National Poetry Month

April showers

bring May flowers...

and poetry.

How's that for a poem?  Couldn't resist.  April began National Poetry Month.  I have loved poetry since I was in elementary school.  My fourth grade teacher, Mr. Conway, taught us how to write poetry.  It's the first time I remember thinking about poetry, and I have loved it ever since.

I've been gathering poetry books, reading poetry sites, and writing poetry in preparation of a focused study with my students.  Poetry provides opportunities to focus on visualization, figurative language, word choice, rhythms of words, and fluency among other concepts.  Most of all, it is an enjoyable way to energize the classroom community of readers and writers.

In honor of National Poetry Month I have decided to write a poem a day each day in April at Merely Day by Day.  Mary Lee at A Year of Reading has been talking about writing poetry every day for the month of April.  I decided it would be fun to join her.  Since then I have learned that other blogs have poetry events.

National Poetry Month Blog Events:

• Linda Baie is writing a poem each day at TeacherDance.  
• Laura Salas is writing a Haiku each day at Writing the World for Kids.  
• Liz Garton Scanion is also writing a Haiku each day at Liz in Ink.
• Jama is featuring a poet and a poem each day along with a recipe and a story at Jama's Alphabet Soup.
• Greg Pincus is featuring a poet each day at GottaBook.  
• Bud Hunt is posting a photo poem prompt each day at Bud the Teacher.  
• Amy LV is on a dictionary hike at The Poem Farm.  
• Donna at Mainely Write is moving through the alphabet with a poem each day.
• Author Amok is sharing writing habits and rituals at Author Amok. 
• Collection of poetry links at Eduflections
• Renee LaTulippe shares video recordings of poets reading poetry at No Water River 

If I have missed any poetry events, and I know I have, please leave a note in the comments.  I'd love to hear about them.

Other Links of Interest:
Poets.org
Scholastic 
ReadWriteThink
Choice Literacy