It’s easy to talk about the benefits of poetry when you’ve been a lifelong poetry lover, like I have. I don’t even know quite where this love came from, though I am willing to bet that the poetry book my mother read to me regularly had something to do with it. We can recite the title poem to one another in its entirety to this day.
What a great post. I wish I had learned to love poetry as a child, I was never exposed to it. I have such a hard time reading poetry, my mind wanders, I have to concentrate and I lose patience quickly. I guess if I really wanted to enjoy it, I'd learn how to do that. I tried reading two of Elizabeth Acevedo's books and failed supremely. However, I did listen to all three on audio and loved them. So much so, that I bought all three audiobooks as I know I'll want to listen to them again.
I've been meaning to read this slowly! So much here.
For my non-reader son, he was fascinated by a book of baseball poetry, and all the white space in that book made him think "it was easy." It was a breakthrough book, for him.
Poetry expands our senses of rhythm; my older son loves rap, and can come up with very rhythmic ideas. I come from a background of little music listened to or poetry read, and it took me a long time to learn how to dance. Rhythm is so important (really, in sports, in driving a car, in cooking multiple dishes... I do see connections in developing a real sense of rhythm.
You've really shown us a breadth of books--there are poetry books for everyone, no matter what interests one has. I took 70 into a grade four classroom once...and everyone found something. all the poetry nay-sayers grew very quiet through that time of immersion!! By the end of a week of poetry walks and such, they were all happily on board. (A poetry walk is when you write out each line on a strip of cardboard, and set them out on the floor and then walk through them saying each line aloud--fun!)
Well, me too, obviously 😊 I think you make an excellent point about poetry being accessible to developing and even dormant readers (those struggling, or those who merely do the bare minimum required for school) -- I hadn't really thought about that.
I'm coming out with a Spotlight On: Poetry issue in the beginning of August -- those are deep dives into a single topic, where I'll review seven books for a variety of ages and recommend many more. Keep an eye out for it!
I liked poetry many moons ago, but was put off it in secondary school. Badly taught, and it was a boys' school so poetry was regarded as being for girls. I then rediscovered my love of it at college -- specifically Chaucer and Elizabethan verse romances. A few months ago I signed up for a course and the tutor was brilliant: made every word come alive. I even ended up enjoying Wordsworth. I think the quality of teaching makes such a difference. I think your article is brilliant, and so potentially helpful.
I think your experience is super common -- even the norm, sadly -- but I am so happy to hear that you rediscovered your love of it. And yes, a teacher who brings poetry alive is a gift!
Indeed. And the recent brilliant teacher had to be dragged out of retirement to teach it. What a waste. Don't you think retirement should be banned for inspiring teachers?Anyway, I'm sure a LOT OF PEOPLE MUST HAVE FOUND YOUR ARTICLE INSPIRING. oops, sorry
You put such care into all your posts, Sarah!
Thanks so much, Jolene ❤️
What a great post. I wish I had learned to love poetry as a child, I was never exposed to it. I have such a hard time reading poetry, my mind wanders, I have to concentrate and I lose patience quickly. I guess if I really wanted to enjoy it, I'd learn how to do that. I tried reading two of Elizabeth Acevedo's books and failed supremely. However, I did listen to all three on audio and loved them. So much so, that I bought all three audiobooks as I know I'll want to listen to them again.
Maybe you just haven’t found the right poetry, or poet, yet. I hear from a lot of people that poetry is what they go to when they *can’t* concentrate…
But listening to poetry (Elizabeth Acevedo’s books are amazing on audio; that’s how I’ve read them all) totally counts!
I've been meaning to read this slowly! So much here.
For my non-reader son, he was fascinated by a book of baseball poetry, and all the white space in that book made him think "it was easy." It was a breakthrough book, for him.
Poetry expands our senses of rhythm; my older son loves rap, and can come up with very rhythmic ideas. I come from a background of little music listened to or poetry read, and it took me a long time to learn how to dance. Rhythm is so important (really, in sports, in driving a car, in cooking multiple dishes... I do see connections in developing a real sense of rhythm.
You've really shown us a breadth of books--there are poetry books for everyone, no matter what interests one has. I took 70 into a grade four classroom once...and everyone found something. all the poetry nay-sayers grew very quiet through that time of immersion!! By the end of a week of poetry walks and such, they were all happily on board. (A poetry walk is when you write out each line on a strip of cardboard, and set them out on the floor and then walk through them saying each line aloud--fun!)
Thank you for another great post!!!
Thanks, Alison! And thank you also, for adding your own experience and ideas here (I love the poetry walk!)
This is a topic I get excited about :) Seeing my son connect with reading, as he had not with other books, was SO good! You are onto something here.
Well, me too, obviously 😊 I think you make an excellent point about poetry being accessible to developing and even dormant readers (those struggling, or those who merely do the bare minimum required for school) -- I hadn't really thought about that.
Ha! Poetry gives us so MUCH to think about..
Amen!
Absolutely love this post Sarah! I've been looking for some poetry collections for my children and really appreciate your recommendations! Thank you!
Yay! So glad I can help.
I'm coming out with a Spotlight On: Poetry issue in the beginning of August -- those are deep dives into a single topic, where I'll review seven books for a variety of ages and recommend many more. Keep an eye out for it!
I liked poetry many moons ago, but was put off it in secondary school. Badly taught, and it was a boys' school so poetry was regarded as being for girls. I then rediscovered my love of it at college -- specifically Chaucer and Elizabethan verse romances. A few months ago I signed up for a course and the tutor was brilliant: made every word come alive. I even ended up enjoying Wordsworth. I think the quality of teaching makes such a difference. I think your article is brilliant, and so potentially helpful.
Ah, thank you, Terry!
I think your experience is super common -- even the norm, sadly -- but I am so happy to hear that you rediscovered your love of it. And yes, a teacher who brings poetry alive is a gift!
Indeed. And the recent brilliant teacher had to be dragged out of retirement to teach it. What a waste. Don't you think retirement should be banned for inspiring teachers?Anyway, I'm sure a LOT OF PEOPLE MUST HAVE FOUND YOUR ARTICLE INSPIRING. oops, sorry
I meant 'inspirational' teachers.