Why make time for poetry?

Writing poetry, particularly with elementary schoolers, is often limited to holiday acrostics and “easy” forms like haiku, or limericks. During a residency, I spend between three and six days at a school. It is a big commitment of time and resources for schools -- but when we work deeply with poetry, students’ writing seems to leap off the page. Children begin to see themselves as poets, and many of them bring this new confidence to their classroom writing.

Poetry in Elementary School

Many Maryland elementary schools recently adopted the 6+1 Trait Writing Model (see source note below). Some of the teachers I work with have been amazed at the way their students synthesize several of these traits when writing poetry.   Read more

Coming soon:  Why make time for poetry in middle and high school article