Poetry can make reading fun for kids and help them express their creativity through words!
Interested in exploring how poetry can help kids build reading skills? Jump into these fun poem practices with kids to see the power of poetry when it comes to teaching children how to read.
1. Create Rhyme Flash Cards
Have children write rhyming words on flashcards or make a list. This teaches students to identify various sounds and about word families. They will also work to build vocabulary as they search for words that rhyme with ones they are already familiar with. For example, if they write the word “couch” and want to find a rhyme, they can search or ask for an adult’s help to make rhyming words like “slouch,” “crouch”, or “pouch” which are likely not a big part of their current vocabulary.
2. Write a Syllabic Poem
Working with syllables allows children to break words into parts so that decoding becomes an easier process. A syllabic poem is a fun way for kids to practice syllables. They can create a poem that has the same amount of syllables in every line, syllables of an alternating amount in each line, or even create their own syllable pattern for a poem. This means they’re also working a little bit of math into this poem practice too!
3. Study Poems That Tell Stories
Reading stories in poem form helps kids break down elements of the stories they read. Since poems are written in verses, students can work on understanding the poem verse by verse. These are easier chunks to digest and are a great way to help kids develop reading comprehension skills. Check out this collection of Narrative Poems to get your study started.
4. Have a Poetry Reading
Learning how to read can be easier for kids when it is fun. Most kids love performing in some aspect, so reading poems aloud gives them this opportunity. When we think about literacy, we sometimes overlook the importance of oral development, but this contributes to children’s reading skills a great deal. Sharing poems aloud can help kids practice pitch, inflection, etc. which can help them read stories more fluently. Host your poetry reading using poems you’ve collected or have everyone write their own!
