Kate Williams

STOP PRESS! My new book – Squeak! Squawk! Roar! Amazing Animal Poems – publishes on 9th January ’25. Publisher: Otter-Barry Books.  It’s the squawk of the town! 🦜


__________________________________________________________________________________________

🙂 Hi, here is my Teach Poetry Tip No. 3, in my new, tried-and-tested, daily series:

Today’s tip is: Start fresh!

Ensure your children are well refreshed, mentally and physically, before starting your poetry session.

Run, swing and jump!

Let them come to poetry-writing full of fresh air and free of fidgets, stimulated by the world around them, not burdened with rote-learning for a test or weary from sitting too long already. A run-about outside, or a teacher-led stroll up the street or around a green space, will relax and rejuvenate them, also stimulating minds and senses, and getting hearts pumping oxygen to the brain, ready for the poetic adventure you have ready for them.

Raining? Think outside the box

If it’s raining, open windows and doors and lead your class in a short, fast-paced dance or swingy warm-up. If the children have wellies and raincoats, even better – go dancing in the rain!

Please note, I’m talking about children of all ages, not just the little ones. If you can swing your arms and legs, so can your Year 6s, and, yes, even your Year 7s and 8s.

Cool off

Allow five minutes’ cooling and calming time, back at tables… and you’re ready for poetry blast-off!


More soon. Have fun!

Kate