Two summers ago, in The Before, I attended the Summer Poetry Institute hosted by The Poetry Foundation (PoFo) in Chicago. It was a glorious week of being immersed in poetic forms and devices. I learned and learned and learned and wrote and wrote and wrote. I’m embarrassed to admit that I learned a new-to-me literary term: ars poetica, which means poems about poetry. My upcoming poetry display’s theme is going to be ars poetica, and I can’t wait to unveil it this week.

If you love or are intrigued by poetry, I urge you to consider any events hosted by PoFo. I might just change your life.

Here is this week’s roundup of POETRY links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

• Need poetry lessons? Start at session 13 HERE, and work your way through author and poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s nearly twenty lessons from her Keeping a Notebook series from the beginning of the pandemic.
• Need more lesson inspiration? Visit poets.org’s “Lessons for Teaching Ars Poetica Poems”.
• Visit Teacher Dance’s post “Preparing for Poetry Month” for some poetry book titles.
• A digital library of poetry mentor texts from Clare Landrigan–some of my favorites are on this list!
• Poetry Teaching Workshop 4/3/21
• “40 Essential Poetry Books for Kids PreK-12”
• “Lucille Clifton on What Poetry Is”
• Young People’s Poet Laureate, Naomi Shihab Nye, shares a book pick every month on The Poetry Foundation’s site. See her recommendations HERE.
• “27 Phenomenal Poems That Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives” from Buzzfeed
• Mental health break – “For Every One” by Jason Reynolds forever and always ❤