Blogs April is National Poetry Month, soIwrote you alimerick!
Poetry Monthis here alas!
Wecanshare allthe poems we hold dear.
We all have a voice,
Brooks andPlathwould rejoice,
Our expressionrings out loud and clear!
Reactions to poetry are varied. Some peoplefind great joy in the creation and sharing of poems.Othersdon’t embrace it as fully.This monthis a perfect time for teachers to introducepoetryto one another and to their students.I encourage you, whoever you are and whatever role you play, to embrace poetry.Poetry’s where it’s at!Theycan take on a variety of styles andvoice; you don’t have tostick with just Emily Dickinson orWalt Whitman toget excited about poetry.
Also, as so manyteachers and kiddosareat homeright now during coronavirus,having time in your children’s schedule to do some creative poetry making will show them how fun poetry really is.
Below, please note the variety of poemstyles and topicsavailableto share with your studentsor your own children:
| About dogs | Written in a silly way |
| By dogs | Poems using just 6 words |
| By cats | Poems especially for children |
| About cats | Song lyrics directly tied to poetry |
| Written by kids | Poems with animations (h/t Billy Collins) |
If that’s not enough to whet the palate, there are some fantastic resourcesespecially for teachers and poetry fans all over the world.Our two favorites are:
- The Poetry Foundation, which allows you to search for the perfect poem (they located 13 poems about hedgehogs!),sign up for a Poem of the Day, and find poetry by school, poet, and age-appropriateness. This site has so much information, just waiting for you!
- Academy of American Poets’ Poets.org/National Poetry Month. Here you can find all the official swag and support to celebrate this esteemed month, including the lovely Poem In Your Pocket Day to spread your poem far and wide.
Staying inwith your childrento keep yourself and others healthy?All the above resources are great for working with poetry at home. Plus:
- Scholastic has a guide to playing with poetry side by side with your children, using the philosophy, “Children are born poets; they just need your help to know it.”
- Continue the literary art of poetry at home with activities from Noodle.com
- The Poetry Foundation’s Children section offers tons of articles and videos: all focused on helping children learn about and love poetry.
Soon,your celebrationof poetrywill inspire, delight, andignite the inspiration thatpoetry can bring.
It’s always exciting
To see a month dedicated
To great poetry
How do youbring poetry to life forchildren? Tell us in the comments!
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