Make it fun. Instead of identifying a number of correct answers or listing poetic techniques, try emphasizing the joys of reflection, exploration and discovery. Ask the children to write down their own feelings towards given poems. Students should think of reading poetry as an enjoyable, pleasurable activity. Usually, there are a number of set demands made for the teacher such as going through strict guidelines, studying material and teaching established meanings. Reading poetry should be about having the freedom to come up with your own meanings, being subjective, and having the space to enjoy the beauty of poetic imagery, language and form.
Discuss how they read. When reading with the children, ask them to try reading out loud to themselves, focusing on each sentence, each word. A young person might forget when he or she is simply skimming through the text. Ask them to read the poem in their heads, but slowly, speaking the words to themselves as if they were trying to learn the poem off by heart.
Give children the chance to see poetry live. Reading poetry on the page will help you discover the presence of provocative language and poetic imagery, but in hearing it read aloud you will notice that the poet, by using alliteration or rhyme, for example, chooses words that challenge the tongue, the lips and breath in an alarmingly physical sense. Live Literature allows young children of all ages to take delight in the pleasures of poetry and really appreciate poetry for what it is. Live performance poetry is a popular aspect of today's culture. Performances can take place in various venues where poetry is read publicly. They feature well known modern poets and local writers. This is a good chance for teachers and children to see the great range of poetry out there and the different and exciting ways a poem might be performed.
Get them to write their own poetry. In teaching poetry there is often a great imbalance between reading and writing. This imbalance means that children often get little chance to be creative, while the knowledge that writing poetry brings, gives kids a great deal of insight. Writing poetry allows the children to gain a better understanding of the value of poetry. Being told to try to understand poetry without having the chance to write is like looking at ingredients without eating or tasting the food.