When introducing poetry to English learners, the challenge, according to the teacher training website, Malu Sciamarelli, is that it’s an area that even native-speaking students sometimes struggle to grasp. However, by putting some thought into it, dual language students can learn poetry structure, find a poem or two that they like and even write quality poetry themselves.  Where Love Begins is a good example of a bilingual book that will engage both parents and kids.

A good way for all students to understand poetry is by looking at it as a way of playing with words, says the article “Poets and Puppets,” and all kids learn and thrive on play. For instance, when developing a poem, students are looking closely at words and carefully selecting them, the article states, and that can’t help but strengthen the language learning process. In addition, since poetry is more flexible with grammar and syntax, it can be much more inviting to kids, possibly even more so with bilingual ones.

Essentially, Malu Sciamarelli says poetry gives children the opportunity to experiment with vocabulary and language as they come up with their own unique ways of expression. That, in and of itself, can feel freeing to bilingual kids. Lines of poetry can also have many different interpretations that, too, can be attractive. “Poets and Puppets” states that poetry is all about tapping into a student’s creative juices versus a dry English assignment that is often based on right or wrong.

The article “Using Poetry with English Language Learners” says the majority of English Learners come from rich literary backgrounds. To really grab a dual language student, a Hispanic child, for instance, teachers can find interesting poems that are about the Latino culture. Fun poems are a good direction to go in as well.

To help foster the love of poetry with Spanish-speaking students, Lectura Books is a terrific resource that publishes bilingual books and curriculum so that parents learn to develop reading routines with their children. For more information on how teachers can support a child’s home language, teachers can attend a half-day program training or an online webinar.