Note: ISBN's included in [ ]'s to aid purchase of less readily available works.
Teachers' Print and Internet Resources
Bogen, Nancy.
How to Write Poetry
, 2nd ed. New York: MacMillan, 1994. [ISBN 0-671-89567-2]. An excellent edition for the teacher interested in clear explanations of poetic devices such as meter, simile, etc. Includes descriptions and examples of classic and contemporary poetic forms as well, including the ode, sonnet, and ballad. Excellent resource for more advanced students or teachers who aspire to craft more developed poems themselves.
Bradbury, Ray.
Zen in the Art of Writing
. New York: Bantam Books, 1990. [ISBN 0-553-29634-5].A prose guide to the non-process method Bradbury used for his writing, emphasizing letting go to the flow or writing. Mixes practical writers' tips with Bradbury's discussion of his works. Helpful in small chunks, especially as a resource for students who get blocked easily or think that they cannot write. Similar in theoretical position to the Goldberg, below.
Doresky, Carole Kiler and William Doreski.
How to Read and Interpret Poetry
. New York: Prentice Hall, 1988. [0-13-431081-0]. A good basic guide to the interpretation of poetry, especially for teachers wholly new to this literary genre. Includes full explications of several poems, as well as descriptions of many contemporary types of criticism. An excellent glossary of poetic terms is appended.
Goldberg, Natalie.
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
. Emily Bower, Ed. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1988. [ISBN: 0-87773-375-9].An absolutely engaging "how to" guide written in short sections. Easily used as a reference resource for a short set of writing classes or as a main text for a longer, or more intensive workshop. Includes lots of advice on how to make "writing activities" a part of one's everyday life.
Higginson, William J. with Penny Harter.
The Haiku Handbook
. New York: Kodansha International, 1985. [ISBN 4-7700-1430-9]. Includes a scholarly discussion of the history of Haiku, and is written for adults, but also contains many examples of the form which easily lend themselves to use in a mini-unit or single lesson on this popular Japanese form.
Koch, Kenneth.
Making Your Own Days: The Pleasures of Reading and Writing Poetry
. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999. Written as a guide for adults wishing to explore the world of poetry, this book is based on Koch's idea that "the language of poetry" is a version of "ordinary language." Excellent for the teacher's own development as a writer, but many of Koch's ideas should prove helpful to the students as well.
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Rose, Where Did You Get That Red?: Teaching Great Poetry to Children
. New York: Vintage Books, 1990. A reprint of this teacher's 1973 work on how to teach the canon to children. As with the earlier unit (see below), Koch includes many useful suggestions for the classroom teacher and writes in a highly approachable style.
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Wishes, Lies & Dreams: Teaching Children to Write Poetry
. New York: Harper Perennial, 1999. Classic reprint of this poet/teacher's adventures doing poetry with elementary students at New York City's P.S. 61 in the late 1960's. Includes many very useful lesson ideas for teachers, as well as examples of the results Koch achieved with his students.
Sweeney, Jacqueline.
Quick Poetry Activities You Can Really Do
. Illus. Rowan Barnes Murphy. New York: Scholastic Professional Books. 1994. A highly engaging and readable guide for teachers. Filled with quick and easy "poetry" activities meant to involve elementary students (grades 2-5) in the writing of poetry. Like Koch's lessons, I find these also to be useful for older students, especially as warm-up or introductory lessons.
Sweeney, Jacqueline.
Teaching Poetry: Yes, You Can!
. Illus. Janice Fried. New York: Scholastic Professional Books. 1993. Similar in tone to the above, but in more complicated prose format focusing on explanations and how-to theory, with fewer quick-starting activities. Includes a bibliography with very brief comments.
Yánez Cossío, Alicia.
Ni–os Escritores: Talleres de Literatura Infantil para padres y Profesores
. Bogotá: Editorial La Oveja Negra, 1999. [ISBN 84-82802118]. Intended as a resource for Spanish-speaking teachers and parents, this slim paperback is of use to fluent teachers looking for readings, activities, and project ideas for Spanish literate students. No English.
http://www.education-world.com/standards An excellent commercial site offering extensive resources to teachers, including the National Standards for a number of content areas, with citations and links to their establishing bodies, such as the National Council of Teachers of English.
http://www.nhps.net The indispensable source for New Haven Public School teachers. Our own official website, this set of pages contains downloadable versions of the most recent revisions of local curricula for all grade levels.
http://www.state.ct.us/sde The State of Connecticut's Education Department main webpage. Links include state standards for all content areas, as well as useful documents, such as the State Board of Education's Vision Statement for Bilingual / ESL Education.
http://www.tesol.org The official website of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc., the national association of ESL teaching professionals. Includes downloadable standards, including detailed classroom scenarios with teaching suggestions.
Poetry Collections in English
Bagert, Brod, ed.
Poetry for Young People: Edgar Allen Poe
. Illus. Carolyn Cobleigh. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1995. A beautifully illustrated volume of a high-quality series introducing students to bits and pieces of Poe's work. Especially useful for teenage groups and to inspire interest in discussion of genre and technique.
Cisneros, Sandra.
The House on Mango Street
. New York: Vintage Contemporaries, 1991. [ISBN 0-679-73477-5]. A genre-defying collection of vignettes often described as "prose poems" which together tell the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Chicana growing up in Chicago's Latino neighborhood. Read it for its beautiful sparseness, for the inspiration it will offer you and your students, and for the linguistic magic Cisneros brings to every page.
Clinton, Catherine, ed.
I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry
. Illus. Stephen Alcorn. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. Includes poems by twenty-five major figures, with biographical information and notes on the works. Beautiful facing page illustrations accompany each poem, allowing for pre-reading exercises, as well as inspiring creative interpretation and critical viewing on the students' part.
Hale, Glorya, ed.
Read-Aloud Poems for Young People: An Introduction to the Magic and Excitement of Poetry
. New York: Black Dog & Levanthal Publishers, Inc., 1997. An extensive collection of British and American verses "themed" into sections such as "Nature's Family," "Meet the Family," and "Poems That Tell Stories." Meant as an introductory book for adults and children to use together, it is not juvenile and contains marginal biographical notes for many of the poets, who range from Robert Burns to Robert Frost to Maya Angelou and New Haven's own Jane Yolen. Includes indices of poets and first lines.
Hedley, Alistair, ed.
Treasury of Poetry
. Illus. Kate Aldous, Claire Henley, Anna Cynthia Leplar, Karen Perrins, Jane Tattersfield, and Sara Walker. Bath, UK: Parragon Publishing, 2000. A beautifully color-illustrated collection including classics, traditional verses and contemporary poems. Divided primarily into themed sections about childhood, people, animals, nature and magic, there are also "poems to make you think," "story poems," and "bedtime poems." Ranges from "Frog Went A-Courtin' to "Kubla Khan." Includes an index of titles and first lines, but authors are listed only with the poems, not in the contents or index.
Jones, Ivan and Mal Jones, eds.
Good Night, Sleep Tight: A Poem for Every Night of the Year!
New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2000. Organized chronologically, this collection groups traditional and contemporary poems by adults and children, from the famous to the anonymous, so as to offer a full year of read-aloud possibilities. Somewhat juvenile illustrations may detract from the text's usefulness with older students, but a wide variety is offered. Indexed by author only.
Kastan, David Scott and Marina Kastan, eds.
Poetry for Young People: William Shakespeare
. Illus. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. Another in the series described in Poe above. Interesting illustrations accompany intriguing selections from Shakespeare works, rendering them digestible to the common reader. Perfect for lessons needing canonical works or highly recognizable authors.
Lacock, Janice, ed.
Stories, Songs, Games, & Rhymes
. Illus. Moira and Colin Maclean and Chris Barker. New York: Larousse Kingfisher Chambers Inc., 2000. A collection of British and American traditional children's folklore, including jumprope songs, hand-slapping games, and classic tales such as "The Little Red Hen." Especially useful as a starting point, or with reluctant groups, particularly when discussing what makes a poem poetic or what distinguishes it from a story (prose).
Orozco, José Luis, Ed. and Trans.
De Colores and Other Latin American Folk Songs for Children
. Illus. Elisa Kleven. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1994. Gorgeous compilation of traditional children's rhymes and songs, with accompanying musical arrangements and English translations. Stunning multi-media collage is used by the illustrator, which adds another example of decorative technique to the class repetoire. Highly useful in a multilingual group, especially if teacher or students are willing to sing. Tape of author singing is also available from Arcoiris Records, Berkeley, CA. Lends itself to discussions of cross-cultural similarities, such as with lullabies, as well as to the differences between poetry and song.
Pinsky, Robert and Maggie Dietz, Eds.
Americans' Favorite Poems: The Favorite Poem Project Anthology
. New York: W. W. Norton, 2000. A diverse collection of poems assembled by a Poet Laureate of the United States as a result of everyday people submitting their favorite pieces. People's explanatory blurbs accompany the submissions, which may serve as a part of lessons concerned with the impact of poetry on the reader, the variety of interpretations possible, or as an inspiration for the students to select their own favorites and develop a class anthology.
Prelutsky, Jack, Ed.
The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury
. Illus. Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. Two hundred eleven poems by one hundred thirty-seven writers, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Maxine Kumin, Arnold Lobel, and Gary Soto. Watercolors accompany these poems, which are presented three or four to a page based on a common theme, such as pets or summer. Mainly quite short and accessible, these poems easily serve as inspiration in writing projects, but also work as read-aloud examples for discussions of form and style.
Rich, Adrienne, Ed.
The Best American Poetry 1996
. New York: Scribner, 1996. [ISBN 0-684-81451-X]. A collection of the year's best, edited by Rich, herself an important contemporary writer. Includes work by Sandra Cisneros, as well as many other lesser-known poets writing today. Serves as an inspiration for the teacher's own writing, but may also open the horizons of students interested in reading more poetry outside of class. Teacher may, for example, refer a student to an included work or poet based on interests indicated in the student's journal. Available used.
Tatum, Charles M., Ed.
New Chicana/Chicano Writing
. Tucson: U of AZ, 1992. [ISBN 1058-2770]. Similar to above in that it contains works intended for adults, but may be used as a resource for students. Particularly of interest to those working with Mexican-American and/or second-generation immigrant experiences. Available used.
Untermeyer, Louis, ed.
The Golden Book of Fun and Nonsense
. Illus. Provensen, Alice & Martin. New York: Golden Books, 1999. A beautiful and more sophisticated collection belies the juvenile cover of this book. Includes a foreword by the well-known editor, and the contents are somewhat loosely categorized by type-"Some Less Familiar Nursery Rhymes," "nineteenth Century Nonsense," etc. Several Lewis Carroll pieces are collected here, as well as Edward Lear, and an assortment of anonymous limericks and clerihews. Particularly useful for kids who are inspired by humor or for particularly silly class sessions.
Poetry in Spanish
Note: These resources are for bi-lingual or Spanish-dominant students, as well as for teachers and students of Spanish as a Second Language.
Barahona González, Laurencia.
Rapsodia en Siete Tiempos: Poesía para Ni–os
. Quito: Hidalgo & Hidalgo, S.A., 1999. A somewhat difficult text in Spanish, which may best be suited to native speakers of Spanish, or to upper level Spanish-language students wanting to stretch their reading and vocabulary skills. Might also serve as read aloud practice for pronunciation, timing, stress, etc.
Charris Giraldo, Maritza and Marcela M. Arbaláez de Rodríguez, Eds.
Antología Comunicativa: Textos, Imágenes, Comunicaciones 3
. Bogotá: Editorial Normal: 1987. This is a textbook for upper level Spanish students or literate native speakers. It includes prose and poetic pieces by canonical Latin American and peninsular Spanish writers, with comprehension exercises and writing assignments. The most difficult of a three-level series, it is excellent for those students who are ready for literature in Spanish, but is not at all appropriate for students (nor teachers) with limited Spanish proficiency.
Cisneros, Sandra.
La Casa en Mango Street
. Trans. Elena Poniatowska. New York: Vintage Espa–ol, 1991. [ISBN 0-679-75526-8]. A genre-defying collection of vignettes often described as "prose poems" which together tell the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Chicana growing up in Chicago's Latino neighborhood. Read it for its beautiful spareness, for the inspiration it will offer you and your students, and for the linguistic magic Cisneros brings to every page. Translated by one of today's best-known contemporary Mexican writers.
Diéguez, Violeta Rojas, Ed.
La Magia de la Poesía: Antología de poesía Infantil No 2
. Santiago de Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello, 1991. [ISBN 956-13-0967-X]. With the following, forms a collection of medium difficulty poems collected from all over the Spanish-speaking world. Pencil drawings accompany all the poems, which are featured one to a page and are not translated into English. Some proficiency in Spanish is needed for these pieces, but they may also serve as material for oral reading or dictionary practice with Spanish language students, as well as forming a basis for discussions of the commonalities of childhood across time and cultures.
Diéguez, Violeta Rojas, Ed.
Mis Primeras Poesías: Antología de poesía Infantil No 1
. Santiago de Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello, 1991. [ISBN 956-13-0851-6]. See above. Somewhat easier of the two. Focuses on animal poems and includes a few riddles, songs and sayings at the end of the text. Slim paperbacks with final pageindices.
Grejniec, Michael. Trans. Alis Alejandro.
Buenos días, buenas noches
. New York: North-South Books, Inc., 1997. [ISBN 1-55858-717-9 (paper) or 1-55858-718-7 (hardcover)]. An easy-to-read story-poem presented as a picture book. A simple read aloud activity for students just beginning the study of Spanish or for those needing help with literacy in Spanish. May offer an opportunity for a discussion of translation issues, if both the original English edition and this one are obtained. Also a great example of how to turn a short piece into a beautifully illustrated book project.
El libro de los cuentos y leyendas de América Latina y Espa–a
. Barcelona: Ediciones B, S.A., 2000. [ISBN 84-406-9618-3]. Although this book focuses on stories and legends rather than poetry per se, it is useful for more advanced students who are ready for a more complex discussion of genre and / or technique. Students and teacher should be highly competent readers of Spanish, as English translations are not provided.
Las Mejores Poesías Infantiles
. Madrid: Grafalco, S.A., 1999. [ISBN 84-7773-719-3]. All in Spanish, this text presents several dozen poems and other related types of writing by genre and period - Romantic, Golden Age, Folklore, etc. Although the illustrations are decidedly juvenile, most of the pieces require an intermediate understanding of Spanish and are probably best suited to those native speakers working on reading skills. Some short pieces may serve in lessons focusing on regional variations in Spanish or on drawing cultural connections and developing cultural interpretations based on literature.
Mistral, Gabriela.
Poesía Infantil
. Santiago de Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello, 1983. [ISBN 956-13-1083-X]. A small and slim paperback of Mistral's pieces for children, this book is nonetheless not a simple work, and will work best for intermediate and advanced Spanish speakers - students or teachers. Limited illustrations and flimsy production values also limit this edition's appeal and usefulness. Good for a student who becomes interested in Mistral or one who wishes to devote a large amount of time to her work. No English is included.
Orozco, José Luis, Ed. and Trans.
De Colores and Other Latin American Folk Songs for Children
. Illus. Elisa Kleven. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1994. Gorgeous compilation of traditional children's rhymes and songs, with accompanying musical arrangements and English translations. Stunning multi-media collage is used by the illustrator, which adds another example of decorative technique to the class repetoire. Highly useful in a multilingual group, especially if teacher or students are willing to sing. Tape of author singing is also available from Arcoiris Records, Berkeley, CA. Lends itself to discussions of cross-cultural similarities, such as with lullabies, as well as to the differences between poetry and song.
Serna, Ana, Ed.
Poesía de Ayer y de Hoy para Chicos y Grandes
. Madrid: Susaeta ediciones, S.A. [ISBN 84-305-7456-5]. Again, juvenile illustrations detract from this book's appeal to high school aged readers, but there is a good selection of pieces arranged chronologically - today, yesterday and always (anonymous and popular pieces not otherwise attributable). Includes short pieces by Bécquer, Darío, García Lorca, Martí, Quevedo, and Vega, and is separately indexed by title and author, but lacks English translations, rendering it most useful for groups with a substantial number of fluent Spanish speakers or advanced students.
Santana, Gabriela de los ¡ngeles, Ed.
Poesía para Ni–os
. Mexico City: Selector actualidad editorial, 2001. [ISBN 970-643-323-6]. A small and slim paperback printed on thin paper, this is the one to buy for teachers on a limited budget, or for those who want a class set of books. Limited illustration and flimsy production values limit its appeal, but it does contain many of the same pieces collected in the more expensive hardbacks described above.
