This was a really good article. The author gave lots of poems and lesson ideas for the poems for children age 3-6. He also gave ways to make poetry fun in the classroom. I enjoyed this article so much, I went to amazon.com right away and bought some of the books really cheap! (K. Michele Boston)

This article by Bruce Lansky gave tips on teaching poetry. You could also go to some of the links and see some lesson plans. He makes reference to some of his books. I like the part when he lists poems that might interest certain students. There is no doubt that I will come back to this article as well as purchase some of his books. (Roberta Trowbridge)

Lansky is inspiring and motivating! In years since I was in school, courses I have taken have discouraged the idea of having children memorize poetry. I was delighted (and feel vindicated!) to note that Lansky actually goes into the "devil's den" and suggests short memorization and coupling it with physical performances along with all the plethora of other ideas and activities he notes to bring the joy of poetry into the lives of students. Kudos to Lansky who sees the benefits of speaking as an important component of learning to appreciate the dramatic aspect of poetry. (Joyce H-B)

Great article by Bruce Lansky that gives us ways to encourage kids to read poetry. It reminds us the importance of reciting poems over and over. It also makes a good point about knowing if the child comprehends the poem-by listening to the way they phrase and deliver it. Aldo has good ideas on making poetry fun by performing it. I enjoyed reading this article and recomend it to others needing ideas on poetry in the classroom. (Kerri Brown)

I appreciate the way Bruce Lansky emphasized making poetry fun for the students. It makes sense that in order to "hook" them on poetry it has to be something they enjoy and can relate to on their level.  What child can resist humorous poetry about parents, teachers, siblings or bodily functions? 

I also agree with the need to engage students with the poetry by having them recite it and even perform it using props, accents and other theatrical methods.  As a media specialist, it would be fun to be a guest performer and read poetry in the classroom - maybe a poem related to the lesson for the day. Or, having a poetry day in the cafeteria where I read a funny poem to the students while they are having lunch and have students join in the fun.  I think the students might enjoy this as much as I would! (Melissa Ingram)

This article was great. It was filled with many ideas about how to and why to read poetry to children. It makes a lot of sense and gives tips to getting starting with poetry in the classroom. (Kim Meadows)

This is a very thought-provoking article dealing with the topic of writing poetry with a purpose and not just for the joy of self-expression. The author is expressing concern over what seems to be an educational trend in which poets write poetry to satisfy a particular curriculum need, and how much of the artistry of poetry is lost when "purposeful poetry" is written. (Dara F.)

I could not help but identify with so much of the "canned" poetry which has been made part of our curricula. Every subject taught seems to be a target for teaching concepts in rhyme, but so much of it falls flat and far from the mark. So many of the CDs and tapes marketed today fall into the same category. The article makes a good case for the "canned" poetry, that written to convey a fact, in that it has its place. But the insigts and choice of words that make poetry move from "canned" or "purposeful" to positively "magical" still holds a reader captive, no matter what the age. Try teaching color with a "canned" poem (we can make up lots of them!) and then read a child Hailstones and Halibut Bones, and watch the difference. My "canned" poem might teach them facts, but Hailstones and Halibut Bones will reach their souls! I opt for that kind of poetry whenever I can! Oh, and sometimes a song on one of those fact-filled tapes will delight and surprise me. What first grader studying bugs can resist singing and dancing to Ants in My Pants (Twin Sister Productions), and not also remember the simple facts taught! I think the approach to take is to balance both types--maybe weight it more heavily to the art, and that seems to be the premise of the author as well. (Joyce H-B)

This article said how I feel about poetry in our curriculum today. You hear every where that poetry is important and to incorporate it into everything we teach Math, writing...everything. But this article is very truthful on how kids react to those types of poems and how difficult it can be for a child to write a poem on certain subjects or with a exact amount of words. I think that we all need to make sure we give our students a time to be kids and show self expression and I believe that freedom through poetry is a great way to allow them to show their creativity. They spend enough time on prep for FCAT and other standardized test that some of the writing and reading needs to be for the fun of it! (Kerri Brown)

This article explores the thought that reluctant readers will not read until they write and the easiest weay to get them to write is through poetry. These children do not write because they feel it does not belong to them. He used poetry across the syllabus. There are good and bad moments but he sees progress though the use of writing poetry in his classroom. (Margaret Kolke)

This article also talks about how poets are not always considered real authors. Poetry is often seen as excluded from literature because it is not often read in class. However, it contains higher vocabulary and more literary devices that stretch student comprehension. The author emphasizes that poets are often expected to entertain. In my opinion much of it is due to the use of poets such as Shell Silverstein (and Dr. Seuss). Because of this article and information presented during the in-service, I have utilized “found” poems and poetry in content areas such as science and social studies this year. (Scott Mazur)

This article is organized into key stages of poetry writing. Poetry prompts and examples of poems provide the basis for this article. Creative ways to use a variety of poetry structures and forms in the classroom are presented. A very good resource for classroom teachers from kindergarten to fifth grade (Sarah S).

This article was very useful on letting you know which types of poems children like at certain ages. From Nursery Rhymes to Haiku's. You can also get to other places on this web site that are useful. One example is that other schools have profiles that you can look at to get ideas. This may help you when incorporaring poetry into your classroom. You can also add your own ideas for others to learn from. (Kerri Brown)

Dymoke makes a good case for not overdoing teaching meaning in poetry, at least in the beginning. Although the article appears to be directed to older students, it offers suggestions applicable even to students in first and second grades. She stresses that assessment should not be based upon one attempt. A journal or work folder of poetic works would be an appropriate receptacle for attemtps. Assessment could be a collaboration of student-teacher selected works. Frames are not encouraged and are viewed, in her opinion, as possibly stiffling to creativity. She does not rule them out, just cautions teachers to be aware of the potential flaws in this approach. She also suggests that even if given a "format," children should be able to choose their own way of reflecting on the material and how to represent it poetically. Clearly stated objectives, prototypes, and discussion of material before writing are stressed. Good food for thought. (Joyce H-B)

Poetry Sings With Early Readers

"My Favorit Poems and How I use Them" by Ruth Manna This was an article that simply lists poems and how you can use these in the classroom. There are specific suggestions for activities that enhance each poem. Although the grade level was lower than I teach I found the poems and the suggestions helpful and easy to use. It also made me think more of using poetry in other subject matters espically math. (Margaret Kolke).

Read this article by Ruth Manna, if you are looking for ideas on how to use certain poems in your classroom. It gives great ideas/examples of poems that build smooth expressive readers through repeat choral reading of poetry. It also gives ideas that have a lot of movement with the poems which is always good on a rainy day or late afternoon!! (Kerri Brown)

An article listing the poetry that this teacher uses and how it can be used in the class. I have used several of these with my class and they do enjoy them. The movement ideas are great! (Roberta Hudgins)

The author shares several specific examples of how fluency bridges decoding and comprehension. Fluency is not only the ability to read quickly and accurately, but also includes reading with expression, but also includes reading with expression. By assigning a purpose for reading students have a reason to read fluently and with expression which will lead to improvement in comprehension. (Jeanne Sasser)

Great article it make since fo what happens everday in the classroom! It is very informative about how fluency is important, only because the child can then pay more attention to what is being read. And at that time start comprehending what they are reading. Showing expression is a great way to know if a child truly understands the words in front of them. It also talks about how poetry and how it is used to help with fluency. Poetry parties was a good idea as well. I wish our reading coach could read this one!!(Kerri Brown)

I really enjoyed this article. It got me excited about poetry and helped me with my Color unit. The children really enjoyed using poetry and now read their own poetry books. (Christy Dameron)

This article provided a variety of activities to “hook” students on poetry. The suggestions were inclusive of all grade levels. An excellent idea for teaching the use of the home living (or housekeeping) area as a kindergarten center would be to encourage the students to perform in costume and with props. After introducing the activity to the class the costumes and props could be placed in the center area. Suggestions in the article included using gestures when performing poem, use accents, read poems together as duets, interact with target words, poetry “race the clock” activities, guest performances, and special occasion poetry. Headings included Poetry Class, Poetry Theatre, Giggle Poetry, and Fiction Teachers. (Sarah S.)

After reading this article I decided to try more poetry in my classroom to help the reluctant writer. Some of my lower students have enjoyed creating their own poetry. (Christy Dameron)

The Andy Croft article points out the allure that poetry can have on the reluctant reader. Poetry included throughout the curriculum--math, science, and geography—provides a foundation for writing. Croft reflects on the importance of writing to reading, maintaining that the way to turn “reluctant readers into writers” is through poetry. (Sarah S.)

I really enjoyed this article since I enjoy using poetry to teach. It had lots of great ideas and lessons. Bruce Lansky had some good ideas on how to teach poetry. My children are working on their own individual poetry book. (Carolyn Conner)

This article by writer Bruce Lansky, gives some wonderful tips on how to get kids excited about poetry. First he talked about choosing poems the kids would "thoroughly enjoy" such as The New Adventures of Mother Goose. Next he suggested that teachers find poems the kids can relate to such as poems about relatives, pets, and dreams. Another suggestion is to allow the kids to perform the poems. Let the "gigglefritzes" in your class have a chance to shine. He also recommended that teachers bring in guests to read for the class. Ask parents, the principal, or the media specialist if they would be interested. Celebrate all special occasions with poetry. (Michelle Bender)

A classroom teacher need look no further than here for inspiration, an abundance of great ideas, and additional resources for incorporating poetry into the literacy program in her/his classroom. Ideas include poems for reader's theaters, tongue twisters, riddles, poems in song, and an extensive list of poetry books that are sure to make you and your students giggle! A bibliography of several children's poetry authors as well as information for arranging for school visits is also included. If you are contemplating making poetry a more significant part of the literacy program in your classroom, this site will get you off to a good start. (Cindy L.)