You've Got a Poem!

Mrs. Merrill's  "Golden Poetry Mailbox!"

Instead of hearing, "You've got mail!"  My students hear, "You've got a poem!"

A fun and unique way to introduce and present a new poem to your students is with a "golden mailbox!" A few years ago I purchased an inexpensive, ordinary, plastic mailbox at a home improvement store.  I then spray painted it with glittery gold paint.  The mailbox proudly sits in a prominent place in my classroom where everyone can see it.  When the flag is up, it means that we have a new poem to read!  It's so much fun to enter the classroom to see if "we've got a poem!" 

Do you have a unique or interesting way in which you share new poems with kids?  Please share your ideas! 

It's Poetry Friday! Poetry Leaves a Lasting Impression!

Plan To Take a "Poetry Break!"

Taking a "Poetry Break!" is easy and fun!   Anyone can do it!  Simply take a few minutes out of your day to share a poem or two with your students, your friend, your family, a pet, or anyone else that you'd like to read or recite a poem to!

There is only one rule for poem selection: you must like your selected poem!  Teachers, librarians, and parents, you can select a poem that is seasonal, relates to a holiday or theme, aligns with curriculum or a unit of study, or is simply a poem that piques your interest. 

I live in the same neighborhood as the school in which I teach, so I often see students from school as I am out walking my dogs.  Last night as I strolled with the dogs, I heard a little voice shout, "Hey! That's my Poetry Teacher!"  I wasn't able to see exactly where the voice was coming from but I knew that it was the voice of a student in one of the classrooms where I have conducted my weekly "Poetry Breaks!"  I am still smiling and have a warm and fuzzy feeling inside!  Sharing poems is so much fun for me and I like to think that I am having a positive impact on the students that experience the poems!  Hearing that child as he recognized me (even as I had passed and was on my way down the street) and recalled with such enthusiasm, that I was his "Poetry Teacher," was like hearing him recite a beautiful poem to me!

Poems stick with you!  I am reminded of Jack's sentiments in Sharron Creech's wonderful verse novel, Hate That Cat.

I only understood about half the words in that poem but like you said sometimes that is okay because we felt all those bells and we heard all those bells crazily ringing in their tintinnabulation! (20).

When it comes to poetry, Jack's teacher, Miss Stretchberry, has had an obvious impact on him . . . 

It's strange that now when you read a poem to the class I hear alliteration popping out everywhere.  I never heard it before or maybe I heard the sounds or didn't know why they were sticking in my head (37).

Hate That Cat is the sequel to Sharron Creech's verse novel, Love That Dog.  Both books are excellent examples of how poetry can effect students! 

Read more about Love That Dog at Sharron Creech's website (click here):

Read more about Hate That Cat at Sharron Creech's website (click here): 

Make sure you also check out Ms. Creech's excellent teacher's guides for these novels.  Click here to download them from her "Teach Creech" section of her website.

Taking a "Poetry Break!" is a way to make a lasting impression on your students (not to mention fun and motivating!)!  

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful poetry resources that are showcased in today's "Poetry Friday" Round-Up.  Visit Sylvia Vardell's excellent blog at, Poetry for Children!  It's a treasure trove of poetry resources!!!

It's Poetry Friday! Planning for the School Year Ahead

 

 

Selecting Poems for "Poetry Break!"

An Excellent First Poetry Experience:

Besides presenting an actual "Poetry Break!" one of my most favorite things to do is search for just the right poem.  I am always on the lookout for new poetry collections and anthologies but I love rereading through my collection of books.  One of my most favorite anthologies of poems for young children is Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young selected by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Marc Brown.

Well-known and loved poet, Jack Prelutsky has selected many short and wonderfully child-like poems by numerous poets.  Poems are grouped together by popular themes and topics of childhood, such as; play, animals, seasons, holidays, foods, weather, daily routines, and much more.  Every page contains two or three short poems that are accompanied by Marc Brown's (award-winning author and illustrator of the Arthur books) delightfully playful, color illustrations. 
Poem seekers will find helpful indexes, listing poems by first line, title, and by author.  



Check out this great Reader's Guide for Parents and Educators. Jack Prelutsky offers great advice for sharing this book with young children!


Read-aloud expert, Jim Trelease provides readers with an interesting and insightful introduction to this poetry anthology that was created with the youngest of children in mind.  Trelease makes this excellent point about the value and importance of sharing poetry with children:

Unlike the toys we buy our children, poems cannot break.  Their flavor will last longer than a hundred boxes of candy.  They come already assembled and need only one battery - a reader connected to one child.  And that reader can start a glow that lasts a lifetime. 

Go ahead . . . "ignite the glow" in a child today - take time for a "Poetry Break!"

Today's Poetry Friday Round-Up is being hosted at  Dori Reads.  Be sure to check out all of the wonderful poetry posts!