April is National Poetry Month

Poetry was always a part of every classroom I’ve taught in. It was integrated into lesson plans with students I tutored. I made sure it had a place in my students’ learning, regardless of their age or learning level. Once during independent reading time, a first grader approached me and said, “I’m reading this book. It takes place at a school, and in this chapter one kid wrote a poem. I wanted to read you the poem he wrote because I know you like poetry.” I do like poetry, but more so, I like sharing poetry with my students, and I was THRILLED that this kid had picked up on that.

Here’s why:

  1. Poetry lends itself well to teaching students about rhythm and rhyme.

  2. Poetry is a great way to introduce and work with figurative language and literary devices.

  3. Poetry encourages self-expression while honing verbal skills. (You can read more here about why I especially love teaching cinquain writing.)

  4. Poetry introduces students to a form of art and entertainment — slam poetry, anyone?

  5. Poetry fosters social and emotional learning.

  6. Poetry allows for flexibility, and students enjoy exploring the ways they can “break the rules.” When writing poetry, it is often perfectly acceptable to abandon certain writing conventions that are expected in written prose.

  7. Unless we’re talking lengthy works like the Odyssey, poems can be used as snapshots of bigger stories, life events, or teaching points to introduce students to a myriad of topics.

With April being National Poetry Month, it is the perfect opportunity to expose students to various forms of poetry and different poets; to engage students creatively and challenge them as they create pieces of their own. At the end of the month (this year: April 30) it is Poem in Your Pocket Day. A few years ago I created this poetry craft activity so that students can cut out paper pockets and sized to fit paper to carry around their poetry and share with others. The finished product also makes an attractive bulletin board display (for when we’re back in the classroom).

How do you bring poetry into your young writers’ lives? I’d love to hear!

The Cinquain: A Must-Have Writing Tool

If you’re looking for a writing tool that targets parts of speech practice and has a clear line from start to finish with a basic structure that allows room for plenty of creative expression, you might want to consider bringing the cinquain to class.

There are many types of cinquains, but the one I focus on with my students is the didactic cinquain. It is a simple cinquain that has five lines and uses word count rather than syllable count to compose each line.

The structure looks like this:

Line 1: What is your topic? Write it as a single noun.

Line 2: Describe the noun from Line 1 using two adjectives.

Line 3: Write down three action verbs that relate to the noun from Line 1.

Line 4: In four words, put down your thoughts or feelings about the noun from Line 1.

Line 5: What is a synonym for the noun from Line 1? 

EXAMPLE 1:

snowstorm

fluffy, white

flurrying, falling, accumulating

warm and cozy inside

blizzard

EXAMPLE 2:

soup

hot, delicious

steaming, stirring, sipping

perfect cold weather meal

minestrone

EXAMPLE 3:

excavator

big, powerful

scooping, digging, shaping

moving across the land

construction truck


Why I Love Them

Using this type of cinquain has many benefits for both the reluctant AND adventurous writer.

  1. The cinquain lends itself well to warm up writing exercises and getting those creative juices flowing.

  2. The cinquain isn’t too intimidating. (We know that can’t be said of all poetry!) The cinquain provides structure, and with only 5 lines, completion is near in sight. Students can see the finish line.

  3. Writing a cinquain encourages students — regardless of ability — to practice using appropriate and descriptive nouns, adjectives, verbs, and synonyms.

  4. Since cinquains are relatively short in length and can be completed in one writing period, they are the ideal confidence-boosting piece; students know when the writing period is over, they will have accomplished a completed piece of poetry.

  5. With practice, cinquain writing can be a fun and creative way to reflect and document just about anything. Consider starting a cinquain journal!

ThE list of topics to write about is endless… here are some suggestions:

  • A hobby or sport

  • A favorite food or drink

  • A holiday or celebration

  • The weather

  • A past vacation

  • A friend or family member

  • A favorite animal

  • Current mood

  • A field trip

  • Book or movie review

  • A topic in an academic content area

How to Use CINQUAINS in the Classroom

Once a formal, explicit mini-lesson on the cinquain in completed, there are many ways to incorporate them into your classroom and curriculum.

  • Writing warm up (no assigned topic)

  • Assigned topic to be used for a bulletin display

  • Writing journal for weekly cinquain entries

  • Class book on an assigned theme (holiday, field trip, season, etc…)

  • Holiday gifts for parents (as a bookmark or framed writing piece)

  • Comprehension check for content area topics

I hope this post inspires you to use cinquains with your students, and I’d love to know how it goes.

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