Poems/Poetry in the Classroom

[iPeach]

I was wondering if anyone does a weekly poem? I'm not talking about teaching a unit of poetry and having them write poems. I mean using a poem each week of the school year to build fluency. For those that do this, do you notice an improvement in student fluency? How do you approach the poem each week/day? Copies, transparency, big chart, etc. What other types of activities (about 5-10 min. long) also help in building up fluency other than poems? I've gotten several good ideas from this board! Thanks for any insight!!

 

[StephR]

I do a Poem of the Week and have noticed a definite improvement in the students' fluency. They are able to catch on to the meter and flow of the written word through it. Also, choral reading (which is a MUST in our reading program...a topic for another post!!) is made so much easier now that they are chorally reading the poem each week. I have also used it to teach rhyming words, repeating patterns, rhytmic meter, etc....all 3rd grade standards in my state. The students also love reciting them for each other and in the weeks after (as each day I ask for "requests" on poems they would like to recite..they love it!)

 

[Valerie]

poetry

I love using poetry for fluency! I also have lots of poems related to science and social studies themes. I use them on a regular basis. Kids love reading and memorizing poetry. I have purchased poetry charts, charts I have made, lots of books of poetry, poems in a big book. I even found about 50 poems that are class favorites, ran them off and made individual poetry books. I just put all the poems in folders with brads. The kids have their own book of poems to use for class projects like finding rhyming words, finding prefix / suffix words, etc. I have used the folder poetry books for a lot of years and they are still in good shape.

 

[esthernafrica]

suggestions for science

Do you have any recommendations for poetry regarding teaching classifying common objects by texture, flexibility, size, shape....? Any ideas you have would be very beneficial to me.

Thanks!

Esther

 

[jcrawford56]

poetry

I do something called "Poetry Readers", boring name but it works for me. I read poetry all the time and teach chants and such and have a huge poetry book supply for kids to read so this really revs them up about poetry. Once they are hooked i explan that each day after lunch before i read aloud to them, they may sign up to read, ore recite a poem of their choice, published or self penned. My only "rule" is that they are prepared and feel comfortable. They may sign up as a solo or enlist in the help of a classmate(s) to read poem possibly in "parts". This is so simple but the kids get very excited about it. It is totally voluntary and of course some kids want to do all the time so my other "rule" is that each student may only read one time a week to give opportunityies for others. I have a sign up on the board and 3 kids can do each day.
By the end of the year kids get very creative with their poems and presentations.

 

[jcrawford56]

poetry

I do something called "Poetry Readers", boring name but it works for me. I read poetry all the time and teach chants and such and have a huge poetry book supply for kids to read so this really revs them up about poetry. Once they are hooked i explan that each day after lunch before i read aloud to them, they may sign up to read, ore recite a poem of their choice, published or self penned. My only "rule" is that they are prepared and feel comfortable. They may sign up as a solo or enlist in the help of a classmate(s) to read poem possibly in "parts". This is so simple but the kids get very excited about it. It is totally voluntary and of course some kids want to do all the time so my other "rule" is that each student may only read one time a week to give opportunityies for others. I have a sign up on the board and 3 kids can do each day.
By the end of the year kids get very creative with their poems and presentations.