What Is 30 Painless Classroom Poems?
30 Painless Classroom Poems is a series of books that makes it easy for you, the elementary school teacher, media specialist, or reading specialist, to share poetry. Each book contains:
- a collection of 30 poems by award-winning poet Laura Purdie Salas (BookSpeak!, A Leaf Can Be…, and more)
- A Note from the Poet with each poem, sharing insight into Laura’s thinking/writing process
- classroom activity guide written by an experienced educator
- tips for classroom poetry reading and thoughts on why poetry is an important, practical part of your classroom
Maybe you already love poetry (yay!). Or maybe you fear or even actively dislike it and wonder What does this poem mean? How should I read it? How do we talk about it? What do I DO with it? How do I meet standards? When can I fit it into my already over-packed day? Either way, the 30 Painless Classroom Poems series will give you great poetry to easily use with your students!
The Books
Click on the image to visit the series on My Book Table, where you can click on each cover for more info.
Poetry Resources for Educators
BOOKS
Poetry Friday Anthologies: Amazing poetry anthologies for teachers from teacher educator Sylvia Vardell and poet Janet S. Wong
Poetry Lessons to Meet the Common Core State Standards: A wonderful professional book from Georgia Heard
ARTICLES
TES: Why poetry is always right for primary: “It’s also the gift that keeps on giving. Many poems taught at primary school are revelatory slow-burners, dropping new ideas as children mature.”
Writer Unboxed: The Case for Poetry: “What if poems helped humans be more humane?”
Centre for Literary in Primary Education: Poetry in Primary Schools: What We Know Works
Today’s Little Ditty: Teacher Tips for Poetry
Today: “Boy with autism writes ‘I am odd, I am new’ in poem celebrating differences” THIS is the power of poetry.
Edutopia: “Four Reasons to Start Class With a Poem Each Day”
Journal of Children’s Literature: “The Synergy of Poetry and Content Areas: Reading Poetry Across the Curriculum”
Arts-Mic: “Science Shows Something Surprising About What Reading Poetry Does to Your Brain” Based on research completed at the University of Exeter
Literacy Today: Beyond the “New Norm”: The benefits of reading more than informational text
The Horn Book: “This Is Too Much!” Why Verse Novels Work for Reluctant Readers
Education World: Chat with Children’s Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt
Poetic Pursuits: Articles I wrote explaining many common poetic forms and techniques
Nancie Atwell: Hear her discuss the value of poetry
University of Cambridge: The Case for Children’s Poetry
POETS’/POETRY BLOGS
Laura Purdie Salas: Writing the World for Kids
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater: The Poem Farm
Sylvia Vardell: Poetry for Children
VIDEOS