April is National Poetry month. Poems are an amazing tool for elementary classrooms - and especially for Multilingual Learners. Poetry can help students practice oral fluency, work on rhyming, and introduce them to new vocabulary. You can read all about why I love using poetry in my classroom in THIS blog post. Just in case you are looking for some new books of poetry you can check out one of these six collections of poems.
Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander
I couldn't think of a better book to highlight first than this collection of poems celebrating poets by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth. The poems themselves are amazing, but when paired with Ekua Holmes' artwork - this book is stunning. My personal favorite is the poem celebrating Maya Angelou. If students are drawn to a specific poem they can learn more about the influencing poet from the short biographies at the back of the book.
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The B on Your Thumb by Colette Hiller
OK, so this book of poems is too cute! These are actually poems to help with letter sounds, spelling patterns, irregular spellings, and homophones. There is also a section in the back of the book for teachers and parents to help them make the most out of the book with suggested activities. If you teach young kids learning to read and spell, this book is a great one to have on hand.
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The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog
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A Stick is an Excellent Thing by Marilyn Singer
This is a fun book, not only for poetry month but also for spring and summer. All of the poems celebrate the joy of playing outside. I think we can all agree that after a long winter, anything to encourage kids to go outside and play is a good thing.
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Did You Hear What I Heard? by Kay Winters
This collection of poems is great for poetry month or anytime in the school year! The poems are in chronological order from the first day of school until summer break. My favorite is the poem about seeing the teacher outside of school, but students will love them all!
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Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer
This is a fun collection of poems. Each one is a unique take on a classic story. However, the poem can be read in two directions each telling a different tale. This is a great set of poems for talking about point of view!
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