Getting students to share poetry requires setting the tone for how students should react while others share. Set specific rules, such as no booing or snickering as students read and required snapping or clapping after each student has finished. Students who break the rules should not be allowed to participate in the poetry reading or should face one of the regular consequences in place in the classroom.
Sometimes sharing others’ poetry will help make students more comfortable with sharing their own. They may start by sharing a poem by a famous poet. Then students may move to sharing poetry written by their friends. Eventually, they will realize it is not so difficult to get up in front of their peers, and may be motivated to read poetry of their own.
Hold regular open mic sessions in your classroom, in the library or after school. These sessions should be largely informal and should not have a set agenda. The first few sessions may be fairly quiet as students are too afraid to share, but once they become regular, students will become more comfortable with the audience and gradually work up the courage to get up and share.
Changing the environment may be enough to motivate students to share their poetry. Turn off the main classroom lights and turn on lamps or plug in strings of lights around the room. Ditch the desks and give students the option of sitting on pillows or lounging on a rug on the floor. You can also add soft music in the background, serve hot chocolate and add other elements of a traditional coffeehouse.
Sometimes all it takes is a little incentive to get students to share. Offer extra credit or a special treat for students who share. Hold a poetry slam where students are scored as they read their poems, and offer a small gift card or other prize for the winner. While you do not want to bribe students to share, sometimes a tangible incentive provides the extra push they need.