own feelings about poetry and consider why you feel the way you do. Show students the similarities between poems and song lyrics. MOST IMPORTANT TIP ALERT: Write alongside the students and talk them through your revision process. Teaching students how to annotate poetry is a valuable skill they can use repeatedly, that will increase their confidence and help them read it more effectively, while cultivating a deeper appreciation of the art form. It’s my favorite month because… 1. spring break (duh) 2. my birthday 3. Others will groan at the thought of cheesy “love poems.” However, you can teach poetry in a way that even the most resistant student will find something to love about this genre. After you implement some of these strategies, you might even be surprised to learn that you actually like teaching poetry! Students sit in a circle, taking turns saying a word that rhymes with the word the teacher assigns. Help students narrow their focus by inviting them to make haiku “goggles.” First, have students decorate a small cardboard tube. There are a few ways I like to do this. Be sure to share your poetry with students. First, it's amazing that author/illustrator Avis Harley has found enough poem forms to write and illustrate not just one but two ABC collections, and second, she's done it by focusing solely on the topic of insects! This is great because it’s a small group and helps build classroom relationships and confidence. This helps students to see things in new ways like poets do. Try rolling dice to determine rules like number of lines, syllables or vocabulary words to include. Fun, Year-Long Poetry Activities for Upper Elementary Students. We have a center set of poetry mats that include graphic organizers for many of these poem types. The students spent the first hour collecting items and using their private eyes to observe them, and the second hour was spent writing poems about the treasures they found. I've got 2 for you that you can snag for FREE. Writing rhyming poetry is an art, and it’s not something that comes naturally to adults or children. One of the most challenging aspects of poetry for many beginning writers is grounding abstract ideas in concrete, descriptive language. Teach students to be independent and self-reflective as writers. Even if your students aren’t tested on poetry, there are many reasons to teach it. This poetry form lesson includes strategies for teaching the meaning of poetry, strategies for determining meaning in poems and strategies for … However, she did this with her fourth grade students. If you enjoy poetry and you like teaching it, your first experiences were probably relaxed, playful and fun. I’m so excited, because April is HERE! sign up for your free publishing kit today, Writing And Editing Checklists For Elementary Schoolers, Kindergarten Teaching Strategies to Take into the Second Half of the Year, Celebrating Cultural Diversity in the Classroom, Students Not Participating in Class? The most. But poetry doesn’t have to be hard. 5. I wrote a grant for a class set of Private Eye magnifying lenses, and later arranged to take my students to the local park to observe nature up close and write poetry. This lesson idea came from my exchange teacher during my first year of teaching. #1: You can pair up students allow them to share their written works in buddy pairs. Whether you are starting a poetry unit or want to integrate poetry into your curriculum all year long, here are some ideas to make poetry fun and meaningful for your students. That is a lesson that will serve them well, no matter what path they follow. Use poetry to teach a writing skill. 12 students required to participate in our FREE classbook project. I don’t have another live webinar scheduled, but you can watch a free replay right here on Teaching Resources. Include a variety of forms, genres and poets. Inexperienced writers often end up replacing powerful words with weak ones just because they rhyme, so their poems sound boring and contrived. We can talk about how each of the words the poet selected carries power. However, I do have to prepare them for state test which always has some type of poem, so I teach my poetry so… Have students select a favorite poem and illustrate it. Not everyone has been lucky enough to learn about poetry this way; in fact, most students have only seen the worst of poetry. Ask your kids the similarities they see between lyrics and poetry. Required fields are marked *, We provide teachers and schools with a FREE hands-on writing activity that motivates students to write and inspires students to learn by turning their stories into professionally bound books. I especially love reading the amazing poems that students write. At the end of the year, I like to have students create their own Poetry Portfolio. can be a fun way to teach students about the physical structure of a poem. These imaginative ideas for how to teach poetry to elementary students are the perfect place to start. Each year, I look for ways to infuse poetry reading and writing activities in our class throughout the year–not just for National Poetry Month in April. Let’s put the fun back into teaching poetry, especially for our younger students! You can also check out our favorite poetry videos for younger students (and be sure to subscribe to the WeAreTeachers YouTube channel while you’re at it). Use poetry as part of your daily read aloud. The student with the ball then says a word for another student to rhyme, and so on, as the ball rolls back and forth across the circle. Whether or not you actually take notes, the handouts provide a nice outline of what you can expect to learn in this session: Get started by watching the free replay of How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even If You Don’t)? As Vincent Van Gogh once put it, “Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it.”. How will I fit poetry lessons into my already packed schedule!”. They are short poems. I’ll just mention one example from my own experience. So needless to say, it was a little high for my kiddos. Best of all, your students will discover the best of poetry instead of the worst, and before you know it, they’ll be reading and writing poetry with enthusiasm! Persuasive Writing Prompts for 5th Graders. To see what I mean, read Corn Husks below, a poem written by one of my former 5th grade students while on our “Private Eye Poetry” field trip. No matter how you feel about poetry, if you’re an upper elementary teacher, you probably have to teach it at some point during the year. Image sources: Lead image via Shutterstock; Images 1, 2, 3 via OpenClipart.org, Your email address will not be published. After this activity invite the class to do a "poetry walk" around the room or drawing space to … Expose students to great poetry– Use this to inspire and stimulate their writing. This requires a lot of practice on the part of the students and helps the students to enjoy the recitation and feel the music and beauty of … Example: Max As fast as a rabbit, Loud like a blasting stereo, As silly as a clown, My friend Max. Have students … There are so many different types of poetry you can teach your students. by Studentreasures | Mar 23, 2018 | Teaching Strategies | 0 comments, Poetry is one of those things that looks so much easier to create than it actually is. Then last April, I had a flash of insight when I realized poetry would be the perfect topic to teach during a webinar! No, the teaching of poetry is best served in an atmosphere of joy; of exploration, by student and teacher alike; of creative and sometimes goofy assignments; and mostly of imaginative activities. 3. Another fun way to help students refine their poetry skills is to have them play some games. At the beginning of a poetry-writing session, I usually do some oral brainstorming. Poetry can be confusing, especially for younger readers. I love poetry, and now I have an excuse to teach it!”, But more likely you were thinking, “Yikes! These imaginative ideas for how to teach poetry to elementary students are the perfect place to start. by asking them to participate in the topic selection process. Activity. When you saw those words, what was your first reaction? For example: Teacher - cat, Student 1 - mat. Reading song lyrics in class is a simple way to introduce students to what poetry is. Keep in mind this may change.**. Instead of assigning a topic point-blank, allow your students a little more control over what they write by: Poets like Dr. Seuss and Jack Prelutsky are proof that poetry doesn’t have to be serious to be profound; a fun limerick can be just as meaningful as a heartfelt sonnet or a tragic couplet. Since it is a review, I don't usually teach the rules for each of the poems. as a class. April is National Poetry Month! Here are some poetry activities for upper elementary that I think your students … Let your students guide you toward the topics they’re most drawn to. Read the two scenarios below and ask yourself which one is most like your own experiences learning poetry. 2. Now Teaching poetry writing so that all kids are successful requires an in-depth introduction, including exposure to lots of poetry. Or, pull words out of a hat to determine subject matter or adjectives that need to be used within the context of the poem. Poetry is perfect for read alouds especially on those days when you are running short on time. Limericks are a great starting point for rhyming poetry as it requires only a moderate vocabulary for students. Every time I present this training, teachers tell me that watching the webinar totally changed the way they feel about teaching poetry. If your early memories consist of painful and humiliating attempts to memorize and recite poetry in front of the class, it’s no wonder you want to avoid it at all costs! Here are 12 Tips to Help, We Should Change the Rules! But my second year in second grade I had a really high group so I … Once students have written some poetry of their own, let them show it off! #2: Have students read their poems … These poetry videos for elementary school will help teachers make lessons engaging and fresh. I recently updated my poetry books to meet the needs of my third grade classroom: Use this book as a tool to teach your ... Read More about Teaching Poetry to Elementary Students Tell your students you are going to study poetry, and you’ll have varied reactions. Next, take students outdoors and have them find a quiet spot. Use board game figures for inspiration. Have your students discuss several works by a specific poet by comparing and contrasting his/her poems. Have your students write short poems, put them in balloons, and set them free. You learned that poems don’t have to rhyme and often break the rules of grammar, and if you were encouraged to write poetry, you probably wrote free verse. If you don’t like poetry, are you starting to realize why you don’t like it? So, did you experience the best of poetry or the worst of poetry as a student? Have small prizes, such as stickers or fancy pens, ready for all participants, and include a special ribbon or certificate for the winner, Every poet, young or old, deserves to have their work read by those for whom they write. Ask for volunteers to provide possible subjects. When we study poetry, for instance, I might ask the students to focus specifically on analyzing the concept of diction. NATIONAL POETRY MONTH! You can use crayons, markers, paint or chalk. Model the drafting progress (using your own writing, if you feel brave!) Is it that time already? How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even If You’t Don’t), How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even if You Don’t), How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even If You Don’t), A 6-step plan for teaching an entire poetry unit, What free verse poetry is and how it differs from other forms of poetry, My favorite poetry books to read aloud and share with your students, Questions to guide your poetry discussions, How to teach kids the difference between poetry and prose, 8 commonly-used poetic devices and how to teach them, A quick and easy close reading strategy for teaching kids to dig deeper into poetry, Strategies for teaching kids to write powerful similes and metaphors, A simple, step-by-step method for writing color poems, How to transform reluctant writers into enthusiastic poets. The more involved kids feel in a project, the more engaged they’ll be. Even if your students aren’t tested on poetry, there are many reasons to teach it. Teaching poetry has always been one of my favorite units! But, by far, the best poetry lesson I have taught was a two week study on “Love That Dog” by Sharon Creech. The following day, once the paintings have dried, the students are asked to write a poem about what they see. is always personal on some level; allowing your students enough freedom to find their own answers to your question helps bring out the most poetic side of their personalities. I either give it as a class project in centers or homework. Check out this article to get suggestions of poems that will keep your students reading poetry all year long. Which of the two scenarios would you like your students to experience? There is plenty … They can paint something abstract or concrete, and use as many or as few colors, patterns, or objects as they’d like. Basically, they get out their notes from throughout the year or I supply them with directions. Each month includes a … See who can come up with the most (sensical) rhymes in the shortest amount of time. Share your slam poetry ideas and writing with your students, even when they are not “perfect.” Tip #10: Use Mini lessons. Some kids will remember the rhymes of their early childhood days with excitement. As teachers, we should teach our kids how to comprehend poetry as a process. What I’ve discovered is that whether you love poetry or you’d rather walk across a bed of hot coals than teach it, the way you feel about poetry now is a direct result of your early experiences with it. If you're seeking inspirations for students to write poetry in a number of forms, you'll be amazed and delighted to read Fly with Poetry: An ABC of Poetry or Leap Into Poetry: More ABCs of Poetry. My favorites to teach are listed below: #3 ~ … Especially to novice writers, it may appear to be nothing more than a handful of broken lines, so much shorter than an essay and, therefore, so much easier to write—until, of course, they put pen to paper and try to write one of their own. 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