Poetry is powerful, and in the Montessori studio, that power is recognized. Poems are easy to memorize, and when children are able to recite a poem, it gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment. So far, our Montessori learners know three poems: “Bear in There” by Shel Silverstein, “Winter Animals” (see images above), and our “Thank You Poem,” which we recite aloud before we eat a meal together (see Thanksgiving blog post for poem).
Poetry offers a myriad of benefits for children of all ages!
- For the beginner or early reader, poems are often a good choice as children can feel a sense of achievement when reading them. Pick poems short in length with short sentences. Try Out and About: A First Book of Poems for your emerging poet.
- Poems often use a rhythm, rhyme, and language that we might not use in our everyday lives.
- Poetry exposes children to language from different cultures, geographical locations, and different time periods. We are currently reading All the Wild Wonders: Poems of our Earth.
- Poems can be thought-provoking and can stimulate further discussions and learning opportunities.
- Reading or listening to a poem can be calming and soothing, especially at bedtime (choose the poems wisely).
- Poetry can be uplifting and incredibly inspiring (and reading or listening to a poem can inspire children to write their own poems).
- Poetry is a wonderful and important form of self-expression.
- Writing poetry can assist in language development, writing skills, and creativity. It can help build vocabulary and introduce children to a wide range of genres.
- Writing poetry is fantastic for learning sentence structure. It also gives children freedom and allows for experimentation.
- Poetry can lead to oral traditions—think poems shared by grandparents, at bedtime, for particular seasons, or other special occasions. For the blossoming thespian, try Poems to Perform.
The songs, nursery rhymes, and rhythmic poetry from my childhood is ingrained in my mind to this day. How about you? If you would like to instill poetic practices at home, I recommend starting by reading a poem before bed each night. Try A Poem for Every Night of the Year, a beautiful book that I learn something new from almost every day.
The beauty of poetry is that you and your child can evolve from very simple poems to quite complex selections as they grow. You can choose poems based on seasons and holidays. Each time you explore a new poem, you will open your child up to a new world of sound and language.