Poetry
Poetry was created for enjoyment and not just for dissection. As educators we may make the miiiiiinor mistake or forcing students to read a poem and analyze it ALL THE TIME! This is a great activity because it may help students fully understand the poet’s message. But, dissecting poems all day may cause children to lose interest in poetry. And, that is tragic!
A research study done with children, produced five different conclusions: kids prefer narrative poetry, they dislike free verse and haiku, children are inclined to literary sound devices, they enjoy funny poems that provide experiences children can connect to and include animals, and they like contemporary or modern poems.
Narrative poetry is at the top of the list because kids simply enjoy hearing and telling stories. They do not quite enjoy free verse and haiku because children enjoy rhyming words and these do not rhyme. Of course, as humans we love things that make noise and add action to our lives. This applies to poetry as well. Therefore, children seem to enjoy alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition, and rhyme because these make poetry more pleasant and entertaining. Now, who doesn’t want to read poems or stories that remind them of their own lives? Children also enjoy reading poems that touch on topics that they can easily connect to. Of course, young children will appreciate poems that are easy to read and understand. They do not want to be stuck with advanced vocabulary and abstract topics or themes. It is impossible to enjoy something you are struggling to understand.
To help students understand and enjoy poetry, an educator must provide them with poetry that appeals to the young reader’s senses and help them visualize the poem. Also, students should be able to interact with the poem by using different tones or facial gestures when reading it. They may even convert the poem into a Reader’s Theatre that the whole class can participate in. When poems are fun to read and exciting, they do not mind reading several times. This doesn’t only add joy to their learning but can even help them with their reading fluency!
As a librarian, I must share this knowledge in a professional development training with teachers, so they can make poetry reading more enjoyable. Also, learning the TEKS on poetry can help me provide resources that support these state requirements and contribute to student success.
Incorporating poetry lessons in the classroom or in the library has great benefits. Poetry can also be used to teach others skills that the state requires to learn in other subjects. They can be great for teaching vocabulary, to inspire writing (perfect for 4th grade teachers who teach writing and must administer the S.T.A.A.R.), or to simply learn new things! With this new information, I can easily meet with the reading or writing teacher and help them with library lessons, poems, and resources that can support the skills they are teaching.
Poetry may be already in the library collection, but are we marketing it correctly? I have never walked into a library that has a poetry display. I would love to have a library and give poetry the respect it deserves by celebrating and promoting it in our library Facebook or website. I would not only create beautiful poetry displays, but I would also invite poets to our campus.
I would also encourage and educate parents on the benefits of adding more than picture books in their home library. Poetry should have a special place in every student’s and educator’s home!
The following is a list of books or resources that are excellent to have in the library, classroom, or home library:
2. Grimmericks by Susan Pearson
3. Technically, It’s Not My Fault by John Grandits
4. Many Luscious Lollipos by Ruth Heller
5. Fantastic! Wow! And Unreal! By Ruth Heller
6. A Cache of Jewels by Ruth Heller
7. Up, Up, and Away by Ruth Heller
8. Kites Sail High by Ruth Heller
9. Merry-Go-Round by Ruth Heller
10. Mine, All Mine by Ruth Heller
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