10 Ways to Celebrate Poetry
(during National Poetry Month and all year long)
Poetry Film Festival
Film or ask students to film themselves reciting or reading a poem. Consider filming outside or with a prop. Then host a poetry film festival and screen it in person with an audience or share it virtually. Click here to see my poem video, "My Pet Poem."
Poetry Minute
Plan a daily poetry minute when a poem is read aloud to the class by the teacher or a student. Perhaps a student could even read the poem over the school intercom? Students could also ask the principal and staff to share their favorite poems.
Poem-In-Your Pocket Day
This day falls near the end of April https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day. Print a different poem for each student to put in their pocket or backpack to take home. Another way to celebrate is having students distribute a poem to every student at school during dismissal.
Chalk the Walk
Use chalk to write a poem on the sidewalk in front of the school or playground or on any paved area. Illustration optional.
Poetry Gift Exchange
Wrap poems as gifts and have a poetry exchange party. Take turns reading them aloud. Alternately, suggest that students include a poem (an original or a favorite) as a gift inside in any kind of holiday card for family or friends.
Poetry Café
Ask students to share an original poem or two as well as read or recite a published favorite at a live "poetry cafe" event. Invite friends or family or another class to enjoy with you. (Cocoa and cookies optional but always delicious.)
Poetry Wall
Encourage poets to revise, type, and possibly illustrate their work. Then display it all together as as a “poetry wall” for all students and visitors to view.
Craft Poetry Bookmarks
Have students decorate bookmarks with poetry to share with friends, family, and other students. Maybe the library would offer these treasures to students during April?
Share a Poem with a “Reviewer”
Ask students to share one of their poems with a family member or a friend or two. Ask the “reviewer” to write one or two things they like about the poem directly on the page. Share the results as a class.
"Publish" a Classroom Poetry Collection
Have each student contribute an original poem (preferably illustrated) and bind them into a single book. Display/share on Parent Night or read to younger classes at school. Consider making a copy for each student to take home.
Additional resources for poetry celebrating:
http://www.amysklansky.com/inside-a-poets-mind.html
Book my virtual or in-person visit: “Inside a Poet’s Mind.”
http://www.amysklansky.com/tips-for-poetry-writing.html
Visit this page to learn the general steps of “The Best Poem Writing” technique or to discover book-inspired poetry writing activities.
https://www.youthlaureate.org
Learn about current and past National Youth Poet Laureates, including videos.
https://poets.org/text/current-us-and-state-poets-laureate
Find your state or city poet laureate.
https://www.poetry4kids.com
Many great resources from former Children’s Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt.
https://poets.org
Academy of American Poets. Multiple resources here, including things such as: https://poets.org/text/how-read-poem-0
https://www.poetryfoundation.org
National Poetry Foundation. Multiple resources here, including audio recordings.
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/get-official-poster?mc_cid=69c1fb1b21&mc_eid=f91b9e2794
Request a free poster celebrating National Poetry Month for your classroom wall. Students can also enter the poster design contest.
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/dear
The Dear Poet Project is a multimedia educational project for grades 5-12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yff9fnEmFXQ
Watch a video of several poets who write for children presented by Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Film or ask students to film themselves reciting or reading a poem. Consider filming outside or with a prop. Then host a poetry film festival and screen it in person with an audience or share it virtually. Click here to see my poem video, "My Pet Poem."
Poetry Minute
Plan a daily poetry minute when a poem is read aloud to the class by the teacher or a student. Perhaps a student could even read the poem over the school intercom? Students could also ask the principal and staff to share their favorite poems.
Poem-In-Your Pocket Day
This day falls near the end of April https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day. Print a different poem for each student to put in their pocket or backpack to take home. Another way to celebrate is having students distribute a poem to every student at school during dismissal.
Chalk the Walk
Use chalk to write a poem on the sidewalk in front of the school or playground or on any paved area. Illustration optional.
Poetry Gift Exchange
Wrap poems as gifts and have a poetry exchange party. Take turns reading them aloud. Alternately, suggest that students include a poem (an original or a favorite) as a gift inside in any kind of holiday card for family or friends.
Poetry Café
Ask students to share an original poem or two as well as read or recite a published favorite at a live "poetry cafe" event. Invite friends or family or another class to enjoy with you. (Cocoa and cookies optional but always delicious.)
Poetry Wall
Encourage poets to revise, type, and possibly illustrate their work. Then display it all together as as a “poetry wall” for all students and visitors to view.
Craft Poetry Bookmarks
Have students decorate bookmarks with poetry to share with friends, family, and other students. Maybe the library would offer these treasures to students during April?
Share a Poem with a “Reviewer”
Ask students to share one of their poems with a family member or a friend or two. Ask the “reviewer” to write one or two things they like about the poem directly on the page. Share the results as a class.
"Publish" a Classroom Poetry Collection
Have each student contribute an original poem (preferably illustrated) and bind them into a single book. Display/share on Parent Night or read to younger classes at school. Consider making a copy for each student to take home.
Additional resources for poetry celebrating:
http://www.amysklansky.com/inside-a-poets-mind.html
Book my virtual or in-person visit: “Inside a Poet’s Mind.”
http://www.amysklansky.com/tips-for-poetry-writing.html
Visit this page to learn the general steps of “The Best Poem Writing” technique or to discover book-inspired poetry writing activities.
https://www.youthlaureate.org
Learn about current and past National Youth Poet Laureates, including videos.
https://poets.org/text/current-us-and-state-poets-laureate
Find your state or city poet laureate.
https://www.poetry4kids.com
Many great resources from former Children’s Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt.
https://poets.org
Academy of American Poets. Multiple resources here, including things such as: https://poets.org/text/how-read-poem-0
https://www.poetryfoundation.org
National Poetry Foundation. Multiple resources here, including audio recordings.
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/get-official-poster?mc_cid=69c1fb1b21&mc_eid=f91b9e2794
Request a free poster celebrating National Poetry Month for your classroom wall. Students can also enter the poster design contest.
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/dear
The Dear Poet Project is a multimedia educational project for grades 5-12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yff9fnEmFXQ
Watch a video of several poets who write for children presented by Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
I wrote this poem in recognition of National Poetry Month, 2022
