ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe approaches to fostering students’ engagement in responding to poetry as well as writing, publishing, and performing poetry. They contrast a formalist approach to teaching poetry with examples of how teachers use more creative, critical, collaborative, interactive, and performative approaches to teaching poetry. They argue that the best teachers of writing are writers themselves. Throughout, the authors emphasize that poetry is meant to be experienced, read aloud, performed, and played with—and offer ways for teachers to relate poetry to students’ own experiences as readers and writers in the world. They share examples of how teachers select poems that appeal to diverse students, from Instagram poetry to rap lyrics; connect poetry to students’ lives; and encourage them as writers and poets.
