Twinkle, twinkle, little star, 

How I wonder what you are! 

Up above the world so high, 

Like a diamond in the sky. 

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, 

How I wonder what you are! 

    Remember those good old days of poems and rhymes? Surely. I do! Twinkle, twinkle, little star was one of my favourite rhymes! 

Poetry

  Poetry is a unique form of writing. It allows one to express ideas and feelings in a distinctive style and rhythm. Poetry is unfortunately one of the most neglected art forms in the classroom. All is not lost! Students need to be exposed to poetry as a genre of writing from the early grades.

   In my LIT102 class, I learnt that students may have poetic ability. It is therefore necessary to teach poetry from the lower grades so that students can develop a love for it. Poetry can be used to teach different concepts. Poetry can be used to express ideas. Anything which comes to mind can be expressed in the form of poetry. 

Three vital elements must be considered by a poet:

1. Context- motivation for the poem and the personal experience that causes someone to write.

2. Time- a particular existence: example slavery, elections, a disaster and so on. 

     Theme- the message which the poet wants the audience/reader to learn.

3. Persona- the person, object or animal in the poem. Essentially, it reflects who or what the poem is about. It can be a pet that speaks or it can be the use of "I" by the poet himself.

There are many different types of poems. Some include:

-Haiku

-Cinquain

-Acrostic

-Limerick

-Rhymed

-Lyric

  Here is one of the poems which I created as part of my LIT102 class sessions:

Dear Children (Acrostic)

C-hildren are dear to us all,

H-ow humble they can be!

I-nteracting with all whom they meet,

L-iving life so wonderfully!

D-oing things in their special way,

R-unning, laughing, talking all day.

E-ach one is a shining candle,

 N-ot even life's problems can put out their flame.

Miss May (Limerick)

I met an old lady one day,

Who said that her name was May.

She stared right at me,

Then smiled happily,

But her teeth looked like sheep in the hay.

  Teachers should allow students to create a collection of poems for classroom display, for class/ school magazine and so forth.  However, poems do not only have to be written. It can be performed. Teachers must use creativity in the classroom in order to drive that love for poetry in students. Poems can be sung, dramatized, recited. 

  

  As I reflected on my younger days, I remember my book of poems. My poems were mostly spiritual in nature. I remembered when I used to just sit with the book and pen in my hand and simply write anything which comes to mind and heart. Some rhymed. Some did not. We also need to teach students that poems do not always rhyme. Over time, I now have a collection of poems which I can now use to inspire and to educate students of writing in my future class. 

  In order to create poetry, many types of literary devices can be used:

-Onomatopeia

-Simile

-Metaphor

-Alliteration

-Personification

  In essence, make poetry come alive in the classroom. Give it much attention as with descriptive writing, narrative writing and the other genres of writing. Be sure to use poetry when teaching various concepts or topics in the class. Gradually, good students become good poets who definitely will become good writers. I am sure to develop great poets in my future classroom who will express themselves confidently with the use of poetry, as I am a great poet myself.