Criteria for Selecting Poetry 1. Can children understand it? With adult help? 2.

Does it stir emotion (delight, sadness)? 3. Does it play with the sounds of language? 4. Is it age appropriate? 5. Does it allow the reader to be interactive with poem? 6. Is the subject matter appealing, appropriate? 7. Will it be able to stand up under repeated readings? 8. Will it accompany you through life?

Reasons for using poetry provides enjoyment expands knowledge about the world encourages an appreciation for language, expands vocabulary helps identify with people and situations expresses moods familiar to children gives insights into themselves and their feelings

Children prefer rhyme, humorous narrative, and content based on familiar experiences enthusiasm declines as children get older favor contemporary over traditional least favourites are complex imagery and subtle emotion

Criteria for selecting poetry

1. Poems that are lively, with exciting meters and rhythms, are most likely to appeal to young children. 2. Poems for young children should emphasize the sounds of language and encourage play with words. 3. Sharply cut visual images and words used in fresh novel manners allow children to expand their imaginations and see or hear the world in a new way. 4. Poems for young children should tell simple stories and introduce stirring scenes of action. 5. The poems selected should not have been written down to children's supposed level. 6. The most effective poems allow children to interpret, to feel, and to put themselves into the poems. They encourage children to extend comparisons, images, and findings. 7. The subject matter should delight children, say something to them, enhance their egos, strike happy recollections, tickle their funny bones, or encourage them to explore.

8. Poems should be good enough to stand up under repeated readings. Listening to poetry 1. Before reading a poem aloud to a group, read it aloud to yourself several times. Mark the words and phrases that you want to emphasize. 2. Follow the rhythm of the poem, reading it naturally 3. Make pauses that please you, pauses that make sense. 4. When reading a poem aloud speak in a natural voice. 5. After a poem is read, be quiet. Developing choral speaking 1. When selecting materials for children who cannot read, choose poems of rhymes that are simple. 2. Choose material of interest to children. 3. Select poems or rhythms that use refrains. 4. Let children help select and interpret the poetry. 5. Let children listen to each other as they try different interpretations within groups. Elements of selecting poetry rhythm rhyme repetition imagery Shape

Types of Poetry lyric narrative ballads limericks concrete poems

free verse, haiku, cinquain,diamante parody

After teaching them about a kind of poetry, work with the students during the writing process on developing motivations. Let them begin by sharing ideas. Studies show that teachers in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades pay little attention to poetry. Notes from Through the Eyes of a Child by Donna Norton p. 356-400

Criteria for Evaluating and Selecting Poetry for Children

The poetry creates images of sight, touch, smell, and taste to help children in making comparisons to what they understand and know and to help them stretch their verbal and mental images. The poetry stirs emotions such as delight, sadness, nostalgia, etc. The words in the poems play with the sounds of language. Similes and metaphors are appropriate for children to understand and appreciate. Children can understand the poetry or understand it with the help of an adult. Does the poetry make the child see something in a new way? What is the purpose of the poetry? Has the poet achieved this without patronizing childhood? purpose

Children Prefer
Contents they can relate to based on their own experiences. They prefer rhyme and humorous poetry that are not complex. Children relate easier to more contemporary works than older or more traditional poetry. As children get older their preferences move from simpler works to more intricate imagery and subtle emotion.

Reasons for Using Poetry

1. Allows children to express their feelings. 2. Allows children to relate to other people and situations. 3. Encourages a creative way to learn about other cultures. 4. Helps expand vocabulary and teaches an appreciation for language. 5. It is fun!