Thursday, April 4, 2019

The Poetry Times

If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way.
~Seamus Heaney


Today's National Poetry Month printables are for making poetry newsletters. When I was looking up what teachers' favorite printables are, "blank newsletter template" came up. I wondered how to make that poetry-related and came up with The Poetry Times.

My idea was that students could interview one another, either about their experience of being poets or about their favorite poems. There could also be guest interviewees, such as librarians, principals, P.E. teachers, etc. answering questions about their favorite poems.

If students have already been writing poetry in class, you're set. If they've already been reading poetry in class, same thing. If they haven't, you can take your class on a reading excursion to the school library or you can bring poetry books into your classroom. The students could explore the books, looking for potential favorite poems. I'm including a printable "favorites list" worksheet so they can take notes about their potential favorites as they are searching. (If you have poetry up in your halls, you could take the class on a "field trip" to read those!) After the students have lists, they can interview each other and write up their responses in their own newsletter.

Without further ado, here are this week's free printables:

* The Poetry Times template (The top section of the newsletter can include a poem, an illustration, and/or a drawing of a book cover. The other two sections are for interviews, but do what you like!)
* Student Poet interview form (Generally for students interviewing their fellow students about their experiences as poets, but they can also use the forms to interview the teacher.)
* Favorite Poem interview form (with figurative language info on the back)
* Potential Favorites List worksheet

Speaking of illustrations, if you would ever like to use Poetry Monster images for your projects, the gallery is here.


Here's the 1st printable for National Poetry Month: Poetry in the Halls

Karen Edmisten has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Karen!

16 comments:

Linda said...

Tabatha, these printables are great! I'm sure teachers and students will love them!

Kimberly Hutmacher said...

These are really great and useful resources, Tabatha. Thanks for sharing them.

Linda B said...

What great ideas for a teacher and the classroom, Tabatha. And, I love your Poetry Monster, that scary thing with feathers! Happy Friday!

jama said...

Such a great idea to do interviews. Love the printables and Poetry Monster!! Thanks for the link to his gallery.

Ruth said...

These are very cool - thank you!

Alice Nine said...

What a great idea-- Poetry Times complete with interviews of the poets. I will pass this idea along. Thank you.

Cheriee Weichel said...

I'll have to pass these ideas along for teachers who have classrooms. My goal for this week is to teach all the groups I am working with to write haynaku. I love how flexible it is for all age groups!

Michelle Kogan said...

Great tools you've provided for all these budding poets and artists Tabatha! I had fun looking at the Poetry Monster from earlier years.

Catherine Flynn said...

These ideas are terrific, Tabatha! Thank you so much for sharing them!

Christie Wyman said...

Thank you for all the wonderful resources you are sharing this month, Tabatha! My Kindergarten friends and I are going to secretly (oh so ninja like) hang these up around our school when folks aren't looking. Cheers! -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/

Michelle Heidenrich Barnes said...

Pure awesomeness. You are one amazing idea generator, T!

Molly Hogan said...

Wow, Tabatha! Thanks for so generously sharing all these wonderful resources. I'm super excited to use the Favorite Poem Interview form later this spring. I think it's going to be a great addition to our poetry unit. Thanks!

Donna Smith said...

These are great, tabatha. I've given the library here a link to your resources, too.

Carol Varsalona said...

Tabatha, your Monster printables will delight many students. Thank you for sharing. Poetry printables are easy ways for teachers to enjoy during NPM.

Buffy Silverman said...

These are terrific resources for a teacher--and your poetry monsters are the greatest!

Karen Edmisten said...

Tabatha, I love these! Sharing them with my daughter, the teacher-to-be. :)