Poem-a-Day - Happy National Poetry Month!

April 2024

national poetry month

This April, join us as we celebrate National Poetry Month, an occasion we launched to honor the integral role that poets and poetry have in our culture. We encourage you and your school communities to participate in National Poetry Month with this list of thirty ways to celebrate poetry in the classroom.

Share how your class is celebrating, and don’t forget to tag us on social media @poetsorg, or use the hashtag #NationalPoetryMonth.

dear poet

Do your students want to ask a living poet a question?

Every National Poetry Month, the Academy of American Poets presents Dear Poet, a project that invites students in grades five through twelve to write letters in response to stirring poems by nine of today’s best poets.

DEADLINE: April 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Students can choose from nine videos and submit letters using this form. Teachers can also submit their students’ letters using this form.

Teacher resources, including Spark lesson plans on voice and connections from 826 National, can be found on Poets.org.

national poetry month poster

“may you in your innocence
sail through this to that”

—Lucille Clifton, “blessing the boats”

The deadline to get your free copy of the 2024 National Poetry Month poster is fast approaching. The poster features artwork by award-winning children’s author and illustrator Jack Wong.

DEADLINE: April 16

Teachers can also use this accompanying lesson plan.

poem in your pocket day

On April 18, people across North America will carry poems to share with others throughout the day. Learn more about how to celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day in schools, bookstores, libraries, public spaces, and on social media with #PocketPoem.

classroom resources

Browse selections of poetry lesson plans curated around themes, occasions, class subjects, and more.
Find themed collections of poetry for teens and poetry for kids.
April is National Arab American Heritage Month. Celebrate with a collection of poems for kids, featuring poets such as Mahmoud Darwish, Kahlil Gibran, Naomi Shihab Nye, and others.

teach this poem

Monday, March 4:

Monday, March 11:

Monday, March 18:

Monday, March 25:

“Emancipation Queen” by Rio Cortez

“Flora numérica/ Numeric Flora” by Mara Pastor, translated by María José Giménez

“Appalling Heart” by Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven

“Iris Song” by Rickey Laurentiis

Teachers, thank you for your work bringing poetry into the classroom year-round. We’re happy to be able to offer hundreds of free lesson plans, essays, and other resources, and we’re grateful for the chance to work with you.

The Academy of American Poets

75 Maiden Lane

STE #901

New York, NY 10038

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Poem-a-Day - Happy National Poetry Month!

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