What started it for me?
My interest in poetry began when I taught a third-grade writer’s circle at our elementary school. My youngest son had a teacher who I knew would let me contribute in any way possible. So I approached her about hosting a writer’s circle once a week for the three third-grade classes. Each teacher would select two above-benchmark writers from their classrooms.
I held the writers’ circle for the next six years from October through early May. In total, I had 36 students. Thirty-three of them had poems published in a yearly national poetry compilation.
I designed our lessons, and we covered topics like journalism, poetry, this day in history, pourquoi, and narrative writing. I was so fortunate that the teachers (who knew me well) gave me carte blanche to do what I wanted.
Each month, we’d tackle something different creatively. My favorite unit became poetry, although I liked both the journalism unit, where we created a grade-level newspaper, as well. The por qua (but, why) writing was difficult for this age, but a few of them excelled at it.
During the poetry unit, we discussed the craft of poetry. I especially stressed that poetry does not have to rhyme. The students were shocked! Then, I introduced simple forms of poetry including the cinquain, diamante, color poems, and haiku. Much time was spent on descriptive writing, using different parts of speech. I would write alongside my students during our half-hour sessions. The time went quickly.
Soon, the poetry lessons spilled over into other groups I ran for the school. We explored poetry in garden club, writing about bees and trees, during those respective units. Then, when I worked for a land trust, I taught haiku writing to 7th- and 8th-grade students during Wetland Days in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Wetland Days Haiku by 8th Graders ( Late September 2019)
Thick fog billowing
Off of the changing treetops
Masking what’s beneath
Autumn tree — bold, strong
Gifting the Earth with its leaves
Orange, yellow, gold, red
Personally me,
Nature is the world’s best gift,
To me, this is home
I had 2 hours with the students to teach haiku, go on an observational nature walk, and return to have them try writing haiku. I had no prior knowledge of their skill levels or what they had been taught or exposed to in the realm of poetry.
It was both challenging and rewarding.
Why Share This?
I’ve never been good at self-promotion. And I’ve come to realize that, especially lately.
But much of my work with students was well designed and rewarding for both the students and me.
I’ve also come to realize I miss students and working with them – this fall I will jump back into volunteering at our local elementary school. Since we are new to this district, I know it will not be like volunteering for the district my boys attended when they were young. But students are students and teachers are teachers, so I expect that by doing a good job with whatever the teachers tell me to do, I will earn their trust and come to be as appreciated as I’ve been in the past.
Literacy is important. Sharing my skills is important too. It adds to both my sense of self and to my joy of living.
Denise Krebs has the roundup today at her blog Dare to Care. Thanks, Denise.
August 21, 2026