Teaching Children To Write Poetry Is Fun
Children can learn to write poetry when they are shown the basics. It does not matter if you are a parent or a teacher. Here are 6 steps to get you started.
1. Word list. At home or at school you can make a list of words that rhyme. Make the words fun for kids like: clown, frown, smile, mile, snail, sail, grand, stand etc. Next have the kids try to make sentences out of a couple of the words.
2. Recite to them. Write some sentences you come up with or select some of the children’s and recite them. This way they can hear the words rhyming. Make the sentences fun.
3. Read the Bible. The Bible is written in prose and is the most widely read book in the world. Try reading parts of the Bible and discuss with the children why it rhymes. Have the kids try to imitate some of the verses. The poems do not have to be real.
4. Poems about grandparents. Try having the children write poems about things and people they are very familiar with like grandparents. Other topics could be pets and toys. The idea is to help them identify with the subject matter for their poems.
5. Games to teach rhyming. Rhyming games can be used to teach children how to write poetry. You can read nursery rhymes to the kids and have them stomp and or clap their hands along with the rhythmic pattern. This will be loud but it is very effective.
6. Music. Play different musical selection and point out how the lyrics blend like the words in poems. There are often rhymes used. This will help the older kids become more interested in poetry when they realize that their favorite musical groups adhere to many forms of prose in their music.
Writing poetry is a fun activity and the kids will enjoy it. You need to start with simple rhyming schemes so the students can build confidence. You can use the Bible, games and music to further their understanding.
