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Kids' Poems: How to Introduce Poetry to Elementary School Children

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Kids' Poems: How to Introduce Poetry to Elementary School Children

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Of all the writing I have done with students in elementary school, teaching poetry writing has been the most exhilarating and successful. Kids love it; they are energized by the myriad of possibilities and the total writing freedom.

Teachers love it too; it's fun and easy to teach, and all kids thrive.

Several years ago, when I began teaching young children how to write free-verse poetry, I was amazed at how creative and insightful all kids became. Students who struggled with forming letters and words and with writing sentences, and who found writing in school burdensome, blossomed in this genre. Free from restrictions in content, form, space, length, conventions, and rhyme, they could let their imaginations soar. Proficient writers also shone.

For all children, their choice of words improved, and their joy in innovating surfaced. For some students who felt constricted by the requirements of school writing (journals, letters, and assignments), poetry writing freed them up.

Kenneth, a first grader, was one such student. The act of writing was physically difficult for him, and the traditional process was unsuccessful. Adult expectations for good handwriting also contributed to his dislike of writing. His teacher, Kevin Hill, commented on the impact of poetry writing: "With poetry, Kenneth was unleashed, and his talents were all over the page."

Fascinated by the world around him, Kenneth could finally use writing to express himself freely. Poetry writing gave him a creative outlet for his mature understanding of nature in a way that made him feel comfortable, assured, and successful. (See "Spring" below.)

Other children also wrote easily and confidently, about sports, school, friends, pets, nature, likes and dislikes, their families, and what was on their minds. Their poems displayed energy, rhythm, passion, shape, and keen observation.

What's more, the voices of individual students were evident in their poems and convinced teachers that young students could indeed write with "voice"-a personal and unique style. Hill comments, "I could actually hear individual students' voices. Even without the child's name on the paper, I would often know who wrote the poem."

Teaching poetry writing so that all kids are successful requires an in-depth introduction, including exposure to lots of poetry. While the initial session will last about one hour, follow-up sessions, including student writing, may be shorter as less demonstrating becomes necessary.

Typically, the whole class session includes demonstrating poetry writing through one or two of the following:

Sharing and discussing kids' poems (10-15 min.)

Writing a poem together (10 min.)

Teacher writing a poem in front of class (5-7 min.)

Mini-lesson on features of poetry (5-10 min.)

Brainstorming before independent writing (5 min.)

Writing a poem independently (15-25 min.)

Sharing and celebrating (10 min.)

During our introductory session, I limit the demonstration to sharing and discussing kids' poems. It is these poems most of all that will provide the confidence and models that spur budding poets into confident action.

Sharing poems written by other children sends a clear message: "Kids just like you wrote these poems. You can write poems too." I want to dispel any notions about writing being constrained, hard, or requiring strict conventions. I want students to write with ease and joy, and exposing them to kids' poems is the best way I know to accomplish that goal. Or, as one first-grade teacher put it, "they don't see themselves as poets till they see other children as poets."

As students listen to and read poetry, I want them to see and hear immediately that a poem:

Can be about anything

Can use few words

Has a unique form and shape

May or may not have rhythm and a beat

Often ends with a punch

Has a title

May use invented spelling

Let's us get to know the poet

Is easy to create

May be serious or humorous

Usually expresses important personal feelings

I read aloud and show at least five or six kids' poems, such as the ones included below. These poems are written by students just like yours-students who excel in school and students who struggle, students who like to write and students who avoid it. These are first-draft poems, thoughtfully conceived but quickly written with minimal revision. Our purpose is for students to discover the fun and joy of writing.

After reading a poem, I ask students, "What do you notice? What do you like?" We often comment on what the writer did and note many of the following as we discuss the poem as a whole:

At the beginning of a poetry-writing session, I usually do some oral brainstorming. 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. With the whole class "listening in," I talk with each poet. These one-on-one conversations encourage each student to pursue a topic in which he or she is interested, and to think about word choice, beginnings, endings, and so on.

I let them know that we'll have about 15 minutes of "quiet" writing with voluntary sharing afterward. I also tell them to put their name and a date on each poem so we have a permanent record of their work.

Students go back to their seats (or writing places) to begin their poems. Almost everyone settles down and gets to work right away. As they do when writing in other genres, kids quietly share ideas and help one another with spelling.

As children begin to write, I circulate about the room and briefly talk with each student, kneeling down so I am at eye level. My main purpose here is to encourage, support, and affirm each writer's efforts. Sometimes, if a student is having difficulty choosing a topic about which to write, I may need to have a brief one-on-one conference.

After the sustained writing time, students are invited to share their poems. Because poems are usually fairly short, sharing time goes quickly. All children get a chance to read aloud if they choose to do so.

Sometimes, students will stand at their desks and read their poems. Other times, we gather as a class in the reading-writing-sharing area, and each child reads his or her poem in the "author's chair." Some days we pair up or read in self-selected, small groups.

The purpose of the sharing is to celebrate students' efforts. I point out only what the writer has done well. Sharing the poem congratulates the writer, affirms the effort, serves as a possible model for other students, and encourages the writer to continue writing. When the writer reads, we also clearly hear the voice of the poet. At times, students instantly appreciate the quality of a poem and spontaneously applaud.

Sometimes, to generate conversation, I'll ask: "What did we learn about the poet that we didn't know before?"

There is little critique during sharing time. Once again, our purpose in writing poetry is to free kids up to write, to make poetry writing fun and easy, to play around with language, to write without concern about "correctness," and to give everyone confidence in their abilities as writers. For all of that to happen, our focus must remain on honoring children's writing efforts. Our first poetry-writing session (and all sessions) ends with this celebratory sharing.

For other teachers and me, poetry writing has proved to be the easiest, most joyful, and most successful writing many students have ever done. I wish you the same ease, joy, and success.

- Bridget Frantz, Grade One

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Teaching Poetry to Kids in Elementary School | Scholastic | Teachers

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A renowned language arts teacher shares the joy of teaching young children to write Ã Â¢ and love Ã Â¢ poetry

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How to Teach Poetry, Step by Step (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

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How to Teach Poetry, Step by Step (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

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April is National Poetry Month! When you saw those words, what was your first reaction? You might have been thinking, "Yay! I love poetry, and now I have an excuse to teach it!"

But more likely you were thinking, "Yikes! Is it that time already? Poetry is so boring and hard to teach, and my students don't like it either. How will I fit poetry lessons into my already packed schedule!"

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. Poetry is included in most reading curriculums, and almost every standardized reading test has at least a few poems. Even if your students aren't tested on poetry, there are many reasons to teach it. Just think about the amount figurative language used in poetry, and you'll understand how learning to read and write poetry can improve comprehension of other types of text, too.
The good news is that even if you don't enjoy poetry yourself, it's easy to teach it in a way that will have your students begging for more!
If you don't believe me, I hope you'll watch the replay of my webinar, How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even If You't Don't). Every time I present this training, teachers tell me that watching the webinar totally changed the way they feel about teaching poetry. Instead of dreading their next poetry unit, they are actually excited to get started!

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. This might seem like an unusual request, but after reading this post, I think you'll see why it's important.

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. I'll admit that the study of poetry can be dry and boring, but it can also be vibrant and exciting when it's taught as a form of self-expression. Read the two scenarios below and ask yourself which one is most like your own experiences learning poetry.

The Best of Poetry

If you enjoy poetry and you like teaching it, your first experiences were probably relaxed, playful and fun. Discussions about poetry focused on personal responses, and you talked about the beauty of the language, noticed the musical quality of the words, or discussed how poetry made you feel. 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.

Free verse poems are so easy to write that almost anyone can compose them, even kids who normally struggle to write sentences and paragraphs. 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. 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. 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. Anthony was fascinated with dried corn husks, and he wrote this beautiful comparison poem about what he observed.

The Worst of Poetry

Not everyone has been lucky enough to learn about poetry this way; in fact, most students have only seen the worst of 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! Were you forced to analyze each and every poem to uncover its "true" meaning? 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. If you were given poetry-writing assignments, your poems probably had to rhyme which meant never being able to write in your own voice. Writing rhyming poetry is an art, and it's not something that comes naturally to adults or children. Inexperienced writers often end up replacing powerful words with weak ones just because they rhyme, so their poems sound boring and contrived.

So, did you experience the best of poetry or the worst of poetry as a student? If you don't like poetry, are you starting to realize why you don't like it? This is why I wanted to you to explore how you came to feel the way you do about poetry. Which of the two scenarios would you like your students to experience? Poems don't have to rhyme, and they don't have to be dry and boring. 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! After you implement some of these strategies, you might even be surprised to learn that you actually like teaching poetry!

Free Webinar: How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even If You Don't)

I've been sharing poetry resources with teachers for a long time, but until last year, I had never explained how to each a poetry unit from beginning to end. 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!

Then last April, I had a flash of insight when I realized poetry would be the perfect topic to teach during a webinar! The format would give me a way to explain the steps and strategies in great detail, and I could also answer questions at the end of the live session.

I immediately set to work developing my webinar, How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even if You Don't), and it was a joy to be able to share exactly how I teach poetry, step by step. 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!

I don't have another live webinar scheduled, but you can watch a free replay right here on Teaching Resources. My free webinars don't include a professional development certificate, but you can obtain a PD certificate by purchasing my How to Teach Poetry Webinar PD pack or my Poetry Webinar Bundle. Both products include a PD certificate, the poetry webinar slides in a printable PDF format, a downloadable video to watch offline, and an audio replay.

What You'll Learn in the Poetry Webinar

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. 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! Whether or not you actually take notes, the handouts provide a nice outline of what you can expect to learn in this session:

Why it's important to teach poetry

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

How to get kids talking about 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

Ready to Teach Your BEST Poetry Unit Ever?

Get started by watching the free replay of How to Teach Kids to Love Poetry (Even If You Don't)? I feel confident that after implementing the step-by-step plan described in the webinar, you'll actually begin to enjoy teaching poetry. 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!

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How to Teach Poetry, Step by Step (It's Easier Than You Think!)

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Watch a free poetry webinar and learn how easy it is to teach an entire poetry unit in a way that will have your students begging for more! These strategies are perfect for National Poetry Month or any time of the year.

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The following selections of poems are curated around specific themes and are appropriate for young readers.

Find poetry lesson plans, essays about teaching, a glossary of poetry terms, and other educator resources on our Materials for Teachers page. Visit our Poetry for Teens page to find more selections of poems tailored to a high school audience. Encourage students to participate in the Dear Poet project. And, celebrate Poem In Your Pocket Day virtually on April 30.

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Poems for Kids - The following selections of poems are curated around specific themes and are appropriate fo

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Types of Poems for Kids to Read and Write

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Types of Poems for Kids to Read and Write

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There are so many different types of poems for kids to learn about. Poetry is an important tool that can be used in the classroom to reinforce reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The natural rhythms and rhymes of poems help kids build their fluency and expression. Poetry is also great for making inferences, connections, and visualizations. Kids love to create their own poems and share them with the class. Click on any of these 12 different types of poems below to get more activities and resources.

Types of Poems

Poetry Activities

Would you love to have all 12 types of poems with activities and writing paper? In the beginning, I created these resources out of necessity. When it came time to teach poetry in the classroom, I quickly realized there were limited materials. It took a lot of time and energy to create resources for each type of poem. Now my students and I both agree that poetry is one of our favorite writing units. My hope is to save you the extra work so you and your kids can get started enjoying poetry too! Click the picture below for the poetry bundle.

Poetry Covers

Now that you know some of the types of poems for kids, think about having students write their own to create a poetry journal. Click the picture below or this link to download FREE cover pages.

You Might Also Like:

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Types of Poems for Kids to Read and Write - Vibrant Teaching

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There are so many different types of poems for kids to learn about. Poetry is an important tool that can be used in the classroom to reinforce reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The natural rhythms and rhymes of poems help kids build their fluency and expression.

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The ultimate guide to teaching poetry to kids in the classroom. This poetry for kids guide includes poetry resources for teachers and FREE resources.
Teaching poetry to kids in the classroom is a wonderful way to build a child's reading and writing skills. Poetry activities are one of our favorite things to do together as a class.

We enjoy learning to read new poems, practicing each day, and writing our own poems in April during Poetry Month. We learn a new poem each week and never get bored!

Wonder how poetry can encourage creative thought, inspire writing, and build a love of reading? Read the 5 Reasons to Teach Poetry in the Classroom.

Below you'll find creative resources and tools to inspire young poets. These helpful tips and ideas will help you enjoy teaching poetry to children.

Poetry Tutorials & Tips

The poem of the week and poetry writing tutorials below include tips for teaching, step-by-step instructions, anchor chart ideas, and free templates you can print and use today.

Poetry Resources for Teachers

Ready to give poetry a spot in your classroom schedule? The following resources are full of kid & teacher-friendly tools, poems, and activities to make learning poems and writing poetry FUN!

Watch the video to see the Poem of the Week resource in action!

Watch the video to see Poetry Mats in action!

Watch the video to see the Poetry Writing unit for 1-3 in action!

Free Poetry Activities to Try Today

Want to try a few free activities in your classroom tomorrow? Simply click the images below to download and enjoy a copy of the following poetry resources to use in your classroom.

Free Teaching Poetry Email Course

Ready to learn more? Sign up for the poetry email series filled with tips to get you started teaching poetry to kids, strategies for success, and tons of FREE poems and poetry writing tutorials you can access right away.

Children's Poetry Books

From my own childhood experiences and collection of poetry, I have compiled a list of favorite poetry books for kids. Choose a few to include on your bookshelf and share a poem or two with kids when the mood strikes. They will love the rhyme, rhythm, and repetition that the poems serve, as well as the funny topics.

It is important to find great examples of poems to share with children. Jack Prelutsky, Dennis Lee (a Canadian poet fav), Dr. Seuss, and Shel Silverstein are a few amazing authors who have written a variety of poetry and books for children. I guarantee if you share any of the selections below you will build a love of poetry that will last a lifetime!

FREE Resource for Teaching a Poem of the Week

This FREE Poem of the Week resource includes 2 original poems and 1 nursery rhyme to add to your collection of poems. There are 6 differentiated activities included, as well as sentence strips and bulletin board banner. Your students will be reading and writing poetry all week long!

PIN for Later

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The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Poetry to Kids

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The ultimate guide to teaching poetry to kids in the classroom. This poetry for kids guide includes poetry resources for teachers and FREE resources. Teaching poetry to kids in the classroom is a wonderful way to build a child's reading and writing skills. Poetry activities are one of our favorite things to do together as a class.

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12 of the Best Primary Poetry Resources for National Poetry Day

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12 of the Best Primary Poetry Resources for National Poetry Day

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12 of the Best Primary Poetry Resources for National Poetry Day 2019

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12 of the Best Primary Poetry Resources for National Poetry Day 2019

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Poetry for children can make kids laugh, think about the world around them and inspire their own creativity. Here's our selection of some of the best poems for children.

Poetry is powerful stuff - from nursery rhymes, to song lyrics, to poetry shared on social media to verse novels. We turn to poems to soothe or rally, to praise, to celebrate, to comprehend, to grieve, to shout "I love you" or to pick ourselves up when it seems impossible.

Poems can take us on a journey through history and the seasons, festivals and traditions from many different countries, cultures and religions. They teach us about empathy and tolerance: they are words for life.

'We Believe in Football' by Paul Cookson

'Turvy-Topsy' by Paul Stewart

Poem by Paul Stewart, illustration by Chris Riddell, taken from Chris Riddell's Poems to Save the World With.

Turvy-Topsy
'Gentlemen and Ladies, all and one,

Let's have a little games and fun.

I've noticed that the things we say,

Sound wrong if said a different way.

I've never wandered forth and back,

Never been beaten blue and black.

And through my life, large and by,

I've yet to be left dry and high.

Error and trial, punishment and crime,

It's go and touch, again and time.

My fortunes are not down and up.

I never drink from a saucer and cup.

No pepper and salt upon my dish

Of bacon and liver or chips and fish . . .

Under key and lock . . . Order and law . . .

All bothered and hot . . . Peace and war . . .

Simple and pure, though it may sound dull,

It's how it sounds makes it void and null

You shouldn't mix pleasure with business:

The bees and the birds with the m & s.

Mind your qs and ps come shine or rain,

And try not to get it wrong again.

Cos, wrong or right, to return to food;

'Where's the fork 'n knife?' just sounds kind of rude.'

'A small dragon' by Brian Patten
This speaks to me of belief and trust and wonder. A small dragon
I've found a small dragon in the woodshed.

Think it must have come from deep inside a forest

because it's damp and green and leaves

are still reflecting in its eyes.

'Puzzle' by Matt Goodfellow
A small but important poem. Puzzle
we are

all

jigsaw pieces

before

we

are gone

we

must

find

a

way

to

fit

together

as

one

'The Laughter Forecast' by Sue Cowling
Sue Cowling's poem looks at all the ways of expressing happiness in this alternative weather forecast. The Laughter Forecast
Today will be humorous

With some giggly patches,

Scattered outbreaks of chuckling in the south

And smiles spreading from the east later,

Widespread chortling

Increasing to gale-force guffaws towards evening.

The outlook for tomorrow

Is hysterical.

'Give Yourself A Hug' by Grace Nichols
A gorgeous hug of a poem which implores you to believe in yourself. An extract from 'Give Yourself A Hug'
Give yourself a hug

when you feel unloved

Give yourself a hug

when people put on airs

to make you feel a bug
From The Works: Every Poem You Will Ever Need at School This is a wonderful collection of poems inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Rachel's beautiful poem answers this question - 'What is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?' An extract from 'Uses' chosen by Paul Cookson.
'Uses' by Rachel Rooney

They prop open windows; let butterflies in

and stop doors from slamming in sudden, cold wind.
From Wonderland - Alice in Poetry This is a lovely example of a kenning in this book of poems chosen specially for Key Stage 1. Evie is my daughter and this one is about me! My Mum edited by Michaela Morgan.
They help with your balance and make you walk tall,

they'll increase your height on a chair, if you're small.

'My Mum' by Evie Weston

Glasses wearer,

Great carer,

Wants it neater,

But so sweet-er,

Promise keeper,
The joy of reading, perfectly contained in a poem. I Opened A Book
Car-horn beeper,

Book maker,

Child creator.

'I Opened A Book' by Julia Donaldson

I opened a book and in I strode.
I love this poem. It is very funny and is a good example of where your imagination can take you. An extract from 'Aliens Stole My Underpants'
Now nobody can find me.

I've left my chair, my house, my road,

My town and my world behind me.

'Aliens Stole My Underpants' by Brian Moses

To understand the ways

of alien beings is hard,

and I've never worked it out

why they landed in my backyard.

And I've always wondered why
This poignant poem describes a child's experience of World War II. An extract from 'Photograph'
on their journey from the stars,

these aliens stole my underpants

and took them back to Mars.

'Photograph' by Roger Stevens

Now Dad's in France

And our beach is covered in concrete

And tangled barbed wire

And landmines

In case the Germans invade

But on that day

We'd just made

The world's grandest sandcastle

And watched the tide

Rush in
This is an inspiring poem about believing in yourself. An extract from 'Let No One Steal Your Dreams'
Filling the moat

Gradually washing

It all away

'Let No One Steal Your Dreams' by Paul Cookson

Let no one steal your dreams

Follow your heart

Follow your soul

For only when you follow them

Will you feel truly whole
From The Very Best of Paul Cookson: Let No One Steal Your Dreams and Other Poems.
Set your sights and keep them fixed

Set your sights on high

Let no one steal your dreams

Your only limit is the sky

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Poetry for children can make kids laugh, think about the world around them and inspire their own creativity. Here's our selection of some of the best poems for children. Poetry is powerful stuff - from nursery rhymes, to song lyrics, to poetry shared on social media to verse novels.

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Limerick Poems for Kids | Classroom Poetry Video

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Top 5 Poetry Styles For Kids // Learning From Home

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Poetry resources for parents, including poems and videos for children ages 0-12.

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Let your children discover the works of poet Emily Dickinson in Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson .

As the premier title in the Poetry for Kids series, Emily Dickinson introduces children to the works of poet Emily Dickinson. Poet, professor, and scholar Susan Snively has carefully chosen 35 poems of interest to children and their families. Each poem is beautifully illustrated by Christine Davenier and thoroughly explained by an expert. The gentle introduction, which is divided into sections by season of the year, includes commentary, definitions of important words, and a foreword.

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Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson by Dickinson, Emily

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Available Editions

Ebook

HarperCollins Publishers

Originally published in 1981

176 pages

ISBN: 9780062999702

Hardcover

HarperCollins Publishers

Originally published in 1981

176 pages

ISBN: 0060256737

$19.99 - $24.99 CAN

Special Hardcover

HarperCollins Publishers

Originally published in 1981

192 pages

ISBN: 0061905852

$19.99 - $24.99 CAN

Featuring 12 extra poems!

Book & CD

HarperCollins Publishers

Originally published in 1981

176 pages

ISBN: 0066236177

$22.99 - $28.50 CAN

Library

HarperCollins Publishers

Originally published in 1981

176 pages

ISBN: 006256745

$19.89 - $24.89 CAN

Description

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?...

Here in the attic of Shel Silverstein you will find Backward Bill, Sour Face Ann, the Meehoo With an Exactlywatt, and the Polar Bear in the Frigidaire. You will talk with the Broiled Face, and find out what happens when someone steals your knees, you get caught by the Quick-Digesting Gink, a mountain snores, and they've put a Brassiere on the Camel.
From the creator of the beloved poetry collectionsWhere the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up, and Every Thing On It, here is another wondrous book of poems and drawings.

Videos

Quotes

"My beard grows to my toes, I never wear no clothes, I wraps my hair Around my bare, And down the road I goes." - "My Beard"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"Needles and pins, Needles and pins, Sew me a sail To catch me the wind." - from "Needles and Pins"
Falling Up

"Millie McDeevit screamed a scream So loud it made her eyebrows steam." - from "Screamin' Millie"
Falling Up

"I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war" - from "Hug O' War"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"If you are a dreamer, come in." - from "Invitation"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"Anything can happen, child, ANYTHING can be." - from "Listen to the Mustn'ts"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"Balancing my ABCs Takes from noon to half past three. I don't have time to grab a T Or even stop to take a P." - "Alphabalance"
Falling Up

"Last night I had a crazy dream That I was teachin' school. My teachers had turned into kids, And I laid down the rules." - from "Crazy Dream"
Falling Up

"If we were a rock 'n' roll band, We'd travel all over the land." - from "Rock 'N' Roll Band"
A Light in the Attic

"It was missing a piece. And it was not happy." - from The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece

"Mo memorized the dictionary But just can't seem to find a job Or anyone who wants to marry Someone who memorized the dictionary." - "Memorizin' Mo"
A Light in the Attic

"Somebody has to go polish the stars, They're looking a little bit dull." - from "Somebody Has To"
A Light in the Attic

"The Homework Machine, oh the Homework Machine, Most perfect contraption that's ever been seen." - from "Homework Machine"
A Light in the Attic

" "A genuine anteater," The pet man told my dad. Turned out, it was an aunt eater, And now my uncle's mad!" - "Anteater"
A Light in the Attic

"The saddest thing I ever did see Was a woodpecker peckin' at a plastic tree. He looks at me, and "Friend," says he, "Things ain't as sweet as they used to be."" - "Peckin'"
A Light in the Attic

"There are too many kids in this tub." - from "Crowded Tub"
A Light in the Attic

"Last night, while I lay thinking here Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear" - "Whatif"
A Light in the Attic

"We've been caught by the quick-digesting Gink, And now we're dodgin' his teeth ... And now we are restin' in his intestine, And now we're back out on the street." - "Quick Trip"
A Light in the Attic

"Nobody loves me, Nobody cares, Nobody picks me peaches and pears." - from "Nobody"
A Light in the Attic

"The baby bat Screamed out in fright, "Turn on the dark, I'm afraid of the light."" - "Batty"
A Light in the Attic

"Anyhow, you've been warned and I will not be blamed if your Wild Strawberries cannot be tamed." - from "Wild Strawberries"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out!" - from "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain't enough!" - from "The Little Blue Engine"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself." - from "Magic"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"And he didn't really know where he was going, but he did know he was going somewhere, because you really have to go somewhere, don't you?" - from Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back
Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back

"And all the colors I am inside Have not been invented yet." - from "Colors"
Where the Sidewalk Ends

"Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy." - from The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree

"They've put a brassiere on the camel, She wasn't dressed proper, you know." - from "They've Put a Brassiere on the Camel"
A Light in the Attic

"All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas Layin' in the sun, Talkin' 'bout the things They woulda-coulda-shoulda done... But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas All ran away and hid From one little did." - "Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda,"
Falling Up

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HarperCollins Publishers Originally published in 1981 176 pages ISBN: 9780062999702 HarperCollins Publishers Originally published in 1981 176 pages ISBN: 0060256737 $19.99 - $24.99 CAN HarperCollins Publishers Originally published in 1981 192 pages ISBN: 0061905852 $19.99 - $24.99 CAN Featuring 12 extra poems! HarperCollins Publishers Originally published in 1981 176 pages

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Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a poetry book unlike any other! This joyful celebration of hip hop poetry will make your children wanna clap, sing, dance, and create their own poetry with a funky beat!

Like the New York Times bestselling 'Poetry Speaks to Children' - the classic poetry book and CD that started it all -, this collection is meant as an introduction to poetry, the beginning of a journey of discovery of hip hop.

Rooted in the coded drumbeats slaves used to communicate, as well as in gospels, jazz and blues, hip hop is is a very powerful and creative form of expression that started in 1973 in the South Bronx.

"Hip hop is a cultural expression - it's embracing." ~ Nikki Giovanni

Hip Hop Speaks to Children consists of 51 well-known poems and songs, from Nikki Giovanni's "Ego Tripping" to Langston Hughes's "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," from Kanye West's "Hey Mama" to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream."

Other featured poets include Eloise Greenfield, Maya Angelou, Oscar Brown Jr., Mos Def, Queen Latifah, Tupac Shakur, Walter Dean Myers, Nikki Grimes, and Lucille Clifton, to name but a few.

Each page features one poem or song, printed on vibrant illustrations by one of the five different illustrators.

The accompanying CD contains over 30 live performances, some by the artists themselves, some uniquely interpreted by fellow artists. Together, the poems, the artwork, and the CD create a powerful experience that will spark children's love for hip hop poetry.

Hip Hop Speaks to Children is suitable for ages 7 and up (I could even see High School students enjoying this book!). Also a great book for teachers and parents!

Awards & Honors: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry, The Booklist TOP 10 Art Books for Youth

From the same series:

More multicultural children's books about Hip Hop:

More multicultural poetry books for children:

*You can buy any of the books on this site from Amazon USA, CAN or UK by clicking on the book titles or covers*

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Multicultural Book of the Month: Hip Hop Speaks To Children

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Hip Hop Speaks to Children is a poetry book unlike any other! This joyful celebration of hip hop poetry will make your children wanna clap, sing, dance, and create their own poetry with a funky beat!

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This page contains dozens of poem worksheets for kids. Many include reading comprehension questions.

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Using poetry with kids or any age is highly effective, as I've mentioned before. It's also a bonus when you can find FREE poems for kids. And that's exactly what we've created with our Seasonal Poetry Packs. Designed mainly for K-2nd grades, you'll find poems for kids plus reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension activities to accompany them.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Included in each Poetry Pack:

These poems for kids include original poetry by me and clip art drawn by my 3rd grader. Below are images and links to all our current poetry packs {so far} with more to come!

original poem {1-page}

poetry notebook copies {easy for multiple copies}

pocket chart poetry strips {we have and heavily use our standard pocket chart & tabletop pocket chart}

read and illustrate the poem page {great for teaching visualization}

cut & glue poetry strips

rhyming words activity

poetry books

poetry activity cards

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Terms of Use: Please feel free to download and use with your child at home, classroom, or in a tutoring setting. Please do not share the direct PDF files on Facebook or other platforms. If you'd like to share these, please share the link of the actual post. Thank you!

FREE Poems for Kids Links

Click on each image to find the poetry pack!

Follow This Reading Mama's board Poetry on Pinterest.

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FREE Poems for Kids {Seasonal Poetry Packs}

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Using poetry with kids or any age is highly effective, as I've mentioned before. It's also a bonus when you can find FREE poems for kids. And that's exactly what we've created with our Seasonal Poetry Packs. Designed mainly for K-2nd grades, you'll find poems for kids plus reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension activities to ...

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There are many different ways to write poems as well as lots of techniques you can learn to help you improve your writing skill. Here are many of the poetry writing lessons for children that I have created to help you become a better poet, including how to write funny poetry, poetic rhythm, poetic forms and other styles of verse, as well as lesson plans for teachers and video lessons.

How to Write Funny Poetry

Rhythm in Poetry

1. The Basics

2. You Can Scan, Man

3. I Am the Iamb

4. Okie Dokie, Here's the Trochee

5. More than Two Feet

Poetic Forms

A poetic "form" is a set of rules for writing a certain type of poem. These rules can include the number of lines or syllables the poem should have, the placement of rhymes, and so on. Here are lessons for writing several common poetic forms.

Other Poetic Styles

There are many different styles of poems. These are not "poetic forms" because they don't usually have firm rules about length, syllable counts, etc., but they are common enough that many well-known children's poets have written poems like these.

Reciting Poetry

Other Poetry Writing Lessons

Poetry Lesson Plans for Teachers

Video Poetry Lessons

Poetry Dictionaries and Rhyming Words Lists

When reading these lessons, you may come across some unfamiliar words. If you see a poetic term and don't know what it means, you can always look it up in the Poetic Terms Dictionary. Poetry4kids also has a rhyming dictionary and a list of rhyming words you can use to help you write poems.

Other Useful Poetry-Writing Lessons

There are loads of websites on the Internet that offer helpful lessons for children on how to write poems. Here are a few you may find useful:

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There are many different ways to write poems as well as lots of techniques you can learn to help you improve your writing skill. Here are many of the poetry writing lessons for children that I have created to help you become a better poet, including how to write funny poetry, poetic rhythm, poetic forms and other styles of verse, as well as lesson plans for teachers and video lessons.

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Are you gearing up to teach poetry but just aren't sure where to start?! Have no fear, here's a list of tips and tricks to make teaching poetry an cinch, AND get your students loving it too. Yes, even the boys!

1. Introduce poetry with poems that your students can relate to. Hint: Here's a link to the poem, Hint: Here is a Hint: Here's Shel Silverstein reading his poem
This is huge. You have to hook students on poetry from the get go. My of them have a preconceived notion that poetry is boring, for older folks, for girls, you name it. It's your job to hook them! My 2 favorite poems to read to students are "Sick" by Shel Silverstein with reasons that . . . "Little Peggy Ann McKay cannot go to school today. She has the measles and the mumps, a rash, a gash, and purple bumps." {You have to put on your silly acting hat and use a great voice when you read this poem!} At this point all of the students are with me and are starting to see that poetry can be silly, fun, and creative! Next up, I read Silverstein's poem, "Sarah Cynthia Silvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out." Once students have hear these two poems, the walls of resistance start coming down. Most of my students can connect with these two themes of being sick and not wanting to take the garbage out.

"Sick" by Shel Silverstein.
link to a video of the poem "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout" read by Shel Silverstein. "Ickle Me, Tickle Me, Too" on YouTube.

2. Read each poem aloud to students more than once I am a firm believer in reading a poem at least twice. Often on the first reading because students are so engrossed in the story the poem is trying to tell that they miss all the poetry elements. By reading a poem a second time, students can start to listen for the important components, and they'll discover things not seen before.. When you reread the poem, ask students to listen for patterns and for the overall flow of the words. Do any words stand out? Why do you think the author chose the words she or he did to convey the meaning? These pieces of the puzzle help create the mood, feeling tone, and message of the poem. Most importantly, do this process with students the first few times so they realize you can't read a poem once and "get" the meaning on the first go-round. It takes many readings.

3. Set up a poetry corner in your classroom
I love getting students excited and keeping them excited about reading poetry. One of my favorites is to transform my reading corner into a poetry display corner. I pull out all of my books relating to poetry and put them on display. Use post-it-notes with arrows and put them on the pages of the poems you enjoy and write things like, "Great use of alliteration!" and "The author repeats the word, 'thump' three times." etc. This simple task shows students what's on your mind when you read the poem.

4. Learn about the poet prior to reading their poetry
A lot of poets write poems about their mood, life events, family and relationships, and nature. First, learn as much as you can about the poet. Where and in what time period did he or she live? Understanding the time period the poem the poem was written and the background of the poet is essential to drawing conclusions about the poem's meaning.

5. Spend time analyzing poetry to really understand the authors purpose Hint: If you're not sure where to start with poetry analysis and need some help getting jump started,
The fun part of analyzing poetry is figuring out what the poet was trying to say. This is where the use of figurative language comes in. It's what makes the poetry have that music-like rhythm and flow. It's the flow of the words, the rhythm of the beat, the pattern of the syllables, it's the words carefully chosen to create images in the reader's mind. It's really important that you spend time reading the poems yourself and fully understand it before you attempt teach it to students. Teaching children to analyze poetry isn't one of those things you can just pick up and teach; some poems really are hard for adults to understand, let alone ask students to understand. You really need to spend time thinking, reflecting, asking questions about what you've read, and really understand the poem yourself.
check out these task cards that guide students through analysis of 9 poems that are also on the CCSS-ELA text exemplars list.

6. Start each day with a read aloud poem Hint: Here is a
I like to start off each day during the poetry unit with a read aloud. Kids really enjoy hearing poems and the writing voice of different authors. If you aren't big into reading, you can put a youtube video of someone performing poetry reading as well. Shel Silvertein has recorded quite a few videos on youtube and uses a great voice to read them. Remember to read a variety of poems so that you can reach all of your kids.
link to the Shel Silverstein Books youtube page with lots of videos to choose from.

7. Teach figurative language to help students better understand the poem's meaning Hint: Here is a Hint: Here is a Hint: Here is a
Some poems require very basic surface level understanding while other poems are challenging to grasp what the poet is really trying to say. Poems often use metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia, alliteration, idioms, and other figurative language. Teach students the meaning of these kinds of figurative language. Understanding these poetic devices will help unlock the meaning hidden within some poems and allow for deeper critical thinking.

link to a set of quick reference wall posters for figurative language and poetry
link to an interactive notebook all about figurative language Figurative language interactive notebook link to unique Cootie Catchers that reinforce figurative language skills

8. Get excited when you teach poetry, let loose
When you really enjoy reading and responding to poetry, your students will pick up on your excitement. Use the funny voices when you read aloud. Laugh at the funny parts. I'm totally an introvert, so this is hard me, but my students really enjoyed when I read poems

9. Give kids a chance to write their own poetry Hint: If you're looking for a little more guidance,
To solidify students love for poetry, let them write! You can provide them with many different styles, alliterations, haikus, "I am", 5 senses, concrete, etc. As long as students are writing poetry, I don't mind! Teach students that poetry doesn't have to rhyme. Let them experience the fun of writing their own poems about what interests them.
click here for a fully prepared, ready to teach independent poetry project.
Hint: Here is alink to a FREE lesson on writing a 5 senses poem.

10. Encourage students to share their poetry
Once students have written some poetry of their own, let them show it off! There are a few ways I like to do this. #1: You can pair up students allow them to share their written works in buddy pairs. This is great because it's a small group and helps build classroom relationships and confidence. I then encourage students to share kind feedback the poem their partner wrote. #2: Have students read their poems aloud to the class. I like this as well because it helps foster public speaking skills and students get to share with the whole class a poem they wrote and are proud of. #3: Display their written works on the wall! Often times my students write their own poetry and add pictures to go with it, and it makes decor in your classroom.

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Are you gearing up to teach poetry but just aren't sure where to start?! Have no fear, here's a list of tips and tricks to make teaching poetry an cinch, AND get your students loving it too. Yes, even the boys! Introduce poetry with poems that your students can relate to.

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Parts of a Poem | Elements of Poetry | Poetry for Beginners

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Strategies for Teaching Poetry: The Ultimate Guide

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Strategies for Teaching Poetry: The Ultimate Guide

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Looking for teaching strategies as you begin a poetry unit?

Teaching poetry can be intimidating - for both students and teachers.

But it doesn't have to be!

This post dives into ways you can teach poetry in fun and effective ways.

Read on!

Why should I teach poetry?

By the time your students reach middle school, they have already been exposed (hopefully) to poetry. They may already have prejudices like "it's too hard to understand," "it's stupid," or "I don't get it."

And, as middle school teachers, we want to move our students from the easy and often "cute" poetry of intermediate grades to more sophisticated and challenging poems.

When students start analyzing poetry beyond comprehension, they begin practicing critical thinking skills. You are asking them justify their ideas using the text.

The value in teaching poetry comes from:

empowering your students to tackle challenging texts

teaching students reading strategies to understand poetry

thinking about the world and life-issues in new ways

building reading confidence

stashing your students' reading toolboxes with strategies that will help them in the future

Introducing poetry to your students

Of course, your students know what poetry is...or do they?

Here are two strategies for teaching poetry that you can use as you introduce your students to the unit.

These will help make sure your students understand the terms you'll be using.
Try this:
Ask your students to define poetry. Write your own definition. Tricky, isn't it? As soon as you think you've defined it, another kind of poem comes along that doesn't fit the definition.

Start by having your students open a page in their notes entitle "What is Poetry?"

Students can write their own definition, and then add to it as you discuss different poems. It can be as simple as a list of qualities that they notice in the poems you read as a class.
Try this:
Have students bring in a line or two of a favorite song that they think is poetic.

This is a great way for students to start thinking about figurative language. You can have students print up their lines on card stock and use them as discussion starters or on a "poetry wall."

One year, a student brought in Ozzie Osborn's "Crazy Train." It is a perfect example of an extended metaphor!

What are your students bringing to the study of poetry?

Another teaching strategy you can use to introduce poetry can be to simply open the discussion of poetry up with your students.
Try this:
For example, begin by asking them how they feel about it. Why is it difficult or easy? Why they like it or don't like it. But encourage them to be specific. Stating that poetry is "boring" is vague. Can they expand on that.

By doing this, you give your students the opportunity to express their feelings and opinions (and what middle school student doesn't love to do that?!!), but you are also gathering information that will help you plan your lessons.

If they say, "It's too hard to understand," you can start with simpler poems (more ideas for that later).

Getting started

By now you are ready to start sharing poems with your students.

Of course, they've read plenty of poems, so it's not like you're bringing a visitor in from the planet Qwerty...or is it??
Try this:
Start by choosing two or three poems that you'd like to share with your class. Make or provide a copy of each poem (one per page). Need ideas for poems? Here are several.
Day 1

1. Provide students with poem #1.

2. Start by simply reading it out loud to you students. Ask them to just listen.

3. Read the poem aloud to your class again. This time, ask them to underline any parts of the poem they "notice" or think are interesting or they like. I ask them to do this in pencil - less scary!

4. Then, ask them to share what they noticed. You can have them do this as a whole class discussion (though this is scary at first and your students may be reluctant to share their thoughts!) or you can have them jot their ideas down on an exit card or in a journal entry. You may want to model this by sharing what you noticed.

That's it.

Finally, I have students glue the poem into their resource books and give it a star rating. How much did they like this poem?
Day 2

1. Repeat the activity from Day 1.

2. Did they notice anything new? Did any words or phrases stand out to them? Would they like to change their star rating?

Day 3

1. Provide students with poem#2.

2. Repeat the Day 1 reading & noticing activity.

3. After you and students have shared, ask them to rank this poem. Do they like it more or less than poem#1? Why? You can have them record their responses on an exit card or in their writing journals.

You can stop there, or you can repeat the process with poem #3. Now students will have two or three poems to look at (comparative literary analysis!). They feel comfortable with them and are probably starting to understand the poem and its form a bit better than the first time they read it.

What this does and why it works

By just asking students to "notice" something about the poem, you are taking away the "right answer" phobia that many kids (and adults!) have about poetry. They are just "noticing."

When students begin to notice things about a poem, they will become more sensitive to the language, images, literary elements - because they are starting to "notice."

Pay attention to what your students notice. If they are already skilled in identifying literary elements, you can choose more complex poems. If they are struggling, adjust the selections.

But be careful!

Use exit cards or reflective journal entries for this formative assessment. Students who are intimidated or shy may not be willing to vocalize what they do and do not notice.

What teaching strategies should I use?

Once you've collected the poems you want to teach, sort them in an order that makes sense to you.

Unless you have restrictions or requirements for what poems you teach when, you can sort by topic, style, time period, difficulty, literary technique, or theme.

You can expand the "what I noticed" activity by asking students to look a bit deeper. It is so exciting when students begin to "see" deeper meaning in poetry!

Allow them to try to discover this by asking them questions rather than providing them with an answer.

Try these questions:

What do you notice about the word choice the writer makes?

Who is talking?

What do you notice about the use of metaphor or simile?

This poem is called an "extended metaphor." Why do you think that is?

This poem contains a symbol for life. What do you think it might be?

Look at the structure of the poem. What kind of pattern do you notice in the poem?

Is there a title for the poem? What might it mean?

Use TPFASTT

If your students need more support, a great tool is TPFASTT. (You can find a copy that you can use for your students in my free poetry resource .)

It's a mnemonic that provides students with some basic tools as they dig deeper into a poem's meaning. It stands for:

I love using this little device to put the learning and exploring the text back in the students' control.
Try this:
Model using TPFASTT with a poem. You may want to spend more time talking about attitude of the speaker and shift since these may be new terms for your students.

Let your students discover!

They want us to tell them what a poem means, but allow them to struggle a bit - when they ask what something means, turn the question back to them.

What do they think it means?

They often can answer that question! And what a powerful learning experience that is!

What poems should I teach?

If your students are reluctant poetry readers, start with easy-to-read and understand poems.

A perfect one is "I'm Nobody" by Emily Dickinson. This poem sounds like it was written for middle schoolers! Your students will quickly pick up on the themes, images and metaphors.

You can find a list of 12 poems that I love teaching here. And here are a few more to consider:

What if I don't know the answers?

It is often intimidating when you use a poem in class - and don't have a teaching guide to steer you. Our students often think there is one correct answer for a poem (and we do too - at times!).

However, it's okay not to know or have a definitive answer!!

Most poems have a strong theme or literary elements that you can say, "This is a metaphor" or "This is alliteration." However, have you ever taught "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams?

No matter how you analyze it, there are questions!

I believe that if a student can prove his or her analysis using textual evidence and logic, then who am I to say that analysis is wrong? As long as it is argued with evidence, I allow students to develop their own thinking about poems we read.

This is so important for encouraging critical thinking. Students have to take a risk to argue their point. And that is the beauty of the flexibility of a poem.

What literary terms are the most important?

By middle school, most students are familiar with the "biggies": metaphor and simile. You're teaching standards may include poetic forms or other devices such as:

Have students keep a running list in their resource books or you can keep it as an anchor chart. That way you can add to it as students "notice" different items in a poem.

You can also find a list of literary terms in my resource library.

Pssst! Don't forget to include teaching poetry and literary terms in your Yearlong Plans.

What do I need to assess?

Before you even start teaching a poetry unit (or any unit!), think about what (and how) you will assess.

Here are some ideas for formative and summative assessments:

Formative assessments:

use "what I notice" exit cards

matching device with example quiz

practice writing an original example of a literary device

guided question responses

journal responses to poems

literary term definitions & examples

Summative assessments:
Try this:
If you've spent several class periods practicing using TPFASTT with your students and using guided questions to help them dig into poems, then you may want them to try analyzing a new poem on their own.

I love this type of assessment since it allows the students to show what they've learned. I let my students use their resource books as a reference. They are really applying what they've learned, and their notes and reference charts are helping trigger their minds to read deeply.
Try this:
Maybe you don't want students to take a test; maybe you'd rather they show what they've learned through writing a poem in the style of one of the poems you've read and analyzed in class.

This assessment is not only creative and often very challenging, but it depends on students truly understanding the format and function of each line of the poem they are imitating.

If you decide to have students write patterned poems, be sure to set up your rubric first! This will make it much easier for you to grade!

What is the best time to teach poetry?

I love teaching poetry all year!

Poems can easily be added to units of study to provide a condensed study of different writing modes. When you are looking for mentor texts, consider using poem as well. Because of the condensed nature, you can analyze the writing mode.

For example:

Introduce the poem along with the writing mode and other mentor texts.

How can I expand this?

Keep your students thinking critically by trying some of these ideas:

have students write their own poems. Here are some easy ones to start with.

a poem of the week - similar to a warm up activity. Spend a few minutes a day looking at a poem. This will keep students' analysis skill sharp.

write a poetry anthology - have students write companion poems for each poem you study. Then, gather them together to create an anthology.

if students are writing their own poems, you can host a poetry slam!

after students "rank" the poems that you study (see the notes on how to do that above), they can write a "in defense of..." argument for a favorite (or least favorite) poem.

put a poem to music, pictures, or video - students can use their own poems or one that you have studied in class.

create a "poetry wall" - students can add examples they find of poetic language or poems that they like. My students always loved putting song lyrics here.

plan a 30 Days of Poetry - for either reading or writing (or both!)

Use these strategies for teaching poetry to make your units more fun and productive.

Need extra help?

You can check my Teachers Pay Teachers store for lots of poetry resources that will make teaching poetry a snap!

Enjoy teaching poetry! I'm here if you need a bit of extra help!

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Strategies for Teaching Poetry: The Ultimate Guide - Just Add Students

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Looking for teaching strategies as you begin a poetry unit? Teaching poetry can be intimidating - for both students and teachers. But it doesn't have to be! This post dives into ways you can teach poetry in fun and effective ways. Read on!

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Imaginative Ideas for How to Teach Poetry to Elementary Students

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Imaginative Ideas for How to Teach Poetry to Elementary Students