Poetry: A Fun Way for Kids to Practice Writing

Just as some students are reluctant readers, others are reluctant writers. Writing is not something they particularly enjoy yet, and the thought of sitting down and writing a paragraph can seem like a chore. Poetry can be an effective segue to not only get kids more interested in writing, but to make it fun at the same time. Here are a few reasons why creating poems can be a good place to start.

There are so many different types of poems.

Some poems rhyme while others don’t. Some are long while others are short. Some are silly while others are serious. Some have set rules while others do not. Kids are sure to find a type of poem that fits their mood, interest, and ability. Expose them to books with all different types of poems so that they can find what resonates with them and something they want to try to replicate on their own.

They can be all different lengths.

Writing poems can be less intimidating than writing a paragraph or an essay. Haikus only have 17 syllables while ballads can go on for pages. Cinquains and limericks only have 5 lines each. Acrostics are only as many lines as there are letters in the word. This can make poetry more appealing to students who do not like to write a lot.

There are an infinite number of topics.

Poems can literally be about absolutely anything. Kids can get as creative as they want. Challenge them to write poems that describe each member of the family, their favorite place, or something funny that happened. Encourage them to write about how they are feeling, whether they are happy, sad, frustrated, excited, bored, or anything else. The poem could be totally different depending on the day or that moment in time.

They can expand their vocabulary.

Kids can challenge themselves to come up with several words that rhyme for a limerick, words that describe different sounds they hear for onomatopoeia, words that all start with the same letter for alliteration, or words that are a certain number of syllables for a haiku. They know what they want to say, but they have to come up with right words to do it.

They can be artistic at the same time.

Once they have written their poem, they can add a picture to go along with it. Or they can create a shape poem that is actually written in the shape of the object. They can tell a whole story by writing shape poems about objects that form a larger picture.

Poems can lend themselves to a great deal of expression and be a fun way to practice writing. As your kids get comfortable writing poems, start incorporating other types of writing as well. Perhaps they could begin writing their own short story, comic book, or graphic novel. Keep things interesting so they stay engaged. If your student is struggling with their writing skills or organizing their thoughts, sign them up for tutoring at Crafting Scholars! Our learning specialists can help with writing mechanics, essay writing, outlines, grammar, and more.