Are you wondering how you can possibly learn while having fun with poetry? Do you feel like you really should do something with it in your homeschool, but are at a loss?
Don’t be dismayed! It is possible to easily study poetry with your learners and have fun too!
Even when teaching your child to read, incorporating simple poetry with rhymes is one of the best ways to learn and practice word families. When starting spelling lessons, grouping beginner words together into spelling lists according to word families is also a great method to use in spelling.
Reading easy rhymes for practice helps children develop fluency when reading aloud and practicing new vocabulary.
Studying poetry doesn’t have to involve long, mysterious and vague poems to dissect and analyze for meaning and uses of symbolism.
Poetry is meant to be enjoyed and experienced. Visualize the scene or picture the poet is described with the use of words that involve all of your senses. Close your eyes and see what the poet describes. Hear the sounds as the poem is read aloud and hear the rhythm and beat. Imagine feeling or touching the textures described, or smelling the scents or tasting the flavors mentioned.
Start with children’s poetry, either reading it aloud or listening audio recordings. Then begin to talk about what it was about, the pictures or scene your children imagined, sounds heard, or feelings felt after listening to the poem.
This is how you gain appreciation for poetry and lose the fear of it or perception of a boring experience.
Have your children draw pictures of what they see as they listen to the poem.
As your children get older, you can read longer and more complex poems to discuss. You can add the study of literary devices to learn how a poet portrays vivid images and feelings to readers.
After studying how a poet uses literary tools to write poetry to convey his/her thoughts and meanings, you can try your hand at writing your own poems.
I have lots of ideas and resources for you to help you in using Poetry with your children.
Visit my Podcasts page where you will find the one about How to Study Poetry in your Homeschool with tons of practical tips and ideas in using and having fun with poetry and other topics in learning. With these podcasts are printables and resources to use in teaching different language arts in your homeschool.
