Poetry in the Classroom

With Back to School already in full swing, teachers have undoubtedly been hard at work fine tuning their curriculum for the semester. Perhaps, some teachers are even thinking of new ways to introduce poetry into the curriculum. While there are many ways for educators to approach this, I’ll try my best to offer a few simple solutions to get teachers and students excited about poetry. In addition, I’ll offer a few reasons why I think poetry is a welcome addition to any teacher’s toolkit.

Ways to Use Poetry in the Classroom

Invite a Guest Poet

One easy way to get students reading poems is to have a poet give a guest lecture. A few years ago, I visited Ceres High School to teach the students there about poetry and to read a few poems myself. I was excited to hear that the teacher whose class I visited found poetry equally rewarding as many other types of literature. The students all sat quietly at their desk, they’d been reading poems by Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon—two of my favorite poets, and I was glad to be able to discuss poetry with them. They were articulate and thoughtful in their questioning, and they even wrote me thank you letters later, which was a huge reward in itself.

Young people can learn a great deal from poems. The problem with getting them interested is largely related to how poetry is presented in the curriculum. Particularly, young men seem to have an aversion to poetry in my experience. That’s why I always begin my poetry talks by saying, “I’ve come to dispel the myth that poetry is for sissies.” I then show them many poems written by men, primarily American Soldier-Poets from the Vietnam War era, as well as British poets who wrote about World War I. Once they’ve heard these poems, they tend to agree with me that poetry is in fact, not for sissies.

Inviting poets to a classroom is also a great way to break up the hectic schedule teachers often face during the rush towards getting “Back to School.” When you find a local poet who is willing to visit, you’ll be surprised to see how your students respond, and you can definitely feel the classroom dynamic change.

For example, after visiting the classroom I mentioned earlier, the teacher told me that even some of her more quiet students spoke up, and knowing that poetry inspired them to be more inquisitive that day was really reassuring. Seeing students get excited about poetry that was equally exciting to me, makes me want to continue writing. After all, there are so many great readers being born everyday.

Memory and Poetry

Also, I think poetry is useful in the classroom because rhyming, and even unrhymed poems tend to help develop the memory. It’s like a literary mnemonic device. I remember teaching my son the first lines to William Blake’s The Tyger when he was only 2 years old! He remembered them well, and he especially enjoyed the fact that the poem was about animals.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills, and the Importance of Being Imaginative

I think that poetry can also be a useful tool to get people to use critical thinking skills, as well as use their imaginations. The imagination after all is what drives human beings to create. Even if you’re not going to become a poet, learning how to use your imagination, keeping it fresh, developing it like a muscle, will serve you well even into adulthood.

Break Up the Monotony with Poetry

Classroom instruction also needs something that feels like a diversion. I understand that sometimes poetry can be difficult, but when you’ve been studying calculus, or biology, a little poetry can be a welcome reprieve. For this reason, poetry is a good tool to get students to wind down towards the end of the day. Easing into some poetry can help to relax your mind, helping to rejuvenate your students for the coming day.

Celebrate Poetry in April

Don’t forget about National Poetry Month either. I find myself reminding people about it even a month after it happens in April. This is a great time to initiate a Favorite Poem Project in your classes. All you need to do is get each person who is willing to—parents of students included, to read their favorite poem. This is a great way to hear new poems you’ve never heard of before, as well as pay tribute to the love of language we celebrate each year.

During this time of year, teachers may find it helpful to get poetry anthologies for children into their libraries, and read a poem a day to their students. Some great anthologies are available from Harper Collins and other publishers. Scholastic’s website also has a lot of great activities for children as well, including this fun Interactive Poetry Machine.

I hope you’ll find these ideas helpful. Keep thinking of new and exciting ways to introduce your students to poetry during this school year. Tell us your own ideas for sharing poetry with your students in the comments section below.