Shel Silverstein is a well-known author of many children's poetry books. Some of his most popular titles include "Where the Sidewalk Ends," "A Light in the Attic," and "Falling Up." Silverstein's poems mix rhythm and rhyme with just the right amount of silliness. Kids can easily relate to his topics, which include taking out the garbage, picking up toys or going to school. Introduce students to Silverstein's poetry by sharing and discussing a poem or two each day for a week. Choose a short, simple rhyming verse to memorize first. Practice the poem in short snippets every day until students have memorized it.
Jack Prelutsky's poetry falls into the same category as Shel Silverstein. First-graders find his poems silly, far-fetched and giggle-inducing. Prelutsky's popular poetry books include "The New Kid on the Block," "A Pizza the Size of the Sun" and "It's Raining Pigs and Noodles." Help students memorize a poem by reading and discussing it often, making up movements to go with each line and asking the students to illustrate the poem.
Written by Maurice Sendak, "Chicken Soup with Rice" is a book of poems with one poem for each month of the year. Students will quickly recognize Sendak's use of repetition in each month's poem when he repeats the phrase "chicken soup with rice." The rhyming poems are short and easy to memorize for first-graders. The monthly poems give insight into the characteristics of the seasons while providing just enough nonsense to appeal to children.
Young children's minds are brimming with background knowledge on seasons and holidays, making it an ideal subject for poetry. Seasonal poetry allows first-graders to share what they already know while learning new concepts, including which holidays occur in which season, the changes in the weather or the names of each month. Introduce students to one or two poems each month. Let children practice performing for an audience with short, informal presentations to family, other classes or school administration. Find a variety of poetry to choose from at www.canteach.ca.