Have students … Frankly, I worried that trying to write out the complete, the step-by-step directions for a poetry unit would result in a 3-inch thick document that no one would have time to read! Poetry is perfect for read alouds especially on those days when you are running short on time. Use Visual Guides to Keep Them Focused. Haikus follow a structured pattern and system. This lesson idea came from my exchange teacher during my first year of teaching. 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. Have your students write short poems, put them in balloons, and set them free. For other creative writing teaching tips, lesson plans and more, check out our online teacher’s lounge, and sign up for your free publishing kit today! 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. Have students select a favorite poem and illustrate it. Have your students write half a poem, then distribute the poems randomly to be finished by a fellow classmate. 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. If that’s what you’ve experienced up until now, let me introduce a whole new way of thinking about poetry and teaching it to your students! Read the two scenarios below and ask yourself which one is most like your own experiences learning poetry. For example: Teacher - cat, Student 1 - mat. Your email address will not be published. One of the most challenging aspects of poetry for many beginning writers is grounding abstract ideas in concrete, descriptive language. 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. I feel confident that after implementing the step-by-step plan described in the webinar, you’ll actually begin to enjoy teaching poetry. 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. Or, conduct a small, casual poetry contest in class by having everyone share their poems and then vote (anonymously) on their favorite. So needless to say, it was a little high for my kiddos. for very young poets who may need a little extra help staying on-topic, while. One of the most challenging aspects of poetry for many beginning writers is grounding abstract ideas in concrete, descriptive language. Once students have written some poetry of their own, let them show it off! I then encourage students to share kind feedback the poem their partner wrote. The most. This poetry website is through the Academy of American Poets, making it a fantastic resource for teachers. 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.”. If so, I’ll bet you were frustrated when your interpretation was different from your teacher’s, and you were told that yours was wrong. However, I do have to prepare them for state test which always has some type of poem, so I teach my poetry so… Poems don’t have to rhyme, and they don’t have to be dry and boring. So, did you experience the best of poetry or the worst of poetry as a student? While the initial session will last about one hour, follow-up sessions, including student writing , may be shorter as less demonstrating becomes necessary. Get the kids talking about their poems while illustrating, or just let them draw. The more involved kids feel in a project, the more engaged they’ll be. With the right strategies, you can make sure your elementary students’ introduction to the world of sonnets and sestinas is inspiring, rather than exasperating. There are a few ways I like to do this. They are short poems. If you have enough tubes, kids can glue two together to create binoculars. Reading song lyrics in class is a simple way to introduce students to what poetry is. Inexperienced writers often end up replacing powerful words with weak ones just because they rhyme, so their poems sound boring and contrived. With the whole class "listening in," I talk with each poet. That is a lesson that will serve them well, no matter what path they follow. Were you forced to analyze each and every poem to uncover its “true” meaning? When you saw those words, what was your first reaction? If you’re wondering what cover in this webinar, download the How to Teach Poetry webinar handouts from my TpT store now and take a look. When a student recites the correct rhyming word, the ball will be rolled to them. NATIONAL POETRY MONTH! Hold poetry workshops where students discuss one another‘s work. But, by far, the best poetry lesson I have taught was a two week study on “Love That Dog” by Sharon Creech. Use poetry as part of your daily read aloud. You might have been thinking, “Yay! While you’re there, read the comments and testimonials from teachers who attended the webinar in the past, and I think you’ll see why I’m so excited to share this information with you! Besides playing nature sounds or calming music during your poetry time to create the atmosphere, music itself that can be used to teach poetry. as a class. 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