National Poetry Month in April is a great time to introduce your children to the world of poetry if you haven’t already. By starting with highly engaging poems, you increase the chance of sparking an interest in poetry. I’ve assembled some National Poetry Month homeschool ideas for you to make it easier!

Choose poems that will grab the attention of your particular child and not what the “experts” say is quality poetry. Even poems that might be considered twaddle by some can be a good choice if it opens the door to making poetry interesting.

When selecting poems to share in your homeschool, keep in mind how important illustrations can be to some children. You may choose some of the best poems ever written to share with your child, but if the illustration style is unappealing you will create an additional road block. One child might love A Child’s Garden of Verses illustrated by Tasha Tudor. Another child will love the style of A Child’s Book of Poems illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa. The other child will connect with Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Choose what works for your family. 

Here are some easy ways to include poetry in your homeschool this month (or every month!). 

National Poetry Month Homeschool Ideas

Poetry Book Basket or Shelf – Keep a collection of age-appropriate poetry books for your children to read during quiet reading time or when they finish their work. These can be books you purchase for your family library or books you select from the public library. If you like to add seasonal touches to your bookshelf, be sure to order themed poetry books well-ahead of time from the library.

Poet a Day or Poet a Week – Introduce your child to a different poet each day by reading aloud a poem. If daily is too much, focus on a different poet each week and read a different poem by him or her each day that week.

Morning Basket or Morning Time – If your family has a common morning time, including a poem is one of the easiest ways to incorporate it into your routine.

Poetry in the Bible – If it fits with your learning plans, you can incorporate a look at poetry in the Bible. 

Write Poetry – Have your children write poetry. Depending on their writing level, have them write a traditional long-form poem or do something simpler like an acrostic poem or haiku.

Favorite Poetry Books – As part of my Homeschooling with Cozy Books, I’ve shared a few favorite poetry books. These include Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic and A Little Book of Poems and Prayers.

Simply Enjoy Poetry – One of the easiest ways to turn children off from poetry is spending too much time trying to analyze it. Sometimes it’s best to simply read the poem, enjoy the language, and have a brief discussion about the meaning of the poem.

Printable Poetry for National Poetry Month

I have a growing selection of printable poems in my shop. Below are some examples that will work with a variety of ages and interests. You can see all of the poetry in my shop here: Poetry – Printable Pages. 

Classic Poems

If you have older students or would like to expose your children to some classic poems, these could be excellent choices.

Poems About God’s Creation

These are lovely poems about the wonder of God’s creation all around us.

Poems About the Seasons and Weather

Poems about the seasons and weather are often high-interest topics for younger children.

Poems About History

If your children would be interested in poetry about American history or presidents, these are some excellent options.

Have a lovely time exploring poetry with your children using these National Poetry Month homeschool ideas ♥