Pass the Poetry
By Mary Ellen Bafumo

If you're an early riser and listen to public radio, you've probably heard Garrison Keillor, the host of "Prairie Home Companion," sharing a reading from the latest edition of "Pretty Good Poems." Each poem invariably evokes a reaction; whether it's a laugh, a smile, a grimace or moments of thought. Starting the day listening to a bit of poetry is a treat, so why not start every school day with poetry? Your students will benefit by acquiring an acquaintance with, if not a lifelong love of, poetry. Savvy teachers can invite students to share their own favorite poems with the class. So, you must be wondering where teachers get the time to do something enriching and enjoyable that isn't assessed, assigned or otherwise evaluated, right? The answer is at breakfast, lunch and after school.

Make a meal of poetry
An expert teacher I know serves up poetry at breakfast. Students are still pretty sleepy early in the morning and that makes it an ideal time to share a quiet moment, a bit of humor or a calming thought to open the day, either during breakfast duty or as students return to the classroom. Lunch is a very social event, but meeting students at the door with a poem in hand when they return, or having a volunteer offer a reading or recitation, is a routine that your students will readily anticipate. This is especially true when the only task is to listen and enjoy, and when the poem meshes with the moment. It might be funny, catchy, somber or matched with a topic of study to make it relevant.

Some excellent poetry books are available if you don't have a favorite and need a start. If you already use poetry in your class, you'll recognize a few familiar names. These selections work for five to 11 year olds and include very engaging illustrations.

• The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, compiled by Jack Prelutzky (Random House, 1983).
• Read Aloud Poems for Young People: An Introduction to the Magic and Excitement of Poetry, edited by Glorya Hale (Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 2000).
• A Treasury of Best-Loved Children's Poetry, edited by Mike Freeman (Barnes and Noble Books, 2004).

If you work with middle school students, they'll really enjoy the following books of poetry.

• Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems from WritersCorps (HarperCollins, 2003). Nikki Giovanni wrote the foreword and a poem that sets the wonderful tone in this book.
• If your class loves humor, you'll definitely need a copy of For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funnybone compiled by Jack Prelutzky (Knopf, 1991). This book works for students of all ages. There are many good children's poetry books – too many to name here. These selections offer an excellent starting point. Ask your media specialist if any of these are in your school library, or put them on a wish list to give to your parent-teacher association. All of them are very affordable.

Building a language habit
Once you have the resources, be sure to try these ideas to expose your students to poetry each day, build a language habit and perhaps even develop a special interest.

1. Have a poem written on the board when students arrive and get everyone in the habit of reading it silently, first thing in the morning.
2. Post a "Poet's Calendar" on a bulletin board in your classroom and ask your students to sign up to read, recite or copy a morning poem on the board.
3. Find a poem that addresses the topic at hand, integrate it into the content and clearly connect it to the topic for students. Opening or closing a lesson with topical poetry is a very effective instructional strategy.
4. Be sure your classroom library has a variety of poetry books that are clearly displayed and available for students to borrow.
5. Record poems that students really enjoy and invite them to record their favorite poems, when they return a few minutes early from lunch. Provide a small tape player, written usage instructions and put them in a tote for students to borrow overnight.
6. For older children, suggest that each student select a favorite poet and memorize one of his or her poems. Introduce meter and have them try to create a poem which emulates the voice and rhythm of their poet, much as an aspiring artist imitates one of the great masters.

In this era of testing, there is rarely time to simply hear the beauty of language. Offering a moment in the classroom to enjoy poetry as a means of expression is a service to children. The lifelong benefit is an appreciation of the art and perhaps the inspiration to write.

Mary Ellen Bafumo is Executive Director of Professional Development in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District.

April, 2005, Vol.35, No.7