It's Poetry Friday! Poems by Heart

Learning a Poem by Heart!

Former Children's Poet Laureate, Mary Ann Hoberman says,

Once you have learned a poem, it becomes yours. You own it! If you memorized it in childhood, it will be yours for a lifetime.

A couple of years ago, I featured the poetry of one poet each month throughout the school year.  During the month of January, my "Poetry Breaks!" highlighted Ms. Hoberman's poems.  Using the Poet of the Month approach, allowed us to learn about the poet, her books, and how she creates her poems.  Featuring a Poet of the Month is not only a reason for reading and reciting one poets work but also a very enlightening way to learn more about an author and how she creates her work.  

While watching one of Hoberman's video clips about her work as Children's Poet Laureate, I heard her recite this little rhyme . . . 

Every day take time to start to learn a little poem by heart.

This is a true "Poetry Break!" mantra if I ever heard one!

I love the idea of learning a poem by heart!  The words truly do become our own, not only do they often get "stuck in our heads," but they also do become etched onto our hearts and stay with us . . . forever!  Let's take a moment today and begin to learn a poem by heart!  

These are just a couple of my favorite Hoberman poetry collections  . . .

Fun poems that have lots of rhythm and rhyme! 

Love these poems for two voices!  They are great for reader's theater. 

I love this mini documentary from TeachingBooks.Net, where Ms. Hoberman discusses the wonder of words and the creation of some of her books.  Click here to watch it!


For more Mary Ann Hoberman resources, check out my wiki Pocketful of Poems. 

Today's Poetry Friday Round-Up is being hosted at Random Noodling.  Be sure to click on over for a visit!  

Works Cited:
Hoberman, Mary Ann. "Why Memorize Poetry." Guest Blogger: Poet Mary Ann Hoberman | The TeachingBooks.net Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.