Using poetry in teaching: A Tool for the Classroom
Poetry is a little like Marmite – you either love it or hate it! This may be based on your own experiences when you were younger, or it is not a genre you have ventured to explore. Poetry is not just about rhymes and verses; it is a powerful tool that can transform the learning experience in classrooms. Incorporating poetry into the curriculum offers a myriad of benefits that extend beyond language arts. Why not try exploring the ideas below to ignite enthusiasm for poetry in your classroom? Hopefully, you will reap the benefits of using it with your pupils.
Enhancing Language Skills
Poetry exposes children to rich language, imagery, and metaphorical expressions, which improves vocabulary, comprehension, and communication skills.
Why not try poems like ‘The Moon’ by Robert Louis Stevenson or ‘The Sea’ by James Reeves? Both poems are a great introduction to metaphors, similes, and personification.
Fostering Creativity
Poetry encourages children to ‘think outside the box,’ experiment with language, and express themselves creatively, fostering imagination and innovation. There are great ways to link art and music to poems in the classroom.
Have you explored the potential of ‘The Tyger’ by William Blake? Blake himself was an artist and poet, so pupils could explore the poem through both drawing and painting. The steady pulsing rhythm of the poem could inspire them to create their own piece of music.
Promoting Cultural Understanding
Through exposure to various poets and poetic traditions, children gain insight into diverse cultures, histories, and societal issues, fostering cross-cultural understanding and empathy. ‘The Rainbow Serpent’ is a traditional Aboriginal story adapted in different poetic forms. It makes a wonderful introduction for young children to mythology and storytelling.
Boosting Confidence with oracy skills
Creating and performing poetry empowers young people to find their voice, build confidence in expressing themselves, and develop public speaking skills. Poetry can be a fantastic way to practice reading fluency through echo and choral reading, reader’s theatre and reciting for performance. There is a wealth of poetry which is great for performance: why not try ‘Colonel Fazackerley’ by Charles Causley which is a lively narrative about a brave colonel and a ghost? The rhythm is catchy, and children can have fun with the storytelling and adding actions.
Incorporating poetry into the curriculum and the classroom enriches the educational experience, nurturing students' linguistic, cognitive, and emotional growth while fostering a lifelong appreciation for the beauty and power of language. Which poem will you delve into today?
In honour of our November born poets:
8th November William Blake 1757-1827
22nd November George Eliot 1819 – 1880
29th November C. S. Lewis 1898 – 1963
How can we support your school?
If you would like support or training to help develop your poetry offer in school, please do contact the team at Education North Tyneside: we would be happy to help.
