Unleash the Power of Poetry in Your Classroom

When I was in school, I had a difficult time developing an appreciation of poetry. At least that is what I thought. My interpretations of class poems were never the same as my teachers', and I assumed that I didn't understand poetry.

A college professor changed this perception. Not only did she allow and respect my interpretations, she encouraged them. She said that the purpose of poetry was to make people think. What an exciting time in my literary experience!  My personal goal is to help students appreciate poetry. I make sure that they understand that nobody is wrong. We all have better poetry experiences when we are allowed to share and interpret our reading differently. In that spirit, the following is my favorite poetry lesson/ mini-project to jump-start this process, as well as to help students develop a healthy appreciation of the genre.

There are many types of poetry, and teaching time is limited. Most of my sixth graders come into my class having read simple forms of meter and rhyme poems, including haiku, cinquain, concrete, and acrostic - all the basics. My objective at the beginning of the unit is to expose students to as many forms of poetry and poets as possible. This helps students gain a better understanding of the variety of poetry that exists. If students don't seem to like one kind, I encourage them to keep looking for something they like, and almost everyone does. Even my most reluctant readers develop a better appreciation for reading and writing parodies or limericks.

One of the ways I make sure to expose students to a variety of poetry is with a poetry share. I bring in an assortment of poetry books to put on display, and make sure to provide materials that are at different reading levels, have different structures, and are writtten by different poets. There are some great teen poetry websites I make available to students as well. I give students time out of each class period to peruse my collection and read different forms of poetry. Their assignment for this lesson is to either find a poem that they like, or write one of their own to share with the class. For some of my students, having to read aloud to the class might be a nightmare. In the past I have allowed partners to work together. Within a week's time, students are expected to find or create something inspiring to share. To help students become familiar with different forms of poetry, I share a poem each day at the beginning of  class. I continue this practice for the duration of the unit, and as we continue with the unit, there are usually student volunteers who are willing to share. We read, discuss, and compare each poem that was shared in class.

At the end of the week, students bring in their selected, or self-authored poems. The presentation is structured like a poetry slam. I like to make it different than other presentations. I may dim the lights. In the past, I have brought in a lamp or used a projector light to create a “stage” area. I also bring in treats for the students. However, before we begin the presentations, we discuss audience behavior. For example, students snap their fingers in applause, instead of clapping their hands. In short, we learn what a poetry slam is all about - a celebration of poetry and the freedom of self expression. Since my objective is to foster an appreciation of poetry, and avoid negative connotations, I leave out the competition component of a poetry slam. I want this to be a purely positive experience. Therefore, I give students sticky notes to write compliments for each presenter. I collect and scan the notes to make sure they are all positive comments, include my own, and then give the stack to the students at the end of class.

It’s fun to watch students during the poetry share and while they are reading the sticky notes with compliments. I find this mini lesson to be a great way to kick off a poetry unit. It will, hopefully, save students from the years of grief I experienced during poetry studies. What follows are more ideas to get your students excited about poetry.

Poetry Lesson Ideas:

Stage a Poetry Slam

This lesson describes how to put on a poetry slam competition. Students participate in the slam by sharing poems they’ve written, or poems they’ve read by another author.    

Cultivate Poetry

In this lesson students study and learn to identify five common types of poetry. Resources, such as Internet links, a list of poetry books, and worksheets, are included

The Imagine Poetry and Mural Lesson

This creative lesson guides students through poetry writing. The theme is John Lennon’s  song “Imagine.” There is a component in which students can create a mural depicting the themes of the song “Imagine” as well.