April is National Poetry Month

Thanks to the National Academy of Poets, National Poetry Month was created to focus attention on America’s poetic heritage. Students and I will spend the month focusing on the library's poetry collection and using it in a variety of ways to strengthen reading and information literacy skills and explore how poetry can be used throughout the curriculum.

Poetry in print
We have a small, but rich and diverse collection of poetry titles for K-8 students. To explore our collection, staff and students can use the Destiny (Follett Library Resources) management program from anywhere on campus. Records display book jackets, summaries, reviews, recommended age and reading levels, and links to similar titles. In addition, users can access two poetry resource lists (bibliographies) I compiled for beginning and older readers. “State Standards” a searchable component to this database, allows users to access high quality, grade-level appropriate, web sites. I'll feature some titles in the coming days and weeks.

Teacher Resources
Rhymes and reasons; librarians and teachers using poetry to foster literacy
grades K-6.
Projects and activities for teaching language and literacy with poetry, covering the alphabet, syllables, words, phrases, and more.

Teaching ten fabulous forms of poetry by Paul B. Janeczko
Projects designed to help readers learn about different forms of poetry.

Subscription Databases (passwords required)
To access click on link to Sequoyah Library Databases at right.

Student Resource Center
Comprehensive subscription database for grades 5 and up. Database includes texts of poems, explanations, criticisms, historical and cultural context, and biographical information.

NoveList (EbscoHost)
Interesting articles on novels in verse.

"A Conversation with Janet Wong"(workshop).
Poet and author Wong discussed her poetry for children and youth, answered questions about inspiration and shared ideas for teaching and writing with an enthusiastic group of teachers (and one librarian, wonder who that was?). An inspirational writer with a lovely and graceful style. We have some of her titles, including:
You have to write, a picture book for younger readers demonstrating that everyone can find something to write about.
On order: Dumpster Driver, Twist, and The Rainbow Hand (collections of her poetry).
Visit her web site to learn more about her and hear her read some of her poems.
http://www.janetwong.com

Poetry in the Virtual World

The American Verse Project
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/a/amverse/
A searchable database of American poetry published prior to 1920

Poets.org (National Academy of Poets)
National Poetry Month
http://www.poets.org/
Great site for older children and adults. See these resources: Poem-A-Day: have a poem sent to your email address each day during April. It’s free! For educators: lesson plans, essays, great poems to teach, links to other poetry, resources and more.

The Children’s Book Council: Young People’s Poetry Week
http://www.cbcbooks.org/yppw/
An impressive site dedicated to encouraging reading and literacy through children’s books and programs. Links to two articles about teaching poetry.

Poetry Teacher (Meadowbrook Press)
http://www.poetryteachers.com/index.html
Created to help teachers teach poetry and inspire their students with a love of poetry. A joyful, fun, and sometimes silly site perfect for the 6-10 crowd. Children learn about different poetic forms through poetry races (tongue twisters), giggle poetry, riddles, poetry based on songs, poetry theatre, etc.

Poet’s Corner (Poetry month resources from Thomson Gale)
http://www.gale.com/free_resources/poets/
Free resources include biographies, timelines, quiz, activities, and downloads.

Read, Write, Think (National Council of Teachers of English)
April is National Poetry Month
http://www.readwritethink.org/calendar/calendar_day.asp?id=478
One of those stellar sites (after the Library of Congress, of course) all educators should consult often. Lesson plans and activities for K-12 Language Arts teachers.