Teaching Poetry Writing in the Classroom

The average student is somewhat hesitant about writing poetry. It can be intimidating to try to get thoughts on paper within certain parameters such as rhymes or syllable numbers. Here are some fun poetry forms that will encourage students to begin writing without fear.

HAIKU

A Haiku poem consists of seventeen syllables divided into three lines of five, seven, and five syllables per line. Haiku poems are usually descriptions of events in nature. For example:

Thunder shouts out loud

Announcing the lightning strike

That soon will appear

CINQUAIN

The specific form of the cinquain makes it easy for students to write. Follow the "script" to quickly compose a poem.

Line 1: Title (noun) - 1 word
Line 2: Description - 2 words
Line 3: Action - 3 words
Line 4: Feeling (phrase) - 4 words
Line 5: Title (synonym for the title) - 1 word

Example: Frogs

Slimy, jumpy

Hop in the pond

Excited to be alive

Amphibians

DIAMANTE

The Diamante is a form similar to the Cinquain except that it forms the shape of a diamond.

Line 1: Noun or subject - one word
Line 2: Two Adjectives that describe line 1
Line 3: Three "ing" words that describe line 1
Line 4: Four nouns - the first two are connected with line 1; the last two are connected with line 7
Line 5: Three "ing" words that describe line 7
Line 6: Two adjectives that describe line 7
Line 7: Noun Synonym for the subject

Example:

Mom

Protective, proud

Caring, understanding, loving

Teacher, mentor, counselor, guide

Advising, leading, encouraging

Attentive, appreciative

Mother

To make poetry writing even more fun, cut out poems and mount them on paper the students can draw on. As with any endeavor, the more it is practiced, the easier it becomes. Post the forms for these poems on the classroom wall and have paper available for students to use in their spare minutes to write more poetry.