Customer Reviews

Teaching Poetry: Yes You Can! (Grades 4-8)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is one of my favorites. I use it throughout the year. My students love the activities and other teachers have asked how my students write such marvelous poetry! Each activity is well organized and easy to teach. There are examples of each exercise to share with the students. I highly recommend it.

I was disappionted with this book, maybe because I was expecting more of a how-to teach poetry and the author focuses on getting kids writing. I think I can use some of the ideas with my middle school students, but I would say this guide is best for younger kids. Also, the book is set up so the example poems are meant to be read to students, not to be reproduced. I'd like my students to see and read the poems for themselves.

This book begins with lots of practical ideas for lessons that teachers can use to introduce poetry to their 4th-8th grade classes. There are also excellent chapters on things that make poetry poetic: strong verbs, voice, imagery and so on. My favorite section, however, is the opening. It inspires the teacher to think of poetry as a way of life, and inspired teachers produce inspired students.

TEACHING POETRY shows you how to teach poetry - even when you don't think you're a poet yourself. Starting with the joy of creating a simile and moving into metaphor, the process makes sense. The descriptions of the lessons are thorough - yet allow you plenty of room for your own creativity. The author includes many samples of student and professional poetry in connection with each different topic. Topics are broken down into grade levels but most of the ideas are easily adapted for use by any level student above fourth grade.

Jacqueline Sweeney is awesome --ANY of her books are well worth purchasing, especially this one. I have used this in grades 1 through 6 and always get great results.