The Poet’s Pen: Writing Poetry with Middle and High School Students

The emotion, imagination and musical qualities of poetry make it a superb means of expression for young people. It is also an excellent way to improve written communication, increase self-awareness and self-confidence, and build an understanding of language. This resource book, geared to middle- and high-school-level teachers, offers a wealth of ideas, advice and examples that help bring poetry and poetry writing into the classroom. Guidelines for starting a poetry writing program are given, with an emphasis on using a writer’s notebook. The author presents 12 detailed lessons, offers practical advice on teaching the technical aspects of poetry, suggests ways to revise work and overcome writer’s block, and discusses integrating poetry writing with other parts of the curriculum. Numerous exercises, examples of student work, an annotated bibliography of sources for further ideas, and a glossary of poetic terms add further substance to the work.