Roses are red, violets are blue, April is National Poetry Month, and you can celebrate too!

This April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, which was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. And what have teachers like me been doing since this awesome month of celebrating all things poetry has become a thing?

Well, for one thing, celebrating all things poetry!

You’re probably asking yourself how you can get a classroom full of students to suddenly love poetry when you’ve spent the last 8 months just trying to get them to love reading, but I promise it can happen.

If you love the art of poetry enough, that excitement will shine through to your students. If you’re willing to celebrate the end of all of that exhausting test prep with a party of poetry, the Shel Silverstein’s of your classroom will jump in on the action. And if you’re ready to get the creative juices flowing, ready to help the magic of poetry come to life in your classroom, you’ve come to the right place.

Because, really, is there anything more magical than poetry?

Below are my top 3 tried-and-true ways to celebrate Poetry in the classroom, no matter the age of your little poets.

1. Poem in Your Pocket

This is actually a national holiday within a holiday. On April 21st, encourage all of your students to bring a favorite poem to school, keep it in their pocket, and invite them to share their choices throughout the school day. Bonus points for having students act out their selections or allowing the audience to guess the name of the poet.

2. A Poet a Day

This is my favorite. Whether it’s poetry or popcorn, I tend to have a hard time limiting myself, so in the interest of a month long celebration, my take on poetry (and popcorn) is, of course, the more the merrier! By celebrating one poet a day, whether Shakespeare, Jack Prelutsky, Maya Angelou, or good ol’ Shel Silverstein, students will learn the vast differences that lie in between all poetry styles, as well as my favorite part of poetry – the fact that there is NO right or wrong way to do it. (No wrong way? Students LOVE this fact).

3. Poet Publishing Party

Want to watch a class full of students, from Kindergarten on up through high school get REALLY excited? Tell them that they’re all about to become published poets. Whether it’s Haiku, limerick, acrostic, or cinquain, teach a style that will work with your kids, let their ideas run wild, and celebrate with a party at the end of it. For more bonus points? Invite administration, other classes, and parents to share in the joy you’ve now instilled into your group of amazing learners.

And if all else fails – grab Poem Depot (Aisles of Smiles) – hold on tight to it – and read from it – every single day.

 
Because the month of April is classically, a month of blooming, a month of new beginnings, and a month of beauty.

Do it with poetry.

Have you awoken your inner poet yet? If so, check out the Bulk Book Store’s vast selection of the best poetry reads around, at the best prices, of course!

Be well, Read well.

The author, circa 2011, celebrating Poetry Month following a month-long struggle getting her special-education students to complete the New York State English Language Exams. Poetry for the win!