The role of poetry in pre-literacy in children

What is poetry in reading and writing?

Poetry in reading and writing is a powerful tool for developing children's writing, thinking and communication skills. Using poetry in the classroom can help children experience a literary art form necessary to enhance their creativity and imagination. Poetry can be integrated into the curriculum in many ways, such as through improvisational poetry, with STEM-inspired poems, poetry for special occasions, poetry about nature, or any number of other genres.

Impromptu poetry refers to a style of poetry reading held in community areas such as parks, streets, and cafes. Usually expressed by people who are not necessarily professional poets, but have a deep love for this art form. This form of poetry is characterized by its spontaneity, with performances that can occur at any time and in virtually any location.

Improvisational poetry is a new strategy that teachers can use to alternate classroom lessons. Poetry in such a "drip" style will help children experience literature and art without detracting from the curriculum, and at the same time reinforce the important role of poetry in education in particular and the spiritual life of children in general. This is also a great way to introduce this type of literature to children in a fun and interesting way in the shortest amount of time. Moreover, by helping children early exposure to poetry, children will gradually form and develop their love for literature.

Inspirational poetry from STEM

Inspirational poetry from STEM is a great way to connect scientific thinking with reading and writing skills in children. Many prestigious schools now include STEM in their education, and STEM-inspired poetry is the perfect way for kids to visualize science and technology in a creative and imaginative way. For example, one school built a lesson theme around the theme of "light and sound", turning the lesson into a bridge between scientific thinking and children's reading and writing abilities. First graders are encouraged to compose short poems about light sources using the structure below, spanning three lessons.

First, the children will go around the school, observing and recording all the light sources in nature. Children will then learn to write sentences that describe the four most important light sources noted. Children's sentences may at first be just loose and simple words, but with lots of practice, they will gradually become more poetic. Vocabulary is used in particular in these exercises because it links well with children's developing syllable awareness. As the science theme shifts from “exploring light” to “exploring sound,” the same process applies to improvised poetry: First, children identify the sources of sound around the school. The children then compose descriptive sentences and put them together into a concise poem, and then share them with the rest of the class. This is also an ideal type of homework because children can read their poems to their parents.

Poetry for special occasions

Special occasions can be extremely interesting to children, as there is no child who does not enjoy expressing their love for their mother. Therefore, Mother's Day, Teachers' Day and International Women's Day are perfect occasions to encourage children to write poetry. Encouraging children to write poems for the important people in their lives can help them build confidence and develop a love of poetry.

Poetry in nature

Connecting children with their surroundings Also not a bad idea. I've spent years taking my kids to forest schools, and it's wonderful that there my boys can enjoy nature every second of every minute. In addition to going on a field trip, children always enjoy being outside and in contact with nature as much as possible. The teacher can give each child a bag to collect leaves, twigs, etc., and then use the “Art” aspect of STEAM to create a collage illustrating the child's field trip.

Taking children to school in a forest or nature reserve is a great way to encourage them to use all their senses in exploring their surroundings. Throughout their time at forest school, teach children to sit still and use their senses to explore, relax, learn and enjoy the positive energies of the natural world. 

It is often said that trees can talk too, so have the children hug a tree and talk to it. When they return, they can write down all their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a science notebook. Children can share their first impressions, the feeling the tree gives, as well as their thoughts during the whole process. This also helps children become more confident and liberal.

The benefits of poetry

Poetry is a powerful tool for developing children's literacy skills (including writing skills, thinking, communication, creativity and imagination). By integrating poetry into the curriculum, teachers can nurture children's literary minds in a fun and engaging way.

A big plus of poetry is that it can be easily adjusted to suit the learning style and ability of each child. For example, some children prefer to express themselves through visual poetry, while others will prefer to compose more traditional poems. By providing a diverse range of poetry activities, teachers can quickly respond to each child's unique interests and strengths, ensuring that each student has the opportunity to approach and become familiar with poetry in the most appropriate way. This flexibility and ease of customization not only improves their grades, but also boosts their confidence and builds a joy in learning.

Conclusion

Poetry, if applied correctly, becomes a powerful tool in developing children's literacy skills in the most fun and enjoyable ways, while helping them improve their writing, thinking, communication, creativity and imagination. Take every opportunity during class to integrate small pieces of poetry into your teaching plan, similar to spending a few minutes walking around the school campus. Try encouraging children to use all their senses as they explore around school by asking them to close their eyes and check if other senses are becoming more acute. Remember to store all of your student work in a class folder, both so they can review it at any time, and make it easy for them to bring them home to share with their families at the end of the term. This is also a smart idea if you want to "prepare" your lesson plan for next school year!

Sometimes the best teaching plan will always encounter the most unexpected obstacles. What if the class is participating in a picnic and it suddenly starts to rain? It doesn't matter, teachers can use that opportunity to encourage children to compose a poem about rain. As the old men often say: In difficult times, wisdom will emerge!