New Classroom Calendar, Lesson Plans for COVID, and more

Teach This Poem: Poetry to the Rescue!

Since Robert Frost encouraged our founder Marie Bullock to “get poetry into the high schools” in the 1960s, we’ve been assisting teachers in bringing poetry into the classroom in a variety of ways, from launching the first Poets in the Schools program to providing teacher training to an Online Poetry Classroom that evolved into Poets.org, to our award-winning series Teach This Poem, which we’ve adapted for remote learning for this school year. 

We know that it’s often teachers who introduce poetry to young readers and spark their interest in the art form. And we know that when students engage with poetry, it can have a powerful effect. At a convening of young poets from the National Student Poets program, Poetry Out Loud, and Youth Speaks held a few years ago, young poets in attendance were asked what poetry meant to them. Their answers were compelling: “It’s how I make sense of the dark places;” and, “When I read poems sometimes I feel found—it’s almost like a biological reaction, like a leaf unfurling inside of me.”

It’s by reading poems that we gain insight into fundamental human questions, witness the power of language to portray experience, learn about others’ lives, and hone our ability to pay attention. For young people, especially, poetry helps them make connections to others and their world, and leads them to think in synthesizing ways, as metaphors require, and encourages the development of their unique voices. 

Read more about Teach This Poem's impact, including results from our recent survey, testimonials from teachers, and more. Teachers and families can also sign up to receive a free, weekly Teach This Poem lesson plan. 

• Adapting Teach This Poem to an Online or Hybrid Classroom
   
• COVID-19 Resources for Poets and Poetry Organizations
   
• The Poetry Coalition
   
• Best Practices for Virtual Events and Readings