It’s hard to believe that the school year is almost here. In one of my first posts on this blog (Paving the Way with Poetry), I wrote about something near to my heart: poetry.
As I plan beginning of the year lessons for my own 2nd grade classroom, I like to select and read poems as a way to introduce daily procedures and routines. I do this for several reasons.
First, they are fast and fun to read. Second, there are many poems written about the school day, which makes it easy to connect them to the students. Third, reading poems early on (instead of waiting for National Poetry Month in April) helps to foster a love of poetry. Finally, poetry opens a door to literacy that is not always accessible with other genres. This is especially true for struggling readers and writers. Because they are shorter by nature, poems often feel less threatening to these students. And ALL students can enjoy and be challenged by poetry.
Ready to get started?
Here is a list of some of my favorite beginning of the year poetry books and poems, along with procedures/routines that connect to them. Don’t have the books? They should be easy to find in the school library or even online.
1. Almost Late to School by Carol Diggory Shields
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
Word Problem Introducing Math Workshop/Journals
Gotta Go Bathroom Procedures
Almost Late Arrival Routines
After School Dismissal
2. Creatures of Earth, Sea, and Sky by Georgia Heard
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
Fishes and/or Frog Serenade Partnerships and teamwork
These are “poems for two voices” and lend themselves well to introducing the concept of “working together.” Let the students decide how to read them together as an initial team building activity.
3 & 4. Chicken Soup With Rice, by Maurice Sendak
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
September (or August) Reading a poem to introduce each month
5. Way I Feel, by Janan Cain 
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
Scared, Shy, Excited Beginning of the year feelings
This is a fast read and I recommend reading through the whole book if you have time. It’s also a great segue into Morning Meeting/Responsive Classroom. The students can state one feeling that they have as part of the “share” portion of the lesson.
Note: Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis is another great read aloud for discussing feelings.
6. I Like it Here at School, poems collected by Jack Prelutsky*You can purchase this for $.01 on Amazon! Now that’s a good deal….
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
Why My Homework is Missing Daily homework
Look in a Book Independent Reading
7. If I Were in Charge of the World, by Judith Viorst
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
If I Were in Charge of the World Creating classroom responsibilities/rules
Apology Problem Solving/working cooperatively
Summer’s End Back to school
8. The Mouse Was Out at Recess, by David L. Harrison*You can buy this used on Amazon for $.084!
This book is chock full of poems that connect to the school day. Here are a few of my favorites:
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
The Bus Arrival/dismissal
Mystery Lunch Lunch
They Call it Science Science
In the Hall Hall procedures
Raise Your Hand if you Know the Answer Raising hand
Teacher’s Eyes Staying focused
9. Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield
Read Things to introduce writing workshop. (Click on the link to for “Things” to see a Brain Pop activity on Eloise Greenfield. This is one of my favorite poems to read with students so I’m sharing the text here:
Things
Went to the corner
Walked in the store
Bought me some candy
Ain’t got it no more
Ain’t got it no more
Went to the beach
Played on the shore
Built me a sandhouse
Ain’t got it no more
Ain’t got it no more
Went to the kitchen
Lay down on the floor
Made me a poem
Still got it
Still got it
I like to read this poem to introduce the concept that our writing is special, something to be treasured. It’s also fun to act out. Give one stanza or line to teams or partnerships. Let the students be creative!
11. Lunch Money and Other Poems about School, by Carol Diggory Shields
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
Pledge Pledge of Allegiance and/or school announcements
Decisions, Lunch Money Lunch routines
Far Away Independent Reading
Moonwalker Dismissal
I’m Doing my Homework Homework
Read this book to hook your students on poetry!
12. Alphathoughts, by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Suggested Poems to Read Routines to Teach
Books and Library Independent reading
Pencils Classroom pencil routine
Those are a few of my picks of poems to kick-start the school year. Please let me know if you try them and/or if you have other favorites. For additional book recommendations (poetry and otherwise), read:
A is for Musk Ox and a few other good books…
Launching a Love of Reading from Day One
Recommended Picture Books
And for more ways to integrate poetry into your lessons, click here: 5 Easy Ways to Get Your Class Excited About Poetry.
Here’s to a successful start of the year!
Happy reading,
Lisa
P.S. This is an old post, that I’m sharing again now. Poetry is one of my favorite ways to launch the year with my students!
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