How do you cover poetry with your children? How do teachers engage children in poetry?

30 replies

spookysal · 07/11/2012 11:07

I recently bought 'Where my wellies take me' by Michael and Claire Morpurgo, which is a beautiful book.

It includes poetry and I am wondering how to cover this with 5yo dd1. She won't understand a lot of it but do I just read it to anyway? Will she find it boring? How can I engage her in it?

Would appreciate any advice and suggestions. Or just experiences on how your dc react to poetry.

OP posts:

exoticfruits · 08/11/2012 07:16

I loved A A Milne when I was young and I find that I can still quote many of the poems today.

madamehooch · 08/11/2012 07:08

Would recommend Michael Rosen, especially his Eddie poems. Also, Giles Andreae's 'Commotion in the Ocean' etc.

BlueChampagne · 07/11/2012 12:55

How about silly limericks and songs to start with? And if Julia Donaldson is poetry, then Dr Seuss is too.

Original poster

spookysal · 07/11/2012 12:21

yy we do watch Rhmye rocket, never really thought about it being poetry, how daft is that?

Thank you for the book suggestion, off to have a look

OP posts:

greenhill · 07/11/2012 11:43

We've got our 5 yo old DD "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T S Eliot with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, who usually collaborates with Julia Donaldson. Her books normally contain a lot of rhyme / poetry too. It helps to have familiar cartoons / themes for young children.

Most nursery rhymes are poetry too, so your DD will already be familiar with rhyme. Have you seen "The Rhyme Rocket" on CBeebies? It is a bit manic, as designed for pre-schoolers, but is good at matching familiar rhymes.

My DD's school is going to be doing more poetry next term they are using the theme of animals. I'll be interested to see if she becomes more interested in poetry after that.

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