Library Lady

Poetry Month – Teaching Poetry Writing

When I was working on my masters degree in Children’s Literature, one of the courses focused on Poetry. One of my sections focused on teaching poetry writing to children. I’ve drawn on that experience for this post.

Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made using these links will not cost you more but may pay me an affiliate fee. Check out my links at the end of this posts of things that I think may interest you. Thanks for using my links which help support this blog.

Reading and writing of poetry can go hand-in-hand. Teachers need to provide a classroom atmosphere which is conducive to writing. Teachers also need to provide activities which encourage students to experiment with a variety of poetry types.

Classroom Atmosphere for Teaching Poetry Writing

“Teaching poetry is the best way […] to engage and celebrate all students — not just as writers, but as valued members of the classroom community” (Routman, 26). In order for students to freely share thoughts and ideas, the atmosphere in the classroom needs to be friendly and non-threatening. Students “should feel free to reveal emotions and to make judgments” (Rosenblatt, 67). If students have a reason to fear unkind criticism, either from the teacher or fellow students, it will be harder for them to share their poetry. In some cases they may even resist writing it.

Create a Poetry-Friendly Classroom

Teachers need to create a poetry-friendly classroom. Doing so does require some time on the part of the teacher, but if students gain a love for poetry, it will be time well-spent.

Accepting Classroom Atmosphere

Teachers need to provide an accepting atmosphere in the classroom. They also need to do what they can to make their classroom poetry-friendly. Once these are accomplished, teachers can watch their students develop a love for poetry as they do poetry activities.

Poetry Activities for Teaching Poetry Writing

Not only is the classroom atmosphere important, how the teacher approaches poetry is also important. “The success of any assignment depends upon how one goes about presenting it and more generally how one approaches the whole subject of  teaching children to write” (Koch, 25). If teachers approach poetry and writing as something fun and exciting, students are more likely to accept it as such.

List Poem

“The list poem is an excellent way to introduce children […] to the writing of poetry” (Fagin, 1). In a List Poem students make a list of items (in phrases or sentences) which relate to the topic of the poem. Each item provides a perfect line break. The lines can be moved around during revision until the student finds the best sequence. A variation of this would be a School Poem in which each student in the school writes one line. One class or group of students arranges the lines into the best sequence.

Formula Poems

Formula Poems also provide a good introduction to poetry writing. “Elementary students can successfully write poetry using poetic formulas” (Tompkins, 169). There are a wide variety of formulas poetry writers can follow. 

Students should be exposed to as many different formulas as possible. They also need the time and freedom to experiment with them.

Free Verse

Not all poems rhyme and “rhyme should never be imposed as a criterion for acceptable poetry” (Tompkins, 169). When writing poetry students need to let the words and ideas flow. “The effort of finding rhymes stops the free-flow of their feelings and associations” (Koch, 8). Free Verse encourages the free flow and should be presented along with the formula poems.

Poetry writing can be fun. Teachers need to have an approach to poetry writing that shows they think it is fun. Formulas provide students with some guidance in their poetry writing, but free verse gives total freedom to the student poet. Both should be seen as viable options.

Tips for Success when Teaching Poetry Writing

Enjoyment of Poetry

The thing that will first and foremost ensure success is enjoyment. “If poetry is a pleasure, the students will want to write it” (Morice,1). It can’t be said often enough, poetry must be enjoyable whether in its reading or its writing. “Enjoyment should remain the emphasis in the writing of poetry, [the same is] true with the reading of poetry” (Tiedt, 109). 

Be Intentional with Poetry

Poetry moments must be intentional. If left unplanned, they may never happen. “We must plan experiences that seem natural and desirable” (Tiedt, 109). Have a specific time of day for poetry reading. Set aside time each week (or more often) for poetry writing. Provide poetry books for students to look at.

Not Just Another Assignment

If poetry is just another assignment to complete at home it may be viewed as drudgery. If it is an in-school activity it is “a welcome relief from math, spelling, and other required subjects” (Koch, 28). When written in class, students can get instant feedback and encouragement from the teacher and peers, while the excitement or questions are still fresh.

Work with the students create your own poetry

Paul Janeczko repeats a great tip in several of his books. It is best to work on poetry writing with the students. At the very least you need to do the assignment ahead of the students so that you are aware of the process they must go through (2000, 5). If you work on it in class with them “you can show them how you work through the writing process” (1998, 7). You really can’t get much more poetry-friendly than teacher and student working on the same poetry writing activity.

Publish Student Work

Publication of student poetry also contributes to success. After receiving parental permission, you can publish student poems through school newsletters or websites. You could also collect student poetry into an anthology. Other means of publication could be posting poems where others can read them or reading them aloud in class.

If students enjoy the poetry writing process then the lesson has been successful. Teachers need to do what they can to make the experience enjoyable. Plan regular in-school poetry experiences and participate with your students. Make sure sharing is part of the activity as well.

All students can enjoy and succeed at writing poetry. Teachers can make sure this happens. The attitude and participation of teachers and the activities they choose can encourage student enjoyment and success.

Works Cited

Fagin, Larry. The List Poem: A Guide to Teaching and Writing Catalog Verse. New York: Teachers and Writers Collaborative, 2000.

Janeczko, Paul B. Teaching 10 Fabulous Forms of Poetry. New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 2000.

Koch, Kenneth. Wishes, Lies, and Dreams: Teaching Children to Write Poetry. New York: Harper Perennial, 1970, 1999.

More Poetry. Washington, DC: TV-Turnoff Network, 2001.

Morice, Dave. The Adventures of Dr. Alphabet: 104 Unusual Ways to Write Poetry in the Classroom and Community. New York: Teachers and Writers Collaborative, 1995.

Rosenblatt, Louise M. Literature as Exploration. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1995.

Routman, Regie. “Everyone succeeds with poetry writing.” Instructor August 2001: 26-30.

Tiedt, Iris McClellan. Tiger Lilies, Toadstools, and Thunderbolts: Engaging K-8 students with poetry.  Newark, DE: International Reading Association, 2002.
Tompkins, Gail E. “Poetic Writing.” Teaching Writing: Balancing Process and Product. Columbus: Merrill Publishing, Co., 1990. pp 153-197

Sign up for my newsletter and receive my Creepy Crawly Poetry Lessons.

Read my other Poetry Month posts.

My products for teaching Poetry – found on Teachers Pay Teachers

You can purchase books at: (affiliate links)

I55 Fundraising – If you are looking to purchase books for your library (or for personal use) or a company to use for Book Fairs – I recommend I55 Fundraising.


AmazonTry Audible Plus

Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

My Teachers Pay Teachers shop

If you are an avid reader, you need to check out my Reading Journal for Book Lovers is perfect for readers. As a paperback, Reading Journal for Book Lovers is a great gift for all book lovers,  bloggers, and book reviewers.