I LOVE POETRY! I love to read it, write it, and teach it, and above all, I want my students to love it too! In order for them to love it, however, they have to understand it. I've always had a difficult time getting students to think deeply when it comes to poetry analysis, so I decided to develop a new process this year to help them practice. I ended up with a seven step process. To practice, I put together a packet of six of my personal favorite poems. We went through the packet together, in groups, individually, etc. until I felt confident that my students were getting it. Then, I gave them a pop quiz using the same process! I have put this packet on my Teachers Pay Teachers account for free, so go download it and use it! One thing that isn't on TPT, though, is the Google Presentation I used with the packet. You can check that out here! Here are the seven steps: Number the lines in each poem, and label the rhyme scheme if there is one. Read the poem several times. Circle any unknown words. Summarize each stanza. Annotate the poem by noticing and labeling any literary devices, figurative language, symbolism, imagery, etc. Identify the major theme of the poem, and provide evidence to support your choice. Identify your favorite line or phrase from the poem, and explain why you chose it as your favorite. Choose one of the unknown words you circled and develop a definition (in your own words!) based on context clues from the poem. And here are some examples of the poems once they have been analyzed!
Poetry haiku ideas to get students reading and writing poetry. Use this template to teach learners how to write a haiku.
Have you ever felt like your romantic life is completely out of control and messy??? You're most definitely not alone. This zine has a pink cardstock cover and 6 original poems about romances that didn't work out. The zine is A6 and measures 105 × 148 millimeters or 4.13 × 5.83 inches. *International orders usually take three weeks, but may take up to six weeks from dispatch, and this is sadly out of my control but please let me know before ordering if you need your order delivered faster, or if you want tracking to be added to your order (extra shipping costs may apply). Please also notify me prior to purchase if you would like tracking as these are sent as letters and the shipping costs may change.*
Warning: I am not an artist and I am not a poet! But I like doing artsy things and I love books! I have been seeing tons of blackout poetry examples on Pinterest and they look really cool! So I dec…
Use this great list of poetry read aloud books for your upper elementary classroom during National Poetry month or anytime!
Analyzing poetry is a skill all our students need to develop. While students are required to investigate poems often, poetry analysis is still something that many students struggle with. That's why I'm a big fan of practice! I love to give students lots of opportunities to closely read and analyze poetry. (And I've put together a FREE one-pager that students can use with any poem!) POETRY ANALYSIS TIPS When putting together a poetry analysis lesson, here are some tips I follow: ✔ TIP 1: Select a poem that is long enough for students to adequately investigate, but not too long to make the process overwhelming. ✔ TIP 2: Provide students with background information about the author of the poem. This helps to build context and connections to the poem. ✔ TIP 3: Choose a poem with at least one form of figurative language for students to identify and describe. ✔ TIP 4: Have students read the poem multiple times. You might read the poem out loud first. Then, students might read the poem in a small group or with a partner. Finally, students can read the poem independently. ✔ TIP 5: Give students tasks that become more complex with each reading. POETRY ANALYSIS TASKS Then, when I'm actually teaching an analysis lesson, here are 4 analysis tasks that work with ANY poem (Don't worry, you can download the entire lesson for FREE here.): Task 1: Reflect After students read a poem, have them reflect on what the poem made them think about and how the poem made them feel. When students share what the poem make them think about they'll be able to pull main ideas from the text. Then, when they share how they felt, they'll need to think more deeply about the poem. Task 2: Visualize When students have completed a second reading of the poem, have them select a line or lines from the poem that helped them create a mental image in their minds. Students should write the lines down. Then, have students doodle an actual illustration to portray the words in the poem. Task 3: Figurative Language Share the definition for a type of figurative language found in the poem with students. Then, have students read the poem a third time. As they read, encourage them to be on the lookout for an example of the figurate language. Once students find an example have them write it down before explaining its meaning. Task 4: Theme Once students read the poem for a final time, have them respond to a short answer question that requires them to identify the theme of the poem. As students write their analyses, encourage them to include direct quotes from the poem. These analysis tasks build in difficulty and encourage students to naturally dive deeply into the text. If you're looking for poems for students to analyze, check out my favorite poems to teach here: ⭐ 5 Favorite Poems for Middle School ⭐ Funny Poems for Kids ⭐ Poems that Teach Growth Mindset ⭐ 20 Poems and 80 Analysis Tasks Download the FREE Doodle One-Pager HERE. Thanks for stopping by! Mary Beth P.S. Check out these 5 fun ways to teach poetry!
I love poetry and I want to share how I break down my poetry unit and teach different poetic forms. The upper elementary and middle school years are a great time to dive in and get kids excited about poetry!
Are your students struggling with word choice and writing? Use these 8 types of poetry to unleash their creativity and engage readers and writers.
I LOVE POETRY! I love to read it, write it, and teach it, and above all, I want my students to love it too! In order for them to love it, however, they have to understand it. I've always had a difficult time getting students to think deeply when it comes to poetry analysis, so I decided to develop a new process this year to help them practice. I ended up with a seven step process. To practice, I put together a packet of six of my personal favorite poems. We went through the packet together, in groups, individually, etc. until I felt confident that my students were getting it. Then, I gave them a pop quiz using the same process! I have put this packet on my Teachers Pay Teachers account for free, so go download it and use it! One thing that isn't on TPT, though, is the Google Presentation I used with the packet. You can check that out here! Here are the seven steps: Number the lines in each poem, and label the rhyme scheme if there is one. Read the poem several times. Circle any unknown words. Summarize each stanza. Annotate the poem by noticing and labeling any literary devices, figurative language, symbolism, imagery, etc. Identify the major theme of the poem, and provide evidence to support your choice. Identify your favorite line or phrase from the poem, and explain why you chose it as your favorite. Choose one of the unknown words you circled and develop a definition (in your own words!) based on context clues from the poem. And here are some examples of the poems once they have been analyzed!
What is blackout poetry? Poetry writing that all students can feel successful with. Here's how to teach it. Freebie included!
I love teaching poetry and can't wait to share these fun ideas with you! This post is full of ways you can make poetry fun in your middle school classroom.
Poetry Speed-dating is a great way to hook students' interest in poetry. Plan a day to let them browse and enjoy. More info at teachnouvelle.com
Graphic typographic green print Poster with the text Sage Glow and The International Poetry Festival 18th Edition Montreal 2022 in green on beige background. This print fits nicely together with Words of Love.
A list of American punk poet Patti Smith's favorite books, from Ginsberg and Rimbaud to Dante and Bronte.
These 12 books are perfect to read to our littlest learners when trying to highlight the skill of alliteration!
Tips to start your own poetry tea party tradition in your homeschool. Includes easy banana bread treat from Original KRAFT MIRACLE WHIP and suggestions.
April is National Poetry Month, and what better time is there to teach our students all about poetry?! There are so many ways to celebrate poetry in your classroom, and today I thought I would share some of my favorite ways to teach and explore this fascinating genre!! This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com.…
Do you hate to teach poetry? Do you want your students to learn and enjoy poetry? Try these simple ways to learn how to teach poetry...
Engage students in meaningful poetry reading and writing activities. Here are SEVEN assignments both secondary teachers and students will enjoy.
What is blackout poetry? Poetry writing that all students can feel successful with. Here's how to teach it. Freebie included!
I have to admit – I was never a fan of poetry. In the words of my students, I just didn’t “get it.” That all changed my junior year of high school. I had what in most of my classmates’ minds was the toughest teacher in the school. She certainly wasn’t “warm and fuzzy,” but ... Read more
Use this great list of poetry read aloud books for your upper elementary classroom during National Poetry month or anytime!
Yeah, it's painfully embarrassing. But no 21st birthday blog post for the one and only Kacey Carlyle would be complete without this blast from the past: (Kacey's 16th birthday party - Nov. 2005) We were probably the coolest 16 year olds ever... My dearest Kacey, I would not be where I am today without you. Thank you for loving me when I'm incredibly difficult, encouraging me when I need it the most, and single-handedly being the bestest friend I've ever had. You are prettier than all the butterflies in the world (please tell me you remember that from 9th grade ELP...) and I thank God every day for blessing my life with a friend like you! I can't wait to celebrate this birthday & many, many more with you. Happy 21st Birthday, Lugum! (my 16th birthday party - Oct. 2005)
Have your students ever described poetry as boring or confusing? It is common for them to feel overwhelmed by poetry because it is so different from other styles of writing. In order for students to move past this attitude, they need to feel confident in their ability to read and write poetry. In this blog post, you will learn how you can instill the love of poetry in high school students. I will also share some of my students' favorite activities for teaching poetry in high school.
You already know that I love creating inchies with kids but did you know you can turn them into a little book. Kids love miniatures and...
Are you a fan of The Giving Tree? Use these free worksheets & poetry study printables to use alongside Shel Silverstein Poems.
The past two weeks we have worked on RL.2, identifying the theme in a piece of literature. The first week we focused on finding the t...
April is the month of fresh beginnings, budding flowers, and poetry. According to my handy-dandy organizer, April is National Poetry Month. I couldn’t just sit and let National Poetry Month pass us by. We needed to celebrate (because, honestly, we look for any excuse to party around here). What could we do to add a little party school to our month? Ah, a book club about a fantastic poetry book would fit the bill. Let me introduce you to our Love That Dog Book Club.
So absolutely no judgment for teachers who use paint chips for lessons because #itsforthekids , but if you are like me and feel a little sheepish stuffing 100 of these into your bag at the hardware store, I have a solution for you! First, here are my favorite paint chip poetry lesson plans: Paint Name Haiku- Paint names ... Read More about Paint Chip Poetry Without the Guilt + Literary Paint Names
Hi Folks!! Hope everyone is well. My family has been plagued with the stomach bug for almost two weeks now. We are just starting to emerge from the haze and put ourselves back together again. (I've had to miss two days of school, and as you know, there is nothing worse than unplanned sick days when you are a teacher!) Phew!! It was a tough one. I can't ever remember being THIS ready for spring to arrive!! Anyway, I've got a quick one for you today, but trust me when I tell you that this lesson is a HOOT! This is second year that I've done this with my students and we all have such a blast. The idea is for the students to write a parody of a song. I start by showing Adele's "Hello." Next, I show them this AMAZING parody done by third grade teacher, Mary Morris, from Tennessee. Then, we discuss the meaning of "parody" (an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect) and I show BOTH videos again while we note the parts of the performance Mary Morris parodied. Finally, the FUN part! The kids write and perform their own parodies! Now, you can allow them to select their own song, but in order to keep this lesson short (we spend three class periods total), I have them all use "Hello." For students who struggle with this, have them select a topic and then brainstorm some vocabulary associated with their topic. In the picture above, the girls wanted to do a song about softball, so they made a list of words that go with sport to help them while the compose. Last year, each and every kid SANG their parody to the class! This year, only about half sang... the other half read theirs like they were at a poetry reading while the "Hello" instrumental music played in the background. Unfortunately, I didn't record our performances so I don't have any to show you (blogger FAIL!!) and I don't collect their papers because this is a speaking/listening grade (so I grade them on the spot while they perform). So, you are just going to have to trust me that this lesson is a blast! And it served as the perfect little "break" in between our compare/contrast and argument units :) Let me know if you give this a try and how it works out! I'd love to hear from you!
Poetry has become a lot of my students favorite time of the day! They love getting the opportunity to stand up and lead the class in our po...
We recently started a poetry tea time tradition in our Charlotte Mason homeschool, and it has already added beauty and joy to our weekly schedule.
So absolutely no judgment for teachers who use paint chips for lessons because #itsforthekids , but if you are like me and feel a little sheepish stuffing 100 of these into your bag at the hardware store, I have a solution for you! First, here are my favorite paint chip poetry lesson plans: Paint Name Haiku- Paint names ... Read More about Paint Chip Poetry Without the Guilt + Literary Paint Names
Need poems for middle school students? Here are 12 that are funny, quirky, interesting, and poignant. Perfect for teens and teaching poetry.
