Discovering More Poetry Fun

Checking all my sources for awakening the inner poet in my students to help us all celebrate National Poetry Month, I have discovered new sites to add to some old favorites.  Follow the link to the official website for numerous resources listed under the For Educators tab.   One of the most remembered activities is Put A Poem in Your Pocket Day which will be celebrated on April 26, 2012. 

Writers seeking to generate a rhyming poem might want to use a website called Write Rhymes.  Simply type in your lines of poetry until you come to a word that you wish to rhyme.  Press down the "alt" key on your keyboard as you click on the word for which you seek a rhyming word.  On the right of the screen a very complete list appears, one, two and three syllable rhyming words.  When your poem is complete it can be saved to your computer, copied to your clipboard or printed.

Instant Poetry Forms is a website originally designed by Alysa Cummings, a certified poetry therapist.  Not many of the informative web pages are still available but nearly eighty templates for poems are.  Select from a list on the left and the form appears on the right ready for an author to begin.  First are blank lines to fill in according to the prompts.  To see what a finished poem might look like, go to the bottom. 

The official Shel Silverstein  website is tailor made for students and educators.  Tabs for users include:  For Kids Only-Let's Have Some Fun, What's New, Shel's Books, About Shel and Ideas for Teachers & Parents.  There are six games and puzzles for kids to try, screensavers and wallpapers to download, three different printable kits and e-cards to send within the For Kids Only tab.  Under the Ideas for Teachers & Parents tab are lessons and activities, event kits and drawing & activity booklets.

ReadWriteThink hosts many interactive poetry generators.  Past favorites of students are: diamante poems, shape poems, acrostic poems, or riddle poems. 

Giggle Poetry, a site designed and maintained by author, Bruce Lansky, is one that my students continue to enjoy each year.  They can read, listen and write.


A blog, Poetry for Children:  About finding and sharing poetry with young people, written and maintained by Sylvia Vardell is fantastic.  I have downloaded all three of the electronic only anthologies which she and Janet Wong co-edited/authored highlighting the work of some of poetry's best known names for children and young adults.

For years I have used several of the teacher's guides found at the website of poet, Kristine O'Connell George.  A student favorite are the lessons using her book, Fold Me A Poem.  

Do not forget the memorable Gotta Book blog maintained by Greg Pincus.  Once again he is hosting 30 Poets/30 Days.

Author Kate Messner has penned a new poem, In Honor of National Poetry Month..."Poetry Speaks".    It is written as if poetry is a character speaking before a group of listeners/readers.  This would be a wonderful way to start a discussion about poetry.