Teaching Poetry Kaitlin Chisholm Kaitlin Chisholm

Poetry… Is a unique genre with many forms Is a natural language of childhood Breaks many rules Thought to be boring

Because of this… Teachers are often afraid or nervous to teach poetry Poetry is thought to be silly and childish Children find it difficult to go against the rules of writing they have already learned It is important to start poetry at a young age, and use it often in your teaching It is our job to make poetry fun!

Poetic Devices Alliteration Imagery Metaphor Onomatopoeia Repetition Rhyme Simile Personification Endless devices..

Different Types of Poems Rhymed Verse Limericks Narrative Haiku Free Verse Acrostic Poems Concrete poems and the list continues …

Getting Started Have lots poetry available Read poetry a loud and discuss Start a writers or poets notebook Look at form and how poetry differs from other writing Point out poetic forms and devices Teach rhythm and meter Practice using descriptive words, imagery, and rhyme Give specific guidelines

Activities and Forms Coffee House Interactive Read Alouds Choral Reading Poetry Picture Books Imitate or write poems patterned after ones read and studied in class Rearrange Poetry Color Poems “I am” poems Poem of the day or week

Activities and Forms Continued “If I were..” poems “I wish” poems “Is” poems “I used to think but now I feel” poems... Five senses poems Five line poems Limericks List Poems Poetree Poetic Device Focus

As a poetry teacher remember … To encourage children to take risks Children's understanding of poetry will deepen the more they are exposed to it Have students work together As a child it is hard to understand what you can write about, and how to write about something in a poetic form

Questions?