National Poetry Month in the month of April is a time to read, enjoy, and celebrate poetry and poets that really connect with who we are! In 1996, the Academy of American Poets decided that we needed a month dedicated to making the everyday person aware of the people and poems that inspire us in so many ways.
Whether you like reading poems by celebrated authors Maya Angelou and Paul Laurence Dunbar, acting out the dramatic poems of Edgar Allan Poe, or basking in the Romantics like Percy Bysshe Shelley or William Wordsworth, there is a poem for every student during National Poetry Month!
Keep reading for 5 Ways To Incorporate More Poetry During National Poetry Month!
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5 Ways To Incorporate More Poetry During National Poetry Month
1. Start EVERY Class With A Poem during National Poetry Month
In the last part of March, you could have students start looking for a poem to present in April. First, model what the presentation would look like so they know what to do. Each student might be assigned a specific day. At the beginning of each class in April, a student could read aloud a poem that inspires him or her and explain why he/she chose it! It doesn’t have to be a formal affair. They are reading poetry, and the choice is theirs! Through this activity, you are teaching poetry, summaries, and presentation skills!
Check out “Unique Unicorn” by Kristin Menke for a FUN Example!
2. Teach Literary Devices Through Poetry
Poetry is so much fun because it challenges us with the rhythm, rhymes, sounds, and images we can see and hear! Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Bells” includes a ton of onomatopoeia and “My Fears” by Kristin Menke incorporates lots of alliteration. You could have students choose a literary device, find a poem that contains that device, and explain this device to the class after they read the poem of course!
Read About Poetry About Fear And Overcoming It>>>>HERE
3. Use BOOM Cards™ For Fun Poetry Assessments
BOOM Cards™ through BOOM Learning™ makes taking an assessment just more fun! Yes, students are still taking tests, but they get to see more engaging visuals with cute sounds. This interactive multimedia experience creates an incentive for students. Sure, they can take a pencil and paper quiz; however, who doesn’t love integrating technology when we can? Plus, as a teacher, you get data that will help you assess student knowledge of the standards!
4. Create a National Poetry Month Contest With Your Students
I don’t know about you, but I was MOST DEFINITELY the girl who wrote poetry in her notebooks. I would give them as birthday gifts. Sometimes, I would present them to my family members during important occasions. I even remember mailing my poetry to one of those contests where they publish your poem, so you will buy the book. For those more creative and inspired students, you could hold a poetry contest with different categories:
- Songs as Poetry
- My Emotions in Poetry
- Someday I want to be….
- Everyday Item Poem
- My Goals and Aspirations
- You might even have students come up with a category!
When students write, they share who they are and what they know. You may want to explain some boundaries or include some device or structure requirements, but why not provide a challenge to those who believe they could become the next great poet?
5. Pair Poetry With Social Studies, Physical Education, Science, & Electives
Integration is my jam! I love weaving everything together in a beautiful tapestry of learning. Nothing needs to be taught in isolation. Instead, we can help students make connections with every topic they encounter!
- Civil Rights & “Harlem” by Langston Hughes
- Civics & “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
- Plants & “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth
- Amphibians & “A Frog Who Would Not Move” by Kristin Menke
- Phases of the Moon & “I Saw the Moon One Time” by Kristin Menke
- Ancient Civilizations & “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
- American Revolution & “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Physical Science & “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost
- British History & “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Music & “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman
- Film & “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe
- Mental Health & “My Fears” by Kristin Menke
- Math/Measurements & “My Shadow” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Zoology & “At the Zoo” by William Makepeace Thackeray
- Geography & “Where I Live” Poetry Template by Kristin Menke
A Final Thought About National Poetry Month
Sharing what we love about language and learning is the ultimate goal! So many students encounter poetry through songs, and making poetry connect to music could be a fantastic way to relate to students. We come into contact with poetry through lyrics whether from an artist we love, an advertisement, greeting card, or even a jingle we just can’t get out of our head.
Let’s make the most of this month: National Poetry Month!
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