Inside: Having difficulties finding attention catching middle school poetry? Keep reading for a list of interesting poems for middle school students, and suggestions on how you might use them.
The Middle School Poetry Battle Begins
“Today we begin our poetry unit.” Every year I proclaim these words while imagining myself standing on a desk, like Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society.
Instead of cheers, I’m usually met with collective sighs and groans that echo down the 6th grade hallway.
Every middle school language arts teacher finds themselves in one of two places: Being trampled by a sea of poetry hating tweens and teens, or standing up, large shield in hand, waging a Spartan-esc war against poetry apathy.
I’m not fond of being trampled, so shield in hand, I dig in my heels and repeat the mantra: I will wear you in before you wear me out.
Fully knowing the war that you’re facing, I offer up one component of a strong shield. Choose the right poem for the age group.
What is the Right Poem for Middle Schoolers?
Consider where middle schoolers are at developmentally, which is the same as where they’re at physically – all over the place! They’re referred to as “in the middle” because they are very much in between childhood and adulthood.
Their brains are beginning to think figuratively, but not every student is there yet. In fact, many middle schoolers are still thinking entirely literal. This explains why they would resist poetry, a primarily figurative text.
In order to accommodate this in the middle stage, we have to choose poems that have a definite literal meaning, but also include figurative thinking.
A poem that is too literal will not challenge them, and a poem that is too figurative will cause frustration. Meet them where they are developmentally – find a middle ground. A poem that will produce a productive struggle.
**Differentiation side bar: We all have those extremely sophisticated and gifted students who need access to more challenging figurative poems. Don’t hesitate to give them a different poem than the rest of the class. **
The Top 10 Middle School Poems – and Why they are so great
Poems are listed in ascending order order from easiest to most challenging.
1. This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams
- Why it’s so great: This poem reads like a casual note left on the refrigerator, and the fun of teaching it is in helping students discover why it was written. A simple apology for stealing fruit.
2. Same Song by Pat Mora
- Why it’s so great: This poem explores the idea of fitting in based on your physical appearance. What could be more appropriate for middle school? It’s also great for teaching theme and helping students differentiate between their own life lessons and what the poem is actually teaching.
3. How You Gave Up Root Beer by Gary Soto
- Why it’s so great: It’s a personal narrative about embarrassing yourself in front of your crush, and it’s filled with figurative language. From my experience, this poem is a winner with a sub-group of students who traditionally do not choose poetry.
4. Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
- Why it’s so great: There is an air of mystery surrounding why the speaker is stopping, what promises he has to keep, and where he is going. It is also a great poem to introduce students to traditional language and how to analyze it for themselves.
5. There is No Word For Goodbye by Mary TallMountain
- Why it’s so great: This poem has fantastic emotional appeal. Also, it opens the door to understand a different culture, learn new vocabulary words and analyze figurative language.
6. On Turning Ten by Billy Collins
- Why it’s so great: Middle schoolers identify with the pains of growing up. This poem explores that familiar idea, while using interesting figurative language.
7. Shadwell Stair by Wilfred Owen
- Why it’s so great: Like the previous Frost poem, this poem taps into that sense of mystery while introducing a more traditional language pattern. It lends itself to studying vocabulary in context.
8.Valentine for Earnest Mann by Naomi Shihab Nye
- Why it’s so great: It’s about writing poetry and how you have to look for poems in everyday places. This concept would work well at the beginning of a poetry unit. Additionally, it’s an interesting mash-up of ideas and intersects with Same Song’s exploration of physical beauty.
9. The Rider by Naomi Shihab Nye
- Why it’s so great: It explores the idea of overcoming loneliness. Middle schoolers often feel moments of isolation from their peers, so this poem teaches a hopeful lesson using figurative language.
10. Out, Out by Robert Frost
- Why it’s so great: It’s violent. This poem is filled with figurative language and literary devices, but its ultimate appeal is in the shocking narrative of a boy who looses his hand and dies. This poem is definitely for the older middle schooler, but it reaches a crowd that few other poems can reach. Additionally, it explores many expository topics like child labor, medicine, gender stereotypes, etc.
A Passion For Poetry
As you’re choosing to do to battle with poetic apathy, go in with a strong shield. Choose poems that teach your critical content and meet your middle schoolers where they are – in the middle.
Show them your excitement and passion for a text and they are likely to join in.
Other resources
My Teachers Pay Teachers store has a poetry analysis activities and several guided close reads of great poems.
Looking for a dynamic way to launch your poetry unit? Check out my poetry lesson plan to introduce the poetry unit!
Looking to teach these poems tomorrow? Click here to sign up for a free PDF copy for your unit binder!
