Maggie B.'s Spine Poem from 100 Scope Notes

April is National Poetry Month, and School Library Journal has compiled a list of tools and creative ideas for celebrating. From poetry slam best practices to Common Core curriculum connections, this roundup is chock-full of ways to approach the poetic form with kids all yearlong. Here's a sampling of what it includes. Why Poetry? National Poetry Month is upon us, but why limit the celebration of poetry to April? SLJ editor-in-chief Rebecca Miller speaks to the value of regular exposure to poetry. Expert Opinions Who better to discuss their perspectives on poetry than those in the know? School Library Journal asked several poets to share their favorite collections for children. Naomi Shihab, Doug Florian, and others list anthologies near and dear to their hearts. And poet Joyce Sidman talks about the impact poetry has had on her life, as well as her teaching experiences. Finally, author and poet Lesléa Newman discusses with SLJ how she used various poetic forms to explore the intricacies of a tragedy--the murder of Matthew Shepard. Poetry...and the Common Core? Exploring the Common Core Standards doesn’t have to mean stripping poetry of its beauty or joy. SLJ’s e-newsletter Curriculum Connections lists a variety of poetry collections that will spark students’ imaginations while also providing them with a strong grounding in informational texts. Poetry: It’s in the Details Meeting the CCSS Through Poetry | Professional Shelf Finding poetry collections may not pose a problem, but how to go about teaching students to read and analyze poems, or to produce their own works? This piece specifically tackles the CCSS and presents professional development titles that facilitate creating lesson plans and teaching units centered around poetry.

For more, visit our Poetry Month resources page.