Tag: National Poetry Month

poetry, teachers' resources

A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms

Alphabet Soup

As we mentioned earlier, April is National Poetry Month in the US, and we’ve borrowed the idea because we rather like poetry. Later in the week we hope to have a real live poet visiting the blog, so be sure to check back!

In the meantime, here is a fantastic book by Paul B. Janeczko (illustrated by Chris Raschka).

A Kick in the Head (cover)

This book is a collection of poems with a brief explanation about the rules for each form included. 29 forms are covered – some of them are ones you might already recognise, like Haiku, Tanka, Cinquain, Villanelle and List Poem. Perhaps you can find a copy of A Kick in the Head at your library. Be inspired to write your own poem, and then you can carry it around with you on Thursday for Poem In Your Pocket Day! (Or leave a short poem in our comments, and we’ll pretend it’s an online pocket!)

Here’s a couplet I wrote after reading A Kick in the Head:

I wish that it were chocolate cake –
but CAULIFLOWER is in to bake.*

*Actually, I love cauliflower cheese. It’s just that sometimes I’d rather have cake …

This book was selected for review from the Editor’s own collection.

competitions, poetry, teachers' resources

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2010

Alphabet Soup

While you’re in the mood for poetry (April being [Inter]National Poetry month and all), you might like to think about sending your best poem in to the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.

The theme is ‘I hear music.’ There are categories for lower primary and upper primary. And prizes from $300, plus a trophy!

You can find out more by visiting the website. Entries close 9 July 2010.

poetry, teachers' resources

April: National Poetry Month

Alphabet Soup

You might have heard about April being National Poetry Month. (Actually, it’s National Poetry Month in the US, but we thought we’d borrow the idea and quietly turn it into INTERnational Poetry Month!)

So, for the rest of April, you’ll find us posting about our favourite poems, cool books of poems, poetry walls, and Poem in Your Pocket day on 29 April 2010.

Did you know that there’s a poll over on the home page of the Alphabet Soup website? Vote and let us know how often you read poems (or have someone read poems to you)!