National Poetry Month Ideas for the School Library

April is National Poetry Month, and as a secondary school librarian, it's the perfect time to celebrate the beauty and power of language with your students. Poetry has a unique ability to inspire, provoke, and captivate us, and as a librarian, you have the opportunity to spark a love for poetry that could last a lifetime. So let's explore some creative and exciting ways to make National Poetry Month a memorable and engaging experience for your students!

• Poetry Display: Create a display of poetry books in your library. This could be arranged by author, theme, or genre. Add some interactive elements like post-it notes or bookmarks for students to leave their favorite poems or poetry recommendations.
  • ​Consider moving beyond traditional poetry books by highlighting novels told in verse!​ See some of my favorites listed below. ⬇️
  • Take this one step extra with a book tasting focused on novels in verse and/or poetry. Give students time and space to notice and note the various ways authors can use poetry and verse to communicate ideas and experiences.
• Poem-a-Day Challenge: Encourage students to write and share a poem every day during National Poetry Month. You can provide prompts or encourage students to find their own inspiration. They can share their poems on a bulletin board, in a digital space, or during a lunchtime open mic session.
• Poetry Slam: Host a poetry slam in your library. Invite students to perform their favorite poems or their own original works. You can set up chairs, provide snacks, and invite judges to give out prizes for the best performances. This has been the biggest hit for our school library!
• Poet Visits: Invite local poets or spoken word artists to come speak to your students. They can give a performance, offer a workshop, or talk about their writing process. This can be a great way to introduce students to the power and possibilities of poetry. Reach out to your local bookstore or NANOWRIMO groups as a starting place.
• Found Poetry: Encourage students to create found poetry using old books, magazines, and newspapers. They can cut out words and phrases and arrange them into a new poem. This can be a fun and creative way to explore language and meaning. The most popular of these is creating Book Spine Poetry. We host a competition each year.
• Poetry Writing Workshops: Host a series of poetry writing workshops in your library. You can invite local poets or writers to lead the workshops or work with your English teachers to develop a curriculum. These workshops can cover topics like form, rhyme, and imagery.
• Poetry Walk: Take your students on a poetry walk around your school or in a nearby park. Encourage them to observe their surroundings and use their senses to create a poem inspired by what they see, hear, and smell.
  • ​An alternative: Post poems all around the school building for students to read with QR links to them being read aloud.
• Poetry Podcasts: Create a poetry podcast where students can share their favorite poems or their own original works. This can be a fun way to reach students who may not be comfortable performing in front of a live audience.

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National Poetry Month is a wonderful opportunity for us to promote literacy and inspire a love for poetry in our students. By incorporating some of the ideas and examples discussed above you can create an engaging and interactive space where students can explore the world of poetry and express themselves creatively. So why not challenge yourself to try one or more of these ideas and make this National Poetry Month the best one yet? Whether it's through displays, workshops, performances, or podcasts, there's no limit to the ways you can celebrate poetry in your library. So let's embrace the power of words and encourage our students to do the same.

Happy National Poetry Month!

Resources and Links

Poem in Your Pocket Day is April 29th. Create your own Haiku with Adobe Express!

Template Link

My favorite YA books told in verse:

Host a Poetry Slam - we have hosted one each year! 

read about our BHM poetry slam here!

Poetry Walk Example