If you are looking for a simple way to incorporate poetry into your homeschool then a weekly or monthly poetry teatime is the perfect solution.
The basic ingredients for a successful poetry teatime are tea, treats, and poetry. That’s it. Nothing more is required and I bet you have all of the necessary ingredients in your home right now.
It’s fun. It’s simple. And the kids love it.
I began setting aside time for a simple family poetry teatime over three years ago and we have continued the practice to this day.
Our practice was based on the ideas of Julie Bogart, creator of the Poetry Teatime website. She has made it simple for every family to enjoy quality time and poetry on a regular basis in their home.
Poetry Teatime: Tea
Poetry teatime begins with tea that you can serve hot or iced. I prefer mine hot with a little bit of sweetness, but your children can customize their own by adding sugar or milk.
If you are introducing your children to drinking tea, then you might begin with a few fruity flavored herbal teas. Iced sweet tea is another great option for kids.
But you and your children are not limited to tea just because this is teatime.
I know. I am a rule breaker, but my children don’t enjoy tea at all. Instead, we make a pitcher of lemonade each week as a treat for teatime. We still pour it into their individual teapots to enjoy like a steaming cup of tea.
In the winter, we often enjoy hot chocolate in our teapots instead of tea. Everyone is happy with a mug of steaming hot chocolate, especially with whipped cream on top.
Poetry Teatime: Treats
Add a few yummy treats to enjoy with your children at teatime. Simply bring brownies, cookies, or scones to the table for everyone to enjoy during teatime.
These treats can be something you baked ahead of time or treats that you found in the pantry that morning.
Believe me when I tell you that there is no rule prohibiting chips or goldfish crackers from being part of your teatime. Whatever treats your family enjoys and you have on hand are excellent options.
That being said, teatime is the perfect excuse to bake with your kids. Pull out a favorite recipe or even a box of brownie mix and enjoy some time together.
Poetry Teatime: Poetry
The last ingredient is poetry.
Thankfully, there are plenty of wonderful books and poets you can read to introduce your children to poetry.
You might begin with the humorous poems of Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky. Kids love the rhyming words, the nonsense phrases, and the surprise endings that can be found in poems by these authors.
Marilyn Singer is another perfect poet to introduce to children. Her books range in topic from nature to presidents. We enjoy her poetry so much that we enjoyed a themed teatime focused only on her poetry.
While poetry written specifically for children is a great introduction, you should also consider reading poetry from classic poets. A book series, such as Poetry for Young People, is a wonderful way to incorporate poets such as Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, and Robert Frost.
In addition, encourage your children to bring their own inspired poetry to read at teatime. Everyone loves an audience and poetry is meant to be shared.
Poetry Teatime: Take it Further
Once you have established a simple routine for poetry teatime, you can take it a bit further and try a themed teatime.
Pick a holiday, season, poet, or educational theme as a focus for your teatime. Add a few decorations, snacks, and poems inspired by your theme.
Violia! You have a themed poetry teatime.
If you need a little inspiration, you can check out a few themes we have tried:
- Winter-Themed Poetry Teatime
- Shakespeare Inspired Poetry Teatime
- Valentines Day Poetry Teatime
- Halloween Poetry Books for Teatime
Remember, you don’t have to start with a theme. Begin with the three basic ingredients of tea, treats, and poetry and host a poetry teatime this week.
