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By Rynette R. Kjesbo, M.S., CCC-SLP
April is National Poetry Month! It is a time to celebrate poetry by increasing the
awareness and appreciation of it. Haiku, sonnets, limericks, diamante… there are many
different types and styles of poetry to appeal to all readers! (For more information about
different styles of poetry, check out Handy Handout #337, “Types of Poetry.”)
Benefits of Poetry
From the whimsical poetry of Dr. Seuss to the thought-provoking sonnets of Shakespeare,
there are many benefits to reading and writing poetry.
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Improve listening skills. The ability to listen is a foundational skill for all of
language and learning. Hearing poetry read aloud naturally encourages students
to listen and concentrate on the poet’s message.
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Develop phonological awareness skills. Phonological awareness is the ability to
think about language in terms of its structure. (i.e., Sentences are made up of
words. Words are made up of syllables. Syllables are made up of sounds.) A lot of
poetry is written while giving considerable thought to syllables so that the poems
have rhythm. Other types of poetry use rhyme, which is another important part
of phonological awareness. The more students are exposed to the rhythm and
rhyme of poetry, the more opportunities they will have to develop phonological
awareness skills that are critical to reading success.
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Learn about historical events. Historical poetry teaches us about past events by
using the careful and thoughtful composition of words in a poem. Poetry of this
type can make events and facts easier to remember.
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Express thoughts and feelings. Poetry is often written to convey a speaker’s
thoughts and feelings about a topic. It allows us to reflect on our emotions and
express them in an acceptable way.
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Inspire writing. Because the style of writing poetry is so different from other
forms of writing, some students who don’t enjoy writing essays may enjoy writing
poetry.
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Enhance vocabulary. Poets express their thoughts with limited, carefully chosen
words. Because of this, they may use words that are less common in everyday
language. Exposing students to poetry also exposes them to new vocabulary
words.
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Explore language. When students write poetry, they explore language as they
carefully choose words to use to express their thoughts and ideas.
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Boost critical thinking skills. Poetry can be simple or it can be complex. Likewise,
interpreting poetry can be simple or it can be complex.
Poetry that uses a lot of figurative language (like
metaphors and similes) can be interpreted in different
ways by different readers. As students search for
meaning in poetry, they exercise their critical thinking
skills.
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Practice perspective-taking. Often interpreting a poet’s
message involves looking at an event or situation from
the author’s perspective.
Discover the benefits of reading and writing poetry by taking some time this month
to explore language and meaning in poetry. The Academy of American Poets’ website
( www.poets.org) provides lesson plans, essays, activities, and other online resources to
inspire teachers and parents and to help students celebrate poetry.
A Good Poem
A good poem paints a picture for both your heart and brain.
It doesn’t need a second chance to make its meaning plain.
A good poem is like the flower - the lily or the rose.
God plants it in a poet’s brain and there its beauty grows.
A good poem, like a cardinal, is pregnant with song
You can’t help but hear its message as it sings what’s right or wrong.
A good poem helps us remember what the joys of life are for
It makes us want to love someone till death comes knocking at our door.
--Tom Zart
Resources
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