Teaching Literary Elements Using Poetry: Engaging Poems Paired With Close Reading Lessons That Teach Key Literary Elements to Meet the Common Core ELA Standards

This thin Scholastic book can be deceiving because its 90 something pages pack a serious punch. It introduces a total of 12 lessons on 12 literary elements, but doesn't skimp on piling on the extras.Each lesson comes complete with a poem (most of them - short and sweet) matching the literary element being taught, covers additional language arts terms, excellent vocabulary side notes and commentary, further reading suggestions, a writing activity, optional lesson extensions if you want to spend more time on the topic, and worksheets in the back appropriate for the lesson. Definitely more than I was expecting from Scholastic when I decided to add this to our language arts repertoire. The layout of the book also makes it possible to either take your time with each element or to plow through quickly if needed or wanted. We have opted to hover over each lesson for a month or so, allowing it to seep in slowly and cement, making this a year long book for us.I am a Charlotte Mason based homeschooler with two 6th graders who adore our poetry tea times so this was right up our alley. We find the lessons engaging and fun. Definitely one of my favorite (and affordable) finds for the year.Side note - the cover states it to be recommended for grades 4-8. The material and the way it's covered appears to be appropriate for that age range, though I'd say 5th through 7th to be the most fitting, since I could see this being a bit challenging for 4th and too easy for 8th. Please take your child's abilities and talents into account in this matter.

I love poetry, but most of my students do not. This book helps by providing some interesting poetry examples and some fun activity ideas. Even if the students do not like poetry, this book helps ensure they will understand it.

Great ideas for teaching poetry. Appropriate for middle school aged kids. I felt some of the lessons were a little over my students heads, 4th graders. I was able to modify it to fit their needs.

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Great resource. Looking forward to using it in the classroom.

Fantastic lesson plans and the students really like the graphic organizers.