April marks National Poetry Month, established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to celebrate poetry’s significance in our lives. Poetry, one of humanity’s oldest art forms, preserves our stories and evolves alongside us. As a poetry enthusiast, I often hear from people who claim to “hate” poetry—and I always suggest they simply haven’t found the right poem yet.
Poetry is everywhere: in music, nature, traffic, pain, laughter, and growth. It shapes us personally and culturally. As teachers, it’s our job to help others discover poetry they connect with. If you haven’t fully engaged with National Poetry Month yet, don’t worry—April 28th is National Great Poetry Reading Day (#GreatPoetryReadingDay), a whole day dedicated to reading, writing, analyzing, and enjoying poetry. I can’t wait.
I believe poetry should be part of daily classroom conversations and taught weekly to students. On poets.org, the Academy of American Poets’ website (reviewed here), you can sign up to receive a daily emailed poem. This is an easy way to broaden students’ exposure to poetry while introducing new ideas. Often, Poem-A-Day gives you the poem, an audio recording of the poem, and information about the poet—all valuable entry points for readers.
Here’s an example of Poem-A-Day featuring “Our Books of Delights” by Arielle Herbert on April 15, 2026.
Now that we’ve explored the importance of poetry, you may be wondering: How can we honor National Great Poetry Reading Day with our students? Below are some lesson ideas and tools—each reviewed and contextualized by TeachersFirst—that can be used to help students read, listen to, write, and perform poetry in meaningful ways.
- Poetry Read-a-Thon (reviewed here) – From the Academy of American Poets, this activity encourages students to read as many poems as possible within a set time. After reading, students write brief responses reflecting on each poem—focusing on a favorite line, its meaning, or the emotion it evokes. Decide whether students track poems individually, in pairs, or as a group, then invite them to share at the end.
- Poetry Everywhere (reviewed here) – This poetry collection from PBS LearningMedia (reviewed here) is an excellent listening resource for grades 6–12. Explore this site too for poetry-enhancing materials. I love the Transformation: Get Lit and the Power of Poetry collection too!
- AI Poem Generator (reviewed here) – Poem‑generator‑io introduces students to a variety of poetic forms. Students can enter a few ideas and generate a haiku, then use the same ideas to create a limerick. This makes it easy to compare poetic forms and examine how meaning changes across structures.
- Living Nation, Living Words (reviewed here) – This educator’s guide from the Library of Congress offers a rich collection of current Native and Indigenous American poetry and cultural connections for students to explore. Have students find their favorite poem and research the poet and the culture from which it comes.
- #TeachLivingPoets (reviewed here) – This is one of my favorite poetry resources. It’s a collection of poets, poems, and classroom‑ready lessons created by living poets—which is refreshing, considering how often students encounter poetry written exclusively by long‑past voices. Students are introduced to contemporary poets they could actually see perform, making poetry feel current and alive. One standout feature is the March Madness Poetry Brackets, which highlight spoken‑word poetry throughout the month and invite students to experience daily poetic performances.
- TeachRock (reviewed here) – To integrate poetry and music, start with a song featuring meaningful lyrics. After listening, distribute the lyrics and ask students to identify poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, or repetition. Discuss how those devices shape meaning, then invite students to bring in their own song selections.
- Poetry in Translation (reviewed here) – This Academy of American Poets lesson guides students through reading translated poems and considering how language and culture influence meaning. Ask students to write a short reflection explaining how translation could affect the poem’s meaning or tone. Recommended for grades 11–12.
- Voice (reviewed here) – This multi‑lesson unit explores spoken and written poetry, examining how voice is created and how poetry functions as social commentary. A strong fit for high school classrooms.
- Poetry Out Loud (reviewed here) – This is a perfect closure to this lesson highlight list. A national recitation contest for students in grades 8–12. You can host a classroom or school‑level version or participate in the full program. Through memorization and performance, students gain a deeper understanding of their chosen poem—and it’s a lot of fun.
Planning ahead for National Poetry Month 2027? Students in grades 5–12 can participate in the Dear Poet Project. Students read and listen to poems by award‑winning poets, then write letters responding to the work. Some students may even receive replies, and all participating letters are published in a summer PDF. Letters for the 2026 project are due by May 15, 2026.
No matter how you choose to celebrate National Great Poetry Reading Day, take action and honor this timeless art form. Mark April 28 on your calendar now, and invite students to share how they celebrate—through social media using #GreatPoetryReadingDay or within your classroom’s online space. Join them in celebrating and sharing. You lead by example! I can’t wait to see your #GreatPoetryReadingDay stories.