Happy April: National Poetry Month & Signs of Spring

It's coming. The calendar says spring is here, even if the weather isn't always spring-like. Luckily, the signs of spring bloom in April: brighter colors, new growth and busy insects are all evidence of spring. And so is poetry! April is National Poetry Month! It was created in 1996, and has now become the largest literary celebration in the world. There are many ways to participate in this expressive event, in fact the Academy of American Poets offers 30 Ways to Celebrate, like memorizing a poem or writing one of your own. Click the link to explore more options!
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In the spirit of National Poetry Month, challenge your student to write a poem about the sights, smells and sounds of the changing season! Spring brings new possibilities to be experienced by all the senses. Like the smell of the air after it rains, the sound of birds singing or the sight of leaves budding on the trees. There certainly is a lot to take in this time of year. ​

Read this poem by Ellen Ni Bheachain as a guide:
Poem by Ellen Ni Bheachain
The first signs of spring bring smiles and joy to us all,
It’s the beginning of nature and the birth of the new season,
It brings life and renewal back to the cold plains,
Springing buds that will flourish,
Then open in full bloom for summer,
The young of the cattle and the spring of the lamb,
Are all the signs of spring,
With the snow and freeze temperatures,
Turning into cool breezes,
And clear sunny winds blowing,
Knowing it’s spring again,
The mundane feelings of winter blues,
Start to diminish in our seasonal affective winter faces,
As the sun shines a bit warmer,
So does the color of our face glow brighter,
And all show well in the spring of their steps,
As even the old can get out some more,
Now spring has arrived with safer passage…