How to Engage Children in Poetry Writing
The lost art of poetry writing is making a comeback. Are you and your children reaping the benefits of reading and writing poetry?
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Poetry Writing
Robert Louis Stevenson
Some time ago, I taught my students about Robert Louis Stevenson. As I read a fascinating biography about his life, the students wrote and sketched their favorite details about him in their notebooks.
I then invited the students to:
- draw a treasure map, as Stevenson did with his stepson, which, incidentally, led to his inspiration for the book Treasure Island,
- or write a poem about their childhood, as Stevenson did time and time again throughout his life
Struck With An Idea
When every student in my first class chose to draw a treasure map instead of write a poem, I could sense their intimidation when it comes to poetry writing. In that moment, I was struck with an idea⎯I would write a poem about my childhood right then and there, allowing them to see, firsthand, the messy but rewarding process.
Writing is Messy
I’ve been told I have beautiful handwriting, but I think it’s safe to say that that’s not the case when I’m writing a poem.
At the end of class, I showed my paper⎯filled with nearly unintelligible writing and crossed out words⎯to my students. “Writing is messy,” I explained, “but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you get your thoughts down on paper.”
I let each student have a close up look at the paper and it seemed to put them at ease, for they could see for themselves that it was sometimes okay to have misspelled words, to write in chicken scratch, and to have a paper that looks like it went through a tornado.
That was a powerful moment.
But then things got even better.
A Lightbulb Moment
When I read to the students my pieced-together, partially rhyming, partially non-rhyming poem, I practically saw lightbulbs go off in their heads, for, suddenly, many of them could now envision themselves writing a poem.
The process was doable now that they knew that imperfect writing can lead to delightful results.
My Childhood Poem
This is the childhood poem I wrote and shared with them:
“My childhood was filled with things of delight,
of ice scapes and stink bugs and stories at night
that made me imagine the things I could do
at morning light when the day was brand new.
With memories of baking on Christmas Day
with my new baking set that I was proud to display;
The ball tag we’d play in the night, after dark,
or on sand dunes of gold, where we’d play
and then pause for a nice picnic lunch of PB&J’s
and grandma’s famous potato salad, of course.
Swimming in the city pool,
walking to the school bus stop on a windy day,
hiking with family through the cottonwood and aspen trees,
and enjoying a watermelon, pulled cold from the river.
These are the delightful things of my childhood,
a childhood filled with wonder and ____________.”
(I allowed the children to fill in the last word.)
Poetry Writing is for Everyone
In future classes, I shared my poetry-writing process and completed poem with students before challenging them to write their own poem. I was surprised by how many took me up on the challenge.
Anyone can write poetry.
Have dyslexia? No problem.
Dysgraphia? No problem.
Poor penmanship? No problem.
Terrible spelling? No problem.
Can’t rhyme words? No problem.
Poetry is the language of the soul, one simply has to let the words flow from heart to paper.
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Student Poetry
I heard my students’ pens hit their paper and, as the minutes passed, I waited with great anticipation for the final results.
It was worth the wait.
One girl gifted me a beautiful poem about Mother Nature:
“A little speck of rainbow,
Zipping through the sky,
Landing on a flower so
Delicate and graceful,
A wonder and a beauty,
Mother Nature brings to me!”
A pre-teen boy wrote the following poem titled “Childhood”:
“It was filled with joy,
childhood was bright.
There were sad days too,
but that was alright.
I’m almost grown up,
and I’ve grown in height.“
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A Call For More Poetry
It’s been said that the world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it.
Poetry shines a light on the state of our hearts.
Beautiful poetry has the power to illuminate the darkness, filling it with truth, light, healing, and hope.
We need more beautiful poetry in this world.
Thanks to my courageous young students, we’re off to a good start.
Take Action
Action Steps
- Grab a notebook and a pen and jot down the beginning of a poem
- Work on the poem until it is complete
- Share the poem and the poem writing process with your children to inspire their poetry writing efforts
- Invite your children to begin writing their own poetry
⭐️ Be sure to check out these children’s poetry books that are sure to entertain and inspire.
Have fun!
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Quotes about Poetry
“In this age of artificial intelligence, we cannot forget that poetry and love are necessary to save our humanity.“
Pope Francis
“There is not a particle of life which does not bear poetry within it“
Gustave Flaubert
“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility..“
William Wordsworth
George MacDonald speaking about good poetry (specifically Milton): ”…although there was much I could not at all understand, I am perfectly certain it had an ennobling effect upon every one of us. It is not necessary that the intellect should define and separate before the heart and soul derive nourishment. As well say that a bee can get nothing out of a flower because he does not understand botany.
The very music of the stately words of such a poem is enough to generate a better mood, to make one feel the air of higher regions, and stir of this dim spot! The best of this vague sort⎯powerful upon the heart and conscience, although undefined to the intellect.”
George MacDonald
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