But What if “I HATE” Poetry? How can I Teach it?

Inside: 7 Steps to Accidentally Teach Your Kids Poetry. I promise it won’t hurt.

Recently, I was talking with our local librarian and I chuckled.

OK, I laughed at her. I know it’s not nice, but she had set a fishing book out for all to see. FISHING. Her eyes twinkled as she told my youngest son about one of the funny snippets between the covers. Nope. He didn’t believe her either, but we checked it out anyway.  Sam and his dad are going on a fishing trip tomorrow. Just Him and Dad. barely able to sleep, Sam rises before dawn to drag dad out of bed for their special day.

There’s only one small problem.

Lucy. Sam’s terrible, pesky, messy, loud little sister wiggles her way into “his” trip with dad, talks the whole time, and even sings her little “fishy-fishy-fish” song.  My eleven-year-old was vocal about the fact that he’s glad-ish that he doesn’t have a sister. Gone Fishing was a homeschooling mom’s buried treasure.

You see, The whole book was written in different forms of poetry. POETRY. My son and I didn’t notice at first.

How could I miss the fact that I had just read 41 poems when we snuggled and shared Sam and Lucy’s fishing trip?

photo by Carl Heyerdahl

Better question. Why didn’t my son squirm as I read those 41 poems?

Because the story was delightful and the poems were hidden. That is… Until they were magically revealed to us.

• Do you struggle to teach your kids about poetry?
• Do your palms sweat and your mouth go dry at the very thought of having to analyze lines of verse?
• Do you think poems should be illegal in 49 states?

Me too…

Magic Moment

I decided to take the “surprise moment” and twist it and mold it into all its homeschool glory. There is a nifty poem guide in the back of the book. I decided that I’d teach my son about a handful of poetry styles. Just a handful. He took it a step further.

“What if I write my own poems?”

Do you want to Accidentally Teach Poetry to your kids?

1. Get a copy of Gone Fishing (or Gone Camping) by Tamara Will Wissinger. {These links do not add a penny to your cost, but do help me buy groceries, or fishing hooks}
2. Grab a fun journal for your kids to write in.
3. Do NOT tell your kids the book is full of fun poems. If you accidentally tell them, it will have the same effect as putting popcorn in your microwave for 15 minutes. Don’t do it!!
4. Read the story together. If you really want them to be hooked: pop popcorn, snuggle, then read.
5. Read the book again the next day.
6. Read it again, this time, begin talking about the poems. Identify favorites.
7. Using the poem guide at the end of the book, begin drafting a few poems together.

Please take your time. Writing can be intimidating, but food and a sneak attack homeschool lesson will make it more successful! [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=141235e46639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox] [leadpages_leadbox leadbox_id=142a79846639c5] [/leadpages_leadbox] Grab your copy of Happy, You Happy Family here.

WANT MORE?

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• If you’re hoping your kids will live with you forever, don’t read this.
• Sucking the JOY out of childhood should be illegal
• Happy, You Happy Family: Find Your Personal Recipe for Happiness in the Chaos of Parenting Life
• 60+ Random Acts of Kindness That Will Get Kids Excited to Give Back

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Print this free homeschool mom reminder.

This post comes with a free printable reminder list to help keep your heart focused on the heart of homeschooling. I always have the hardest staying focused. This printable simplifies it!

Here is a sneak preview…

Download Your Free Printable

1. Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 9,000+ homeschool moms who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!
2. Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.
3. Place it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder.