Article for Teachers

Back to School with Poetry

Poetry lessons and resources for teachers.

BY The Editors

Originally Published: September 10, 2013
Illustration of a tabletop with a typewriter, cat, and writing supplies.
Illustration courtesy of Caroline Cracco.

Calling all teachers! Find new ways to bring your poetry lesson plans to life with these articles and other resources from the Poetry Foundation’s extensive Learn section.

 

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL

A hut in a forest  Your Secret Hideout
  Teaching poems about real and imaginary childhood spaces.
  By Matthew Burgess

Small student seating with green chairs and tables.  Before We Begin
  Frameworks for introducing poetry to the elementary classroom.
  By B. Metzger Sampson

Illustration of a student dressed as an astronaut.  Agents of the Imagination
  Science fiction poems in the classroom.
  By Carol Jago


Polaroid photos of different families.  The Lune Link
  Illuminating classroom content with flashes of poetry.
  By Susan Karwoska


Image Courtesy of Charis Tsevis via Flickr  Sticks and Stones and Words as Weapons
  What African American poetry teaches us.
  By Opal Palmer Adisa


Image Courtesy of Kevin Dooley via Flickr Seeing Ourselves in the World
Poetry enables students to explore their identities and identifications.
By Mark Statman

Art by Anna Marinenko On Sound and Rhythm
A way to start teaching poetry to children and young adults.
By Jack Collom

Illustration of origami patterns Again! Again!
Children’s poetry and the joys of repetition.
By Sonia Levitin

Paper roses Be a Bunch of Yous
Students use their imaginations to expand a sense of self.
By Laura Solomon

Explore videos, articles, and our Young People’s Poet Laureate book picks for more ideas on engaging children with poetry.

HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND BEYOND

ALT Advice for Teachers
Classroom tips for approaching poetry, based on what matters most to you and your students.
By Stephanie Burt

“Colorful map of America” by marina_ua, courtesy of Shutterstock. Adding Latinx Poetry to Your Curriculum
Using poems to discuss more than poetry in the classroom.
By Lupe Mendez

Gold Weight in Form of Sankofa Bird. Brass, 1 x 2 3/4 x 1 1/4 in. The Poetics of Liberation
Looking back to envision the future.
By Alex Cuff


Robert Frost Robert Frost: “The Road Not Taken”
Our choices are made clear in hindsight.
By Katherine Robinson


William Shakespeare William Shakespeare 101
An introduction to the greatest English language poet and playwright.
By Kevin Barents

Langston HughesLangston Hughes 101
Understanding a poet of the people, for the people.
By Benjamin Voigt


Walt Whitman Walt Whitman 101
Celebrating everybody’s radical poet.
By Benjamin Voigt


Portrait of John Keats John Keats: “Ode on a Grecian Urn”
How to read the most famous poem “for ever.”
By Camille Guthrie


Classroom Against Slogging: Engaging Poetry in the Classroom
Ways to make every text, every minute count with struggling readers.
By Eileen Murphy

ALT Nurturing the Omnivore: Approaches to Teaching Poetry
Explore the many paths to experiencing poetry in the classroom.
By Eileen Murphy

Image Courtesy of Tim Wang via Flickr Why Write in Form?
Mastering the traditional ways to forge new ones.
By Rebecca Hazelton

 


MORE RESOURCES

How to Read a Poem
A 16-part guide on where to begin with poetry, with plenty of examples and suggested reading.

Poetry Off the Shelf: Making the Case for Poetry
A podcast about inviting classroom fun through songs and speeches.

Poems about Teaching and Teachers
Poetry about learning, for teachers and students alike.

Poetry Off the Shelf: Teaching Poetry in Times Like These
This episode covers alternative approaches to teaching in a highly fraught political age.

And this is just the beginning. Be sure to check out our Educators section, which includes an extensive glossary of poetic terms, historic essays on poetic theory, and poem guides for all ages.

The editorial staff of the Poetry Foundation. See the Poetry Foundation staff list and editorial team masthead.

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