Poetry

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2001 : May : 28

Poetry
By Sharon

Check out the following book through Scholastic: "Favorite Poetry Lessons" by Paul Janeczko. He has numerous ideas for grades 4-8. If you can't find it, email me and I will send you my favorite lesson.

Do you write poetry
yourself? Read some of your own poetry. Many times kids often feel so incompetent when they beautiful poetry because they feel nobody can write like that. they have spent the whole year with you so chances are, they have also grown pretty close. It will make them feel theat much better when hearing something that wasn't written by Robert Frost.
I see so many poetry lessons where

the majority of the poetry is about nature. Kids are more in tune to their own personal feelings, their friends, etc. What ever you decide to do, make it from the heart. Please, please, please let your kids know that a poem can be about anything in the whole world.

Explain that songs are poetry set to music. Bring in a beutiful song that you like and play it for them. Rap music is also poetry (only because it is a popular fad, I personally hate rap). Invite your students to bring in their own rap CD's keeping it tasteful. Another idea is to challenge them to make up their own rap song about the class. When it is complete, record it. Allow them to bang on the desk or stamp their feet, play the spoons, etc for rythem and beat.

Sharon