I just love to use poetry in the classroom and my children love it too! Poetry binders are great to use for buddy reading, for whole group instruction, to practice sight words, rhyme, rhythm, and author’s craft too! It’s amazing how repeated readings of high-interest poems help with fluency and motivate reluctant readers. 

Why Include Poetry in Your Fluency Activities?

Adding poetry to elementary classrooms isn’t just about rhymes; it’s a smart move for developing fluent readers. The rhythmic nature of poems makes reading more enjoyable while improving pacing and expression. Beyond that, poems amp up vocabulary and comprehension skills. Encouraging kids to create their own verses fosters a love for words and boosts confidence, turning them into more eager and capable readers. In a nutshell, poetry is the secret sauce to making elementary education a fun and effective journey towards fluency.

Getting Started with Poetry Collections:

In my room, the students each bring in a Clearview binder. I like the binders instead of folders because they last well and then the students have a hard-cover keepsake at the end of the year. My former students tell me they still enjoy reading from their poetry folder! I print a  cover poem on bright paper and slip it into the front of the binder. It’s a freebie at my shop! 

We work on one poem each week and I try to choose a poem with a theme for whatever holiday is close by or one that reinforces a topic we are studying. This week we worked on a poem about the seven continents for our map lessons.

Add a Touch of Creativity to Your Poetry Activities:

My students love to color with their twistable (best invention ever) colored pencils. I made this Fun Fall Poems set for them in black and white. It has a collection of the best of the best seasonal clipart from all of my favorite designers! Click on the first picture to see it at my shop!

What’s Included?

There are several poems for Halloween, a few poems about changing colors, one about Columbus, a November poem and one for our upcoming scarecrow unit that I am so excited for! If you use poetry in the classroom or think you might like to start, you can grab the set that will take you through 8 weeks of Fall fun at my TPT shop!

Adding poetry to elementary classrooms isn’t just about rhymes; it’s a smart move for developing fluent readers. The rhythmic nature of poems makes reading more enjoyable while improving pacing and expression. Beyond that, poems amp up vocabulary and comprehension skills. Encouraging kids to create their own verses fosters a love for words and boosts confidence, turning them into more eager and capable readers. In a nutshell, poetry is the secret sauce to making elementary education a fun and effective journey towards fluency.