With this month being National Poetry Month in the US and 17 April being International Haiku Day, I thought it was timely to share some of our poetry resources. Here in Australia, we celebrate poetry month in August, but I don’t think we need wait until then. We can celebrate again in August or make every month poetry month. No month should go by without enjoying some poetry anyway.
Poetry is a great introduction to the rhythms and sounds of our language. Children are introduced to it from a young age through nursery rhymes and picture books. Some of children’s favourite picture books are those that read like poems with rhythm, rhyme and repetition. The books of Dr Seuss and Julia Donaldson come immediately to mind. But, of course, there are many others too.
When they enter school, children love listening to poetry and experimenting with writing poems of their own. Here at readilearn we have some resources to help you help them get started on their poetry writing journey. All poetry resources are found in their own section of the literacy collection.
Writing poetry

Writing Haiku with Children — This collection includes five haiku poems for reading and five stimulus photos for writing. It can be used to introduce children to the structure of haiku poetry and to encourage them to write haiku poems of their own. The resource includes information about the structure of haiku poetry as well as teaching suggestions.

If You Were an Animal — poem and teaching notes — The teacher notes accompanying this poem provide suggestions for both English and Science.
English teaching suggestions include:
- Rhyming words
- Questions and statements
- Opposites
- Writing
- Recitation and performance
Science teaching suggestions include:
- Features of living things
- Needs of living things
- Habitats of living things

Write your own “I love” poem — This resource encourages children to write their own poems by innovating on the traditional camping song ‘I love the Mountains’. Great for even beginning writers.
Continue reading: Writing Poetry with Children – #readilearn
I love this, Norah. Poetry is so important, and children can be some of the best poets. ‘From the mouth of babes’.
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Thank you, Jenny. Yes, children write great poetry. They are so honest with their words.
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Yes, they are!
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Great idea, some of the best poems I’ve read were written by primary school kids!
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I’m inclined to agree, but only ‘some’. I’ve read plenty of other good poems too – some on your website. 🙂
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lol not saying adults don’t write well also but somehow kids have that blunt sharp way of seeing things that I really admire 🙂
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Children aren’t afraid to share their truth. 🙂
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yes, that’s the perfect wording for it
“Not afraid to share their truth” pray more adults were that way …
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As long as they’re tactful. 😂
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seldom 😉
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😂
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Writing Poetry with Children – #readilearn
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As a child, I loved writing poetry. Wish I had access to the kind of lessons/materials that you produce for teachers in classrooms. Such a wonderful way to introduce writing simple poems to children! Happy National Poetry Month!
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Thank you, Patricia. Do you still write poetry? I don’t often enough. I should try to write more.
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I love to read and write poetry with children. They are unfettered by the constraints of form, spelling and grammar
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They are. And their words are honest and beautiful. They don’t try to impress, but they do.
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They always do
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Always. 💖
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Though I’ve never been particularly adept at writing poetry, it seemed every class I had that there were a handful of kids who loved it. Thus, opportunities such as National Poetry month or International Haiku Day are so important.
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It’s good to be able to share poetry with all kids, Pete, and especially have those who love it to inspire others.
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Thank you for reminding us about the Poetry Month and Haiku Poetry day, Norah. Your resources are always so helpful for teaching kids.
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I’m pleased you enjoyed them, Miriam. Thank you.
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You’re welcome, Norah.😍
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I love introducing kids to poetry. For some of them, it really resonates.
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It does, Jacqui. It’s a great excuse to enjoy a bit ourselves too. 🙂
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