1.4.2.1 Lesson Plans/Resources - Language - Poetry - Teacher Resources
Last page update:
10/11/02
All links verified as of: 10/11/02
Recommended resources for teaching poetry and
making it fun
I always felt that poetry was a means by which some of my less successful
students could express themselves and gain confidence in their ability to do
so without being limited by their deficiencies in grammar and word
usage. I had some success in the classroom, but felt like I was
reinventing the wheel each time I tried. Eventually I discovered some
excellent resource books that let me approach teaching poetry in a systematic
way, and student success and enjoyment improved dramatically. I reached
the point that I was able to move beyond teaching a 2-3 week poetry unit that
eventually wore on the students; instead, I was able to integrate poetry into
other subject areas and themes, and the kids enjoyed the opportunities.
The first 3 resource books listed below are ones with which
I have had personal experience, and I thus highly recommend them. The others
are either books I learned about from other teachers or are those that received
user ratings of 5 stars by our teaching colleagues.
For every teacher who has ever said,
"I really want to teach
poetry, but I'm not sure how." Classroom-tested lessons on various poetic forms
as well as simile, strong verbs, adjectives, onomatopoeia, and more. Includes
sample poems.
An
award-winning poet and a renowned teacher show how to turn every child
into a powerful poet. The authors use wonderful, illustrated
reproducible poems as springboards to writing poems for two voices, easy
rhymes, free verse, and more. Includes lessons on imagery, metaphor,
simple refrains. This book helps you guide kids from fun, two-minute
warm-ups to writing full-fledged poems.
Let poet Paul
Janeczko guide you through ten fun forms of poetry kids will love! Teaching
poetry becomes a total joy with this renowned poet's insights, easy-to-use
reproducibles, and step-by-step mini-lessons at your fingertips. Includes
background information, ideas for teaching the forms, and reproducible models
for each kids of poem. Poetic forms include haiku, senryu, tanka, limerick,
found, concrete, and more!
Teaching poetry is easy with the fun and instant activities in this book. It is
jam-packed with games, strategies, and creative ideas for getting kids to write
and respond to poetry. Similes, metaphors, rhythm, haikus, cinquain, lanternes
are just some of the topics covered. Includes mini-lessons, reproducibles, and a
colorful teaching poster.
Use the rhythm and
rhyme of fun poetry to teach phonics! This collection of 115 poems is meant to
be read aloud so that children hear a particular language sound again and again.
For each poem there are: word lists, hands-on activities, and unique Focusing
Talk activities that help you model vocabulary in conversations with children.
Indexed by title, author, first line, theme, and sounds. Grades PreK-1.
This is a fantastic book! I have a K-1 combination class and this
book of poetry is perfect for addressing the needs of all the students. The best
thing about this book is that the kids LOVE the poems. They are fun and catchy.
There are many ideas for extension activities. You can even think of your own.
Buy this book...you won't be sorry! A reader from Alameda, CA
Picking up where Phonics Through
Poetry left off, this
collection of 112 poems focuses on more advanced language sounds, such as three
letter blends, diphthongs, and word endings. Grades 2-3
Poetry Galore & More With Shel Silverstein
by Cherry Potts, et al
I've always used Light in the Attic, Where the
Sidewalk Ends, and other Silverstein books to get my kids interested
in poetry. This book provides wonderful activities to accompany
readings from those books.
This is one book I can't do without. I was introduced to Kenneth Koch's work
when I was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison taking a workshop from an
author who had taught with Koch. It has been my "writing Bible" ever since. I
have used almost every exercise at one time or another with elementary school
children, with fantastic results. Along with Koch's "Rose, Where Did You Get
That Red?", this is a classic. Amy S. from Englewood, Ohio
A reader from Union, SC Teachers of
poetry from elementary to high school will enjoy teaching poetry with this
method or incorporating the ideas into existing curriculum. I had success with
it in ninth grade. Younger students would like it even more. The method uses
great poems as starting points for children's own writing, and many examples are
provided.
