Step-by-Step Poetry Writing Guide for Children

Poetry is a vast genre of literature that allows teachers and students to dip their toes or fully immerse themselves in creative writing. Learning to write poetry is a pleasant and interesting experience that will improve your language skills in all other forms of writing. 

There are lots to offer students of all ages and skills, with over fifty recognized types of poetry. We’ll look at eight different types of poetry and teaching tactics for each in the classroom. These are the most prevalent types of poetry taught in elementary and primary schools. 

Songs and rhymes are quite popular among young children. Poems appeal to them because of their repeating nature, and they are frequently found humming their favourite rhymes. However, few children attempt to create a poem since it appears to be such a difficult undertaking.

Step-by-step Guide To Write A Poetry

1. Consider a topic: Label each of the four equal portions on a piece of paper. 1. People and locations you adore, 2. Activities you enjoy, 3. World-related questions, and 4. Memories. Then, for each heading, consider what you might want to write about. Make a goal of writing three to four ideas for each heading. Which of your ideas would you like to write about first?

2. Choose your words wisely: Make a list of terms that characterize your theme before you begin composing your poem. To come up with words, use your senses. What do you think you’re smelling or hearing? What do you think you see? What are your thoughts? If you want to make rhyming poetry, lookup terms that rhyme on the internet.

3. Compose a poem: Begin crafting your poetry with your word list. Begin with making a statement or asking a question regarding your topic. Remember to use your senses when writing to make your poem descriptive. Make comparisons to help your reader see what you’re talking about. Be inventive!

4. Use Line Breaks Intentionally: Line breaks signal to the reader when it’s time to take a break. Your poem’s rhythm and meaning are further enhanced by line breaks. Experiment with your poem’s line breaks. Try a couple of different approaches until you’re happy with the poem’s flow and appearance.

5. Revise: After the initial drought, a poet is never finished! Remove any words or phrases that don’t belong in your poetry. Is it possible to add extra descriptions? Does the line break logic? When two words that start with the same sound are placed next to each other, it’s called alliteration. Is there a location where you might use alliteration? Reread your poetry aloud after you’ve made some adjustments.

Also Check: Getting Into the Exam State of Mind – How Changing Your Routine Can Change Your Mindset

Few things that parents should keep in mind

This step-by-step instruction will help children in learning poetry well. Once youngsters have mastered the art of composing poetry, they can go to more complex and intricate verses. To promote a more joyful yet rigorous approach to poetry writing, here are some tips for parents/teachers to consider before they begin:

• If your child is unable to write, ask them to sketch or tell the poetry. Encourage them to speak their minds. After all, poetry is all about expressing oneself.
• Constantly encourage kids to be specific. Many students want to write broadly, and we have to explain to them that in order for readers and listeners to feel connected to a poem, they need extremely detailed descriptions and commentary. It’s worth taking the extra time to assist kids to improve their poems for specificity.
• Students’ writing becomes more original and compelling when they express their emotions, unique ideas, and bold viewpoints in their poems. Their writings become a reflection of who they are, and as a result, readers and listeners are compelled to pay attention to what they have to say. Students must have the bravery to put themselves into their poems.
• Assist pupils in identifying features of poems they enjoy. When you teach them the terminology for specific methods like slant rhyme, repetition, and consonance, they start reading poetry like poets instead of scrutinizing them like extraterrestrial artifacts.
• Make up your own poems- You can do this before, during, or after the unit. Share your process with your pupils, including draughts, mistakes, and accomplishments. You could be surprised by what you come up with, even if you’ve never written poetry before.

Also Read: How to maintain a healthy life

Also, by sharing your words and process with your students, they will realize that poetry is something that you care about, and you will be better ready to answer their questions about the writing process since you have gone through it yourself. It’s a win-win situation.

• Teach a variety of poets and poems that you enjoy. When you’re enthusiastic about the poetry you teach, it rubs off on your students. However, it’s critical to make sure that the poets you educate are diverse in terms of colour, ethnicity, and gender. The types of poems you teach should also be diversified, with a preference for modern poems, in my opinion. It’s interesting and worthwhile to teach old, classic forms, yet most poetry now doesn’t look or sound like poems written hundreds of years ago. If we want kids to respect poetry as a relevant genre, this has to be a consideration.
• Every day when students have to work on their poem, set a timer for 30 minutes.
• Ask the child to spell words phonetically if they are having trouble with spelling.
• Initially, don’t chastise them for their misspellings. It could stifle their self-assurance. Proofreading and spell checks can be performed after the poem has been written.
• Praise them for the lovely poem they’ve composed, even if it’s mostly pictures or incomprehensible. Look for something to be grateful for.
• Purchase a notepad solely for the purpose of penning poems for them. They can write in this notepad during quiet or alone time.

Also Check: 10 Best amazing facts about IIT JEE coaching

Key terms in poetry

• Cadence is the patterning of rhythm in natural speech or poetry that does not have a specific metre.
• In poetry, metre refers to the rhythmical pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
• A word or line repeated at intervals throughout a poem, particularly at the end of a stanza, is known as a refrain.
• Rhyme – A syllable repetition, usually at the end of a verse line.
• A verse is a group of lines that create the fundamental repeating metrical unit in a poem.
• Tone – As interpreted by the reader, the poet’s attitude toward the poem’s speaker, reader, and subject matter writing follows a metrical rhythm and usually rhymes. The verse is written in a metrical rhythm, usually with a rhyme scheme.