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Too often, young poets feel that a poem must be grand and spectacular, about cosmic issues. Actually, some of the best poems are based not on larger truths but on [...]

Langston Hughes (1902-1967), one of America's most influential black writers, was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, the literary and artistic movement of the 1920s that did much to [...]

POETRY WORKSHOP Good descriptive writing always includes vivid details that make a scene come alive. But in no genre are such details as important as in poetry, where the writer [...]

Poetry as a tool for reflecting on--and celebrating--friendship The start of the school year is the perfect time to encourage students to think about friendship. 'To You,' by Karla Kuskin, [...]

One of the things that I enjoy most about working with young writers is getting the chance to read so much wonderful student poetry. I am always amazed at the [...]

The form of poetry we know as haiku has its roots in Japan centuries ago. Young poets gathered at parties to write a long collaborative poem known as a renga. [...]

Persona poems are written from the point of view of a thing. In essence, the poet becomes the thing. Not surprisingly, persona poems are often referred to as mask poems […]

Many young poets make the mistake of thinking that their poems must be about a grand topic. As a result, they overlook the common, everyday objects, events, and experiences that [...]

Reading the work of talented poets can make us think that writing poetry is easy. Their use of language is so precise, natural, seemingly effortless. But a good poet works [...]

Although no one is sure of the limerick's origin, many credit Edward Lear with popularizing this A humorous poetic form. Your students will have fun writing limericks - especially when [...]

December Day Blue jays flash and squawk with exuberant disregard for stillness, while birch and fir, full and bent with ice, sway in the wind, branches clicking like the tongues [...]

Poetry is a wonderful way for students to celebrate their heritage and expand their own sense of self in their writing. In a way, writing a poem about an ancestor, [...]

Enliven your students' poetry writing by teaching them how to use metaphors. These clever literary devices are direct comparisons between two seemingly unrelated objects without using the words like or [...]

David McCord's enchanting poems sparkle with energy and music. Before his heath last year, he delighted generations of readers with his use of rhythm and rhyme. I hope his poem [...]

Encourage your students to write a poem about someone they admire - either someone they know, someone they'd like to know, or a historical figure - and they'll learn how [...]

One feature that distinguishes poetry from prose is economy of words. A skilled poet tries to tell a story or create an image with as few rich words as possible. [...]

Focuses on the poem `Ten Little Aliens,' recommended for young children and suggested activities on how to teach children to write their own poems. Pattern of the poem; How to hear a rhythm.

The article discusses the author's experience in creating anthologies and what he has learned from collecting poems. He states that his first anthology titled "The Crystal Image," which was published in 1977, was acquired from books and magazines owned by his friends and libraries. He believes that poems much have a connection with each other to make the collection an anthology. He reveals that as an anthologist, he undergoes the process of discovery when reading poems and when looking for order in disorder. Furthermore, the author suggests that poems are expression of human experience.

Shares the thoughts of a writer of poetry. Answer to a student's question on why the author writes poetry books; Importance of knowing that children have a chance to see what poetry holds for them; Recollection of when the author began to be interested to read and write poems; Academic background in poetry.

Focuses on teaching free verse to students. Examples of free verses; How to use poems as models; Type of worksheet to be used.

Offers children some guidelines for writing a poem. Choosing subject matter; Using rhyme; Excerpt of the poem `A Cow Looks Down the Highway,' by Alice Shertle. INSET: Poetcraft 2: Using rhyme..

Features the poem, `Bingo,' by Paul B. Janeczko. Inspiration in writing the poem. INSET: Poet craft 1: Word choice..

Presents a classroom activity for grades 4-8 students on how to write an instructional poem and features the poetry, entitled `How to Strike Out,' by Gene Fehler.

Presents an activity on how to use metaphors in writing good poetry. Concept of metaphors; Illustration using John Updike's `Sunflower.'