Sally Murphy

WINNER — Educational Publishing Awards Australia 2022 Primary: Reference Resource category

Young children fall in love with poetry through songs, rhyming games and picture books, but this joy can often be lost when they reach school age and poetry is used in the classroom purely for purpose, and not with pleasure in mind.

This book by educator and author/poet Sally Murphy is intended for primary teachers of the Australian Curriculum: English, to support planning to teach poetry specifically, and literature, literacy and writing more broadly. It offers ways to teach and share the reading and writing of poetry while showcasing a variety of poems that can be loved and used in the classroom. By demystifying the language of poetry - poetic forms, techniques and language devices - this book aims to enable teachers - and through them, students - to understand how poetry works, how to unlock its meaning and how to write it. Above all, the message is that poetry can be a pleasure to teach, read and write, for teachers and students alike.

Why purchase this book?

• Key poetry terminology is explained in an accessible, engaging way.
• All forms of poetry are explored, including rhyming, movement, action, shape, ode, haiku, acrostic, verse novels, nonsense and more.
• Reading, speaking, performing and writing poetry are all unpacked, with inspiring classroom activities suggested to excite teachers and students alike.
• Every primary year level (F-6) receives its own chapter, with numerous poem examples provided, alongside complementary activities to really make the most of the poems in the classroom.

Sample chapter

Sample Chapter (.pdf 553 KB)

Intended audience

Please note this page is for purchase of the eBook. To purchase the print book please follow this link.