Using Poetry to Teach Reading
Start with humorous poems that rhyme! That's the first piece of advice in this easy-to-read guide on using more poetry in your classroom. Other advice includes tips for choosing poems, how to manage poetry readings, and how to avoid breaking copyright laws when you copy poems for kids to read.
What's New
Poetry Walk
Jumpstart poetry writing in your class! Poetry walks give students a way to "write about what they know." Before heading outdoors, read aloud a few poems that are rich in descriptive language. Then, take your class on a walk around the neighborhood to observe and collect sensory images from their direct experience with nature. Students can bring a poetry journal with them to write down descriptive words as they observe, listen, smell, and touch things outside the classroom.
Family Poetry Jam
Sharing poetry out loud with your kids is a great way to have fun with language. Poems include humor, interesting words, tongue twisters and alliteration. Start with playful, rhyming poetry about topics that are familiar to your child like animals, food and bedtime. Once a poem is familiar to your child, take turns reading! Find more tips (in English and Spanish) in this article from our Growing Readers series.
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More Highlights
Revisiting Silent Reading
Does sustained silent reading improve reading achievement? Experts say, "it depends." Discover four conditions that improve the practice of silent reading in the classroom.
Scaffolding "Mindful" Silent Reading
Teaching students a set of prompts or procedures to use as they read helps them engage in mindful reading while gradually transitioning them to independently use a variety cognitive strategies — such as activating prior knowledge and questioning the author. See the sample lesson in this article.
Dyscalculia: A Quick Look
Does your young child have difficulty learning to count, have trouble with basic addition and subtraction, or struggle with organizing things in a logical way? Learn the basics about dyscalculia, a learning disability that can affect a wide range of math skills — and see what the warning signs are in preschool and school-age children.
Contributions From You
Today's First Person Essay
Robert Rauschenberg by Robert Rauschenberg
Robert Rauschenberg's works now hang in major art galleries and museums all over the world. When he was in school his success would not have been predicted. Rauschenberg has dyslexia...
