Reading+Poetry+to+Children

What are some important considerations when reading poetry to children?
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Important considerations when reading poetry to children: added by Laurie Ryan The two most important considerations when reading poetry to children are poem choice and presentation. When choosing a poem to read with children it is important to keep their ages and interests in mind. Children need to make a connection to the poem in order to enjoy it. Studies have shown that children prefer narrative poems and limericks about unusual events. They also enjoy rhyming poems and poems containing sound patterns. Older children like poems that relate to experiences they’ve had and topics they can relate to and also poems that contain humor.

Poems are meant to be read aloud to appreciate the rhythms, words, sounds and unexpected phrases. It is important to read a poem aloud several times before reading it to an audience in order to get a feel for the rhythm, feelings, and where the word emphasis should be. The physical appearance of the poem should help dictate the rhythm and tone. It is also important to note the pacing and volume that best works with the selected poem.

When reading the poem aloud it is important to show enthusiasm and interest in what you are reading. You should let children know that a good poem often needs more than one reading to be understood. By making a careful poem selection for your audience and taking time to practice presenting the poem, you will be better able to encourage a love of poetry in children.

Norton, Donna E. //Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children’s Literature 7th Edition//. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/ ‌ Merrill Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.

Considerations added by Helen Mastico

The subject matter of the poem should always be considered. Children do appreciate negative issues when they are presented in a safe environment. It gives them an idea of how to deal with problems. For example:


 * Winter Rabbit** by Madeline Comora (Oh no! Where Are My Pants?, Harper Collins, 2005.)

I watched to see if he would move. His breath was still, his eyelids closed. There was no twitching of his nose. "He's gone," my teacher sighed. "Today his spirit slipped away.

I slid the latch back on his cage that smelled of mustard greens and sage, touched his softness to my face. His tall straight ears, his long quick feet trailed like falling velvet drapes.

I thought of his last night alone huddled in a wire home. I did not cry. I held him close, smoothed his fur blown by the wind. For a winter's moment, I stayed with him.

When a beloved pet dies it can be the first real grief children experience. In this instance the class pet rabbit has died and it is very sad. Reading a poem like this allows for that sadness and a child could imagine him/herself in this situation. It is a brief but powerfully emotive verse that can help prepare a child for the day when he/she faces this problem. If the subject is to be a sad or serious one then it may be appropriate to give some background information. This particular verse could lead to a discussion of responsibility and pet care, or old age and how animals age differently to people.

It is more important during poetry, as opposed to story, reading that there be quiet. Every word in even the simplest poem has it’s place, either to set the rhythm, influence the tone or give information. In this example the author not only give us a sense of the softness of the animal with the word "velvet" but also adds "drapes" which gives you a sense of weight. A deceased (or sleeping) animal always feels heavier somehow. Even the punctuation is important. The periods in the first verse give a sense of finality, whereas the commas and running description in the second give a sense of urgency. A missed word in a story sentence will most likely not alter the understanding of the story but it can change an entire poem where information is conveyed in such a specific and often succinct manner.