The scratch of pen and paper. The sound of paper rustling. At the Academy of American Studies, April brought not just spring cherry blossoms, but lines of poetry blooming from students and teachers.
Every April, schools across the country celebrate National Poetry Month. A tradition started in 1996 by the Academy of American poets. At the Academy of American Studies, students and teachers use the month as a chance to explore creativity and find their verses through poetry.
National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world. It takes place every April with readings and events across schools and communities.
This year AAS brought poetry month to life with a “Poet-tree.” Teachers assigned poetry themed Do-Now prompts to fill the tree. Students participated in creating black out poetry during their lunch periods. They used old book pages to find hidden poems within the text. “The goal behind poetry month is for students to be able to have a degree of appreciation for poetry. Poems resonate with you and they can represent your thoughts” said Ms.Koo, the Librarian. One of the highlights of the month was a special visit from a poet named Lindamichellebaran, who read inspiring poems to the students.
Poetry Month gives students a chance to share emotions they may not normally share. Poetry is a tool that helps students navigate their identity . “Poetry is a form of art fashioned out of words. Some people may not like art, but there’s a certain type of art that speaks to your heart and helps you find yourself” said Ms.Koo.
Poetry month is not just about writing poems, it’s about discovering new ways to express yourself and understand others. “Poetry helped me become confident and opened up a new chapter in my life” said Sunny Sherpa, Senior.