Description
A practical guide for writing poetry in grades 6-12.
Unlock the transformative power of poetry in your classroom with 90 Ways of Community. This indispensable resource guides teachers through a year-long journey of poetic engagement, fostering a safe and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and heard. Grounded in social emotional learning and trauma-informed pedagogy, the authors provide practical, adaptable lessons that seamlessly integrate poetry writing into any curriculum. With a clear framework developed by experienced educators, 90 Ways of Community is designed for teachers at all levels, from novices to veterans. Each chapter begins with a heartfelt “Dear Teacher” letter, offering context and support, while thematic clusters of prompts inspire creativity and connection. The book covers a wide range of topics, from celebrating individuality to extending community and healing through poetic expression. The authors draw on real classroom experiences and the collective wisdom of a community of teacher-poets. 90 Ways of Community is more than a collection of prompts—it’s a roadmap to building a classroom culture where poetry becomes a vital tool for learning and growth. Join us in nurturing the hearts and minds of students, one poem at a time.
A paperback is available wherever books are sold; here is a link to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
The Google Doc link is here to make for easy copy and paste.
Please ask your local bookstore and library to include this book in their collection.
Sarah J. Donovan, PhD (s/her) –
“In this book, Donovan and colleagues invite teachers to rethink the teaching of poetry and to reimagine it as relational, as community building, and as anti-oppressive. Full of practical steps and insight, 90 Ways of Community walks readers through the processes of setting up notebooks and establishing procedures to the day-by-day plans for making poetry part of the classroom culture.”~Mike Cook, Auburn University author of Exploring Relationships and Connection to Others: Teaching Universal Themes through Young Adult Literature
“Educators looking for practical strategies for teaching poetry will find what they need in this stunningly powerful text. This book invites teachers and students to engage in conversation through daily writing activities. With an emphasis on poetry as a transactional and empathy-building experience, 90 Ways of Community dovetails well with Nancie Atwell or Jim Burke’s writing workshop models.”~Kia Jane Richmond, Northern Michigan University author of Mental Illness in Young Adult Literature: Exploring Real Struggles through Fictional Characters
“This book, with its collection of prompts, mentor poems, and practical tools, will help teachers move poetry out of the shadows of a single unit and into the daily work we do to help students explore their inner and outer worlds and leverage it as a tool to nurture and heal. We know that poetry holds immeasurable power, and this book will help us share that power with our students.”~Erin Vogler, English Teacher and Literacy Coach, Keshequa Central School, NY
“Grounded by a National Writing Project ethos, this book showcases teacher writing and teacher practice. It is a useful resource for teachers who want to infuse poetry writing into their classrooms in order to elevate student voice.” ~Kristen Turner, Drew University recipient of the ELATE/NCTE Richard A. Meade Award
“Poetry, the magical unit when students are most excited to write, I am most excited to read their writing, and they’re most engaged with one another. Maureen, Mo, and Sarah provide an easy method to ensure poetry magic happens all school year long. I can’t wait to incorporate this book into my lesson plans!” ~Tracie McCormick, Middle School Administrator and 8th grade teacher