Exploring Language Through Poetry

Cat

Skinny whiskers

Thin bodies for you

and me to see

I like the way a cat looks!

~ Clara

Poetry can warm the heart and activate the senses. The language of poetry can make us laugh out loud, cry memory-filled tears or put a smile on our faces--as this poem did for me when I first read it. I can't imagine a world without the beauty of poetry.

That said, it can be difficult for young children to write poetry. They are used to writing in narrative style or writing fact-filled nonfiction sentences. They feel they are "breaking the rules" by abandoning sentence structure in favor of the looser structure of poetry. It is daring. It is challenging. It is completely outside the box for some of our young learners. I love it!

Our writing curriculum, Being a Writer, does a nice job of introducing young children to poetry. The first week, they simply listen to poetry and learn to focus on the words--words that describe how something looks, feels, tastes, smells and sounds. Words that describe how something moves. Words. Words. Words.

Eventually, we use the words we have collected and create poems together. We discuss choosing words that paint a clear image in the reader's mind and experiment with ways to lay the words out on the paper to create a rhythmic flow. Our shared poems are about animals. Children understand animals. They know them, they own them, they love them!

Finally, the students take the plunge and write their first poems. Adjectives and verbs magically appear on their papers. Adjectives and verbs that did not need to be taught through a formal grammar lesson (B.O.R.I.N.G). Adjectives and verbs that come from the minds of children writing about something they know. Isn't it awesome?!

On sharing day, as each child sat down, one by one, in the author's chair to share their first attempts at poetry, my heart swelled and swelled with pride until I thought I would simply burst. It was the pride of facing a struggle together and coming out on top. As I listened, I realized just how far we have come this year. Each and every child tackled this process fearlessly. They have learned to approach challenges not as problems, but as opportunities. They have learned to persevere, to create, to make mistakes and try again. My cup runneth over.

It is a pleasure to share some more of my students' first poems with you.

Puppy

Colorful fur
Black, white, brown,
gray
Sharp paws
Fast

~Hailey

Cat

Skinny whiskers

Fur

Paws

Legs

Sharp teeth, sharp claws

MEOW!

Ears are pointed

~Alli

Dolphins

Swim in the water

Make a sound

Ock, Ock

Whoosh!

~Elsy

Dog

He pees outside,

Has fur

Chases cats

Gives a paw

~Seren

Cheetah

Runs fast

Almost as fast

as a rocket!

Strong legs, too!

~William

Cat

Snuggles with me

It feels good!

It runs fast,

Scattering through the barn

~Cecelya

Cheetah

Fast

Polka dots

Slow

Jump, sleep, roar

Big

Strong

~Rhys

Cat

Skinny whiskers

Fur

Litter box

Sharp teeth, sharp claws

Nap

~Lily

Cat

Nap

Walk

Purr

Meow!

~Maira

Cat

Naps

Whiskers

Climbs on my trampoline

Scratch!

~Maverick

Snake

Slithers underground

Bites with sharp teeth

SSSSSSSSS!

~Jeremiah

Cheetah

Brown spots

Yellow fur

Run fast

Big cat

~Kaleb

Cat

Skinny whiskers

Soft fur

Sleeps with me

Warm

~Bea

Donkey

Long ears

Funny sound

Eee-Aw!

Kicks hard

~Damian

Penguin

Diving

Swimming

Jumping

Waddling

Gray, white fur

~Noah