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When I teach students, I introduce them to model poems or prompts, brainstorm in the group, practice writing, and then facilitate group writing. While many wonderful poems appear 'out of nowhere,' I have found that students often respond to a poetry prompt with fresh writing which excites them and teaches them new things. Game structures, risk-taking and play help reluctant writers see the writing exercise as a pleasure, and not a hurdle.

I have been privileged to help some amazing student poets--and am pleased to share some of my lessons and student examples here. I've adapted some of my lessons from other teaching poets, like Kenneth Koch, and have created others. Please visit the Poetry/Art page to see examples of visual arts/poetry integration.

This list starts with four pages of recent work posted in 2011:

• Be an Artist with your Words! Showcase of 5th grade work from Project Aim
• Jazz Poetry (K-2nd)
• The Power of Pattern: Pantoums by 6th graders
• What 2nd Graders Know: New work, 2011
  
  
• Dear President Obama: Letter Poems from 5th Graders
• My Anger Shines Around Me: A Gallery of 8th Grade Poetry
• "When I Sleep I Fly" (1st & 2nd graders)
• The Poetry of Emotion: A Showcase from grades 1-5
• When X Walks through the Door: 2nd grade poems about special people
• The Poetry of Change: A Showcase of 2nd grade poetry
  
• I seem to be...but really I am...(grades 3-8)
  
• A Day in the Life...poems inspired by Walt Whitman (grades 5-12)
  
• Voice/Personna Poems (grades 5-12)
  
• Safe/Unsafe Place Poems (grades 5-12)
  
• "Hush!" Poems about 'the hard stuff' (grades 5-12)