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Beth Hurst
● It’s useful to make sure poetry — reading it, listening to it, and reciting it — is a part of your classroom life. There are poems about every walk of life, every content area. And the forms vary from acrostics, ballads, blessings, curses and clerihew, to elegy, haiku, how-to poems, list poems, limericks, narratives, odes, persona poems, poems of address, and, of course, the sonnet — and more! Students can work on memorizing poems during any down time they have during the school day or at home. And they can perform their poems to friends and family whenever they want to.
● Fabulous Fridays: Memorizing and Performing Poems - Each Friday at two, our 3rd grade class walks down to the library for a twenty- to thirty-minute poetry break. We call these breaks our “Fabulous Fridays.” Those of us who have memorized poems take turns saying them aloud. Some of us choose a famous poem; some of us choose our own or a friend’s poem. Since we are in the library we speak softly, and when we are done the rest of the class snaps their fingers as a thank you.
● Poetry can be a way to communicate abstract feelings and thoughts into words. Use your senses to explore a poem. Close your eyes and let your imagination work while you listen to a poem. What do you see in your mind? It might be things or just abstract thoughts like colors or textures. How about sounds? Does the poem make you think of a taste or smell? This takes some practice but is a great way to enjoy poetry and practice mindfulness at the same time!
● Make poetry an everyday occurrence. Increasing children’s sustained reading time increases their reading achievement. Struggling readers are at risk for illiteracy and read considerably less than successful readers. Aliteracy, more common, is being able to read but being uninterested in doing so. I have found through research and experience (Stanley, 2004 & 2020) that poetry should and can take a bigger role in the teaching and motivating of reading across the content areas. Also, poetry is good for you because evidence (Nguyen, et al, 2016) suggests that storytelling through poetry learned in childhood may be related to developing personal values of empathy, benevolence and provide an important role in promoting resilience. Poetry provides brief, easy, often predictable, rhymed, culturally responsive, and highly engaging pieces that inspire creative responses. Children can read, rap, sing, perform, film, illustrate, write, or even dance a poem. Also research You can insert poetry into the nooks and crannies of lost time and space.
● Flood the environment with verse. Post poetry in the classroom, halls, cafeteria, offices, and gym. Make illustrated, poetry placemats for the lunch tables. Put poetry in motion on the school bus. Start a graffiti wall on the playground. Read poetry and sing songs during the morning announcements.
● Use poetry breaks. Make a basket of poems and keep a class library for your students to enjoy any time they feel stress and need a break. Laugh yourself well with humorous poetry. Keep a flash drive library of your children’s favorite poetry performances and songs aligned with your content in language arts, science, and math from YouTube, ready for play on your Smartboard or Zoom.
● Use dead time for reading poetry aloud. Read poetry aloud to fill those pockets of dead time, like waiting for lunch or standing in line. Use a poem, instead of a lecture, to introduce or close a topic of study.
● Plan a “Put a Poem in Your Pocket” campaign. Reward children for always keeping a book of poetry (paper or digital) with them. Poetry is portable and travels well on mobile devices. Encourage your students to read it while waiting for the bus, riding in the car, or hanging out on the playground.
● Start a before- during - or after school poetry club. Provide time and a place for kids to connect with the muse. Finding even ten minutes for poetry after lunch can make a difference. Invite parents to a class or schoolwide poetry party performance.
● Name each weekday for a different kind of poem. Look for a poem that fits the description. Read the poem aloud to yourself and to at least one other person. You can use the same names throughout the month or change them each week. Examples.
○ Funny Monday
○ Thoughtful Tuesday
○ Surprising Wednesday
○ Historical Thursday
○ Famous Person Friday
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