Please help me think of good poems to use in the classroom if you can. (Besides Jack Prelutsky (sp?), Bruce Lansky, Shel, Brod Bagart).
Don't use all humorous stuff. Sure the kids love it but when they try to write similar poetyr it stinks. Encourage them to write about big ideas in small packages, to put their feelings into a poem, to use their 5 senses, to see through poets' eyes.... Try Valerie Worth, Eloise Greenfield...
Sharon Creech is a great poet (mostly poetic novels - Love That Dog is one of the saddest/best book ever). Eloise Greenfield has some of the most relatable poems for kids that I have seen.