Dear friend,
Poetry is often described as the language of the heart, but for those of us who only read it, it is also food for the mind.
Why study poetry?
It’s a form of writing that is jam-packed in rich metaphor, beautiful vocabulary and deep meaning. Poetry allows poets to paint sketches of their lives, using imagery and symbolic language to describe emotional experiences, or parts of themselves that they usually don’t share in other ways.
Some poems, especially nursery rhymes for children, are just rollicking fun, employing rhyme and rhythm, while stretching children’s imaginations to create ‘movies’ on the screens of their minds.
Research has shown that children who struggle to recognise words that rhyme, often battle with learning to read and spell - another important reason for familiarising children with rhymes, poems and songs.
Nursery rhymes, poems and songs provide children with opportunities to develop an appreciation for rhyme and rhythm, as well as to develop auditory skills, interesting vocabulary and a sense of humour.
Charlotte Mason gave the following advice: “Let the poems the child learns be simple and within the range of his own thought and imagination.” (Volume 1, page 226)
How to study poetry?
In a talk on how to approach poetry, Monk Gibbon proclaimed, “Poetry is one of the means by which we hand on the torch of the human spirit.” The best way to do it, according to Gibbon, is to simply “introduce the child and the poem and leave them to make friends for themselves. They may, or they may not, but you can never make things better by your interference. And in introducing people it is generally a mistake to praise too much beforehand. You may only establish a distaste. In the same way it is a mistake, even when you like it, to praise a poem too eloquently. After all, the child is entitled to form its own opinion.”
It’s that simple! You don’t have to slice, dice and butcher poems with your children, like you did in high school! A painstaking in-depth analysis of each poem is not necessary. The idea is that you introduce your children to poetry and encourage them to appreciate it.
When you find a poem you enjoy, you can take a few weeks to memorise it and explore other poems by the same poet, if you choose.
Charlotte Mason recommended choosing one poet and studying his or her work for an extended time. Since we are not Charlotte Mason purists, in our most recent Footprints programmes, we have instead chosen, as an introduction to poetry appreciation, a selection of poems by different poets on topics that are related to our thematic studies.
Poetry and Tea
We recommend that you create a regular day for poetry and tea, such as a Friday or any other day that suits your family. Provide a special treat for the children to enjoy with their tea, while you read a chosen poem (song or rhyme) to them.
How to Conduct a Poetry and Teatime
Choose a time where you can block off an hour or two either weekly or biweekly.
Bake or buy a delicious treat.
Take out your best tea set – no plastic allowed!
Set the table with your chosen goodies and a vase of flowers which the children have collected from your garden.
Play some gentle classical music in the background.
Keep two or three age-appropriate poems next to you.
When all are seated and enjoying their tea and treats, read to them.
Briefly discuss any vocabulary or terminology that the children mention.
Revel in the music of poetry and enjoy the happy memories you are creating.
Take pictures and share them with us at Footprints to inspire other families
