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Poetics

Jeanette Oestermyer

National Poetry Month - Get Children Involved

National Poetry Month (NPM) was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. Since that date, April brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events. For National Poetry Month 2004, the Academy of American Poets will launch a National Poetry Almanac, a year-long promotion which will be available online at the Academy's award-winning website, www.poets.org, beginning April 1, 2004. The National Poetry Almanac will feature twelve different monthly themes highlighting activities, ideas, and history for individual exploration and classroom use. We'll kick off the Almanac with "30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month" in April. Other themes include: Poetic Schools & Movements; Great Poetry Anthologies; Great Poetry Debates, Manifestos & Criticism; Cross-Pollination: Poetry & Art; I Hear America Singing: Poetry & Music; Poetic Forms & Techniques; Poetry Landmarks; Poetry & Popcorn: Poetry on the Radio, Television & Movie screen.

What We Are Doing Locally—Something For The Children
It is that time of year again when poetry groups, schools and everyone who loves poetry begin to think of ways to show their support and dedication to this literary art.

Our local poetry group, a chapter of the New Mexico State Poetry Society (NMSPS), usually holds readings, or are invited to read at the local library, assisted living establishments, nursing homes and other sites that are open to the public. We are now at work on a poetry contest for students from elementary grades, middle school and high school. The grades have been divided into groups of three, i.e., first through third, fourth through sixth, seventh through ninth and tenth through twelfth. Each group will receive a monetary prize for first, second and third place, plus several honorable mentions. Students will compete only with other students in their respective groups. In addition to the prizes, each student who places, (including honorable mentions), will receive a copy of an anthology of all the winning poems that will be published by our poetry group. There will also be a reading sometime during April, when all winners will be invited to read their winning poems. This reading will be sponsored by our poetry chapter. We are also planning to begin a poetry chapter for children as part of our state society.

Teachers, librarians and booksellers do much to support and promote children's poetry all year long, and especially during poetry month. Below are some great ideas for celebrating National Poetry Month every month of the year.

Find other ideas at Kristine O'Connell George's web site, www.kristinegeorge.com. George is a great advocate of poetry in schools. She is a children's poet who has published many books, including: Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poetry; Swimming Upstream: Middle Grade Poems; The Great Frog Race and others.

Celebrate National Poetry Month All Year Long With These Great Ideas:

After-School Poetry Clubs: Help students organize a club that meets regularly to share and write poetry. Great sites to host poetry clubs: school libraries, community libraries, and bookstores.

Anthologize: Explain to students that the original definition of anthology is "a gathering of flowers." Have students compile either classroom or individual anthologies of favorite poems. This project will be even more meaningful if students write a personal introduction explaining their theme and why they chose particular poems.

Around the World with Poetry: Use push pins on a world map to locate the origin of poets students have read or studied.

Balloon Poems: Read and write poems about balloons. Send students home with a poem inside a balloon to share with family members.

Billboard Poetry: Several years ago, sixty billboards in the Los Angeles area feature something new—lines of poetry instead of advertising! Students could adapt this idea and place "poetry billboards" (anonymously, of course—that would be half the fun!) around the school, library or bookstore.

Cookie Poems: Wrap a cookie up with a copy of Vachel Lindsay's poem, "The Moon is the North Wind's Cookie." Invite students to write their own poems about the moon, or cookies!

Gift Wrap Poems: Wrap individual poems as gifts and have a gift exchange.

Basket-of-Poems: Keep a basket of poems handy in classrooms, libraries, or bookstores for quiet times.

Coffee House Poetry: Organize a poetry reading complete with microphone and hot cocoa. Great sites for poetry readings: schools, libraries, and bookstores.

Flashlight Poetry: There's something special about listening to poetry in the dark. Dim the lights then read poems about candles, flashlights, stars, or even that crack of light beneath the bedroom door.

Hats! Hats! Hats!: Fill a shopping bag full of old hats. Let every child choose a hat. Read "A Flower Pot is Not a Hat," by Martha Moffett, "Ho for a Hat," by William Jay Smith, and "The Quangle Wangle's Hat," by Edward Lear. Use rain hats, fur hats, sports caps, straw sun hats, etc. as props. Students love it!

Loan-a-Poem: Favorite poems are laminated and posted with VelcroT at a "child's-eye" level outside Shoshy Starr's Lilja School classroom in Natick, MA. Students from other classes stop to read and are welcome to "borrow" poems to share with friends and classmates.

Pocket Poems: Have students carry (and be prepared to share) a poem on a specific day. Students visiting a library or bookstore who have a "poem in their pocket" could be presented with a small gift such as a bookmark.

Young People's Poetry Week April 12-18, 2004
Young People's Poetry Week is your chance to encourage everyone to celebrate poetry—read it, enjoy it, write it—in their homes, childcare centers, classrooms, libraries, and bookstores. During the third week of April, The Children's Book Council (CBC) sponsors Young People's Poetry Week, in collaboration with the American Academy of Poets, sponsor of National Poetry Month, and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

The CBC produces Young People's Poetry Week materials to help teachers, librarians, bookstores, and others celebrate the event.

The CBC also provides an extensive list of online resources for celebrating Young People's Poetry Week with party ideas, (including information on how to host your own "Bad Poetry Reading"), poetry starters, crossword puzzles, award certificates, lists of new poetry books for kids, articles on sharing poetry with young people, and a very special Q&A with Jane Yolen, children's author.

Perhaps you may want to get your children or your preschoolers involved in poetry. Make a library visit with your toddler and introduce him to the wonderful world of poetry. It is never too early to help him explore this fascinating literary experience.