Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem
illustrations by
on Goodreads (38)
What’s inside...
A compendium of poetry prompts from Joseph Coelho, the Children's Laureate from 2022-2024, designed to help children discover and explore the art of writing and reading poems aloud. The book aims to boost confidence and literacy skills by engaging children's imaginations. It is a family-friendly resource with bright and appealing illustrations suitable for children of all primary ages.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-9
Length
64 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What feelings did you experience when reading the poem prompts? Can you describe why?
If you could create a poem prompt, what would it be about and why?
How do you think using different words or styles can change the meaning of a poem?
Which poem prompt was your favorite and what ideas did it make you think of?
How might you use these prompts to help a friend learn to write poems?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts freely, without worrying about right or wrong answers.
Use follow-up questions to delve deeper into your child’s responses, fostering a more engaging and thoughtful conversation.
Relate the discussion to personal experiences or feelings, making the conversation more relatable and meaningful.
Praise creative thinking and any effort to think critically about the book's themes.
Suggest writing a poem together using one of the prompts, to make the reading experience interactive and fun.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and Expression
Explanation: Joseph Coelho's 'Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem' encourages children to explore their creativity through poetry. The book provides various prompts and tools to help kids express themselves in unique and personal ways.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children apply creativity in solving problems or expressing thoughts and feelings in their everyday interactions and academic tasks.
Example Lesson: Understanding Emotions
Explanation: Through the process of writing poetry, children learn to identify and describe their feelings with greater clarity. Coelho’s guidance aids in recognizing and articulating emotions through words.
Real-World Application: Children can utilize these skills to better communicate their emotional states to parents, teachers, and peers, which can lead to improved relationships and emotional well-being.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The book prompts readers to consider different perspectives and experiences, which can help children understand and empathize with others’ emotions and viewpoints.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to be more considerate and understanding in their daily interactions, fostering a more inclusive and supportive social environment.
Example Lesson: Language Skills
Explanation: ‘Poetry Prompts’ enhances children's vocabulary and command of language by challenging them to use new words and poetic forms.
Real-World Application: Improved language skills can enhance children’s academic performance, especially in reading and writing, and boost their confidence in communication.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: Writing poetry can be challenging. This book teaches persistence by encouraging children to think critically and creatively, and to revise their work until it expresses their thoughts effectively.
Real-World Application: This skill of persistence can be applied to academic challenges, helping children to tackle difficult subjects or tasks with a resilient mindset.