Poem Party, Writer Workshops for April National Poetry Month

Hallmark, Schmaltzmark. Who needs mass produced greeting cards with canned poems when we have all this creativity packed in our heads? March 21 is World Poetry Day and April is National Poetry Month in the U.S. But you can make every day poetry day.
Teachers and homeschoolers, why not helps kids access their inner bard with a poem party and creative writers' workshop? This can be done in any grade from preschool to college. Or do this with a group of adults.

* DO NOT call it a contest. I taught Montessori, adult and special education for years. Though I steeped my students in creative writing, I saw that in late elementary to middle school some kids begin to feel shy about writing poetry, even if they loved it when they were little. They fear sounding silly (particularly boys). They're daunted by what they perceive as superiority of others peoples' writing. Nix the competitive poetry writing. They usually wind up being popularity contests. Writing is too intimate to do for a prize. Contests inhibit creativity.  Poem Party, Writer Workshops for April National Poetry Month

Free Poetry Frames, Poem Template Printables for World Poetry Day--Mar. 21

Poetry can be one of the most expressive and unfettered forms of creative writing. Writing poems may be daunting for beginners. That's why I love to empower the inner poet in my lesson plans. Once get a kid hooked, and he writes for a lifetime! Here are free printable poetry frames and poem templates to break the creative ice. What are poetry frames and poem templates? Frame poems and poem templates are patterns for poems that creative writing students and aspiring poets can use to guide their writing. Depending on the age and maturity of the poet frame poems provide more or less structure. For young children just learning to write, the frame poem may resemble a fill-in-the-blank activity. For seasoned readers and writers, the poem template simply provides a springboard from which to launch poems. Reluctant or diffident creative writing students will gain confidence in their writing skill using these free printable poetry frames and poem templates. Use these to create greeting cards for World Poetry Day, March 21 or National Poetry Month in April!  Free Printable Poetry Frames and Poem Templates