Making A Place For Poetry
by Judith Jackman
Spring into April by celebrating National Poetry Month. Although you can always make a place for poetry, this special month allows you to focus your students on this genre. Poetry can not only energize your students' writing but also foster their creativity and insight, regardless of age or writing ability. Invite parents to share in this new journey; send home a letter about National Poetry Month and the activities in which they can participate. Homework assignments, sharing poems, or searching poetry Web sites are wonderful ways to enrich learning at home. Activities and tips for exploring poetry in your classroom are endless.
- Give each student a poetry journal or folder. Encourage students to store their original poems, as well as copies of published poems. Students can include ideas and even illustrations, sparked by reading a poem. Provide copies of poems that are shared and/or studied in class for students to add to their folders. The information in the journal is a wonderful resource for them to use during writing.
- With your students, generate a list of topics they can write poetry about seasons, sports, favorite things, family, personal experiences, dreams, and so on. Providing several themes may help struggling writers select an idea. Another useful way to inspire children to write their own poetry is by sharing poems written by other students and poets. Highlights for Children magazine can be a creative resource for introducing your poetry unit. Students may feel more comfortable if they can use a format they have heard or read another poet use.
- Create a "Poet-tree" in your classroom. Children's original work can hang from branches like vines. Write titles of poems students have read and enjoyed on leaves. This area should also include a variety of books, articles, and magazines containing poetry. These materials should represent the many types of poetry: shape, sound, haiku, diamante, and so on.
- Make a poetry cube. Fill a cube-shaped box with beans or rice and then cover it with wrapping paper. Glue a poem on each side of the cube. Have children shake the cube and roll it. Share the poem the cube landed on. For younger students, have the poems written on chart paper as well. This activity shakes up any poetry lesson and lets you use the poems for reading activities.
- Launch lessons in any curriculum area with a poem. Poetry is one form of literature that moves easily across subject areas. Students will experience the diversity of poetry through these selections.
- Host an "Open Mike Night" when students and parents can share their original writings and/or to read favorite poetry. Invite other classes to join in the festivities. Celebrate the power of poetry.
Rejoice
By Edna Hamilton
Bells are ringing far away.
I like to hear them when they say:
"It's Easter Day, it's Easter Day.
Rejoice! Rejoice!"
Across the land, bells are ringing,
The blessed, blessed message bringing,
The church choirs and children singing,
"Rejoice! Rejoice!"
Judith Jackman is a Masters Student at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Teacher at Essex Fells Elementary School, Essex Fells, New Jersey.