Poetry is one of those genres that tends to get a bad rap. I find students either LOVE poetry or HATE it. They are rarely in the middle.
One of the big obstacles is students have to re-read poetry to really get to the heart and meaning of it. I find that exposure is important. The more students read and analyze poetry, the better they get at it.
The first step in teaching poetry is defining key vocabulary for students. They MUST know these words in order to be able to dig deeper into the poems.
Important words:
- Stanza: a group of lines arranged together in a pattern. I tell students that stanzas are the equivalent to paragraphs in an essay.
- Line: a group of words arranged in a row
- Rhyme: the repetition of syllables. This repetition usually takes place at the end of a line.
- Speaker: the voice of the poem
- Symbol: an action, object or idea that represents something other than itself. It is usually more abstract.
- Theme: The underlying message or big idea
- Figurative language: When words mean something different from their literal definition.
- Sensory details: descriptions that use the five senses to paint a picture (taste, sight, touch, smell, sound).
- Mood: The overall feeling of the poem.
- Free verse: No predictable pattern
While there are MANY more words related to poetry this is just a beginners list to get you started.
How can I introduce these words to my students?
- I like to give my students a handout with important vocabulary. We will review the words, define them and then identify them in an easy text. I will start with a poem that is below grade level and easy for them to access. For example, I will have them identify the number of lines, stanzas, and the rhyme pattern. We talk about who the speaker is, what the mood is, a theme and then any symbols. I do this in a text that is easy to access so they can find the items easily.
- Next, I review the words using a game. Some of my favorites are Bingo, Stinky Feet, Connect Four, Jeopardy or a scavenger hunt around the room. This allows students to practice applying the new vocabulary in a more engaging and meaningful way.
- Dig into a grade level text and have students identify the parts of a poem. Here, I might make it harder and only label some of the lines. I will then ask students to go to a specific line and answer a question about it. I might also add in some multiple choice questions for them to begin the analyzing process.
- In my grade, we don’t have a specific poetry unit. To compensate for this, one of my weekly do-now’s is a poem. This way, students are constantly getting exposed and practicing. I find that this repetition helps students feel more comfortable with poems.
What is your feeling? Do you love or hate poetry?
