Poetry Activities: Six Simple Ways to Make Poetry Instruction Engaging

5 Tips for Writing a Poem About Friends/Family

1. Timeline. Reach back and try to create a timeline of your relationship.
2. The Good. Think about one of your favorite memories of them.
3. The Bad. You know that every day is not a (good) day at the beach.
4. Personality. Write down a list of personality traits of the person your poem is about and then expand on it.
5. Share.

True Friends Poems

• You are my true friend. I remember that day,
• The one who cares. A true friend is the one who cares for you,
• You are beside me. When she sits beside me and listens to me for hours,
• When I say you are. When I say you are my true friend,
• All the silly fights.
• My true friend.
• A friend like you.
• No reason to live.

Here are some writing tips to help you start writing your own poem about a person:

1. Settle on a form. The first step to writing poetry is to figure out which poetic form you’ll be using.
2. Brainstorm a list of memories.
3. Describe the person in great detail.
4. Think about your relationship with the person.
5. Review and revise.

We want to see, hear, smell, taste and feel what you write.

1. Use the active voice, not the passive voice. We want the subject to do the action, which draws us into the emotions.
2. Utilize action verbs, not linking verbs.
3. Avoid gerunds (the -ing words).
4. Avoid adverbs (those pesky -ly words).
5. Use metaphors over similes.

1. Entice them with music.
2. Write poems that are fun and nonthreatening.
3. Focus on reading comprehension.
4. Use picture books.
5. Use poetry to teach a writing skill.
6. Play games.

To make the most of your reading time:

1. Ham it up!
2. Vary your subject matter as well as the kinds of things you read.
3. Hunt for books that match your child’s interests.
4. Look for books that interest you too.
5. Foster closeness between siblings.
6. Help your child notice new information as you read.
7. Let her read to you.

13 Ways To Make Reading Fun For Your Child

1. Pick the right books.
2. Read aloud.
3. Act out the story.
4. Encourage all forms of reading.
5. Choose books about his or her interests.
6. Create a reading space.
7. Make connections between books and life.
8. Let your child choose.