Does it finally look like spring where you're at? I think poet Sara Teasdale expresses the atmosphere around here right now!
The roofs are shining from the rain,
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy April grace
The little clouds go by.
Yet the back-yards are bare and brown
With only one unchanging tree
I could not be so sure of spring
Save that it sings for me.
--"April" by Sara Teasdale
April brings more than just showers and May flowers. It's National Poetry Month, too. Here is my latest Aspire to Inspire Classroom Resources round-up of 10 FREE online resources that will help your students become "well-versed" in poetry!
National Poetry Month Official Site
Here you'll find a collection of teacher instructional resources, a library of poets and poems, Poem-a-Day, poster contest, and the Dear Poet project, and more.
This article explores 10 elements of poetry to study, complete with recommended mentor texts and Web sites.
There are some pretty creative ideas for observing National Poetry month on this list. Check out the Bonus Potato Pick at the end of the post if your class is courageous enough!
This vast and well-maintained collection of poetry (7,000+ poems by 800 poets) is a fantastic resource with search capabilities as well as short poet biographies.
Watch poetry in motion in an upper elementary class with this creative lesson that engages students in poetry readings.
Pam from Rockin' Resources takes a year-long approach to teaching poetry with a comprehensive list of diverse and engaging lessons.
Inspire young poets with these exercises in self-expression, imagination, and thinking in poetry instead of prose. This is a great resource for teaching beyond poetic structures and theory.
This short video includes a few interviews with classroom teachers who explain some methods they use to teach poetry that seek to make poetry relevant and inclusive.
Using technology devices, social media, apps, Web sites, and more, this teacher provides some easy-to-do instructional ideas to engage even the most reluctant student of poetry.
This lesson uses Gary Soto's "Ode to Pablo's Tennis Shoes" to teach about form, mood, implications, figurative language, and originality (suggested grades 6-8).
Did you/have you used any of these resources? What do you think? Leave a comment!
