![Poet Nikki Giovanni was born in 1943.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1026_5.jpg?h=8dc5097d&itok=3Ilqg2vd)
![Participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1035_0.jpg?h=468c56d1&itok=LxPlNCPp)
Students select a poem and create a Stapleless Book using the interactive tool.
![Poet Robert Burns was born in 1759.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1173.jpg?h=dbeb307d&itok=hx5qZn_M)
![Poet Yusef Komunyakaa was born in 1947.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1140_0.jpg?h=8f8a1b48&itok=WIhfEqMa)
![In 1952, Paul Fleischman was born on this day.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1104_0.jpg?h=4e026002&itok=f7HwshhQ)
Some of Fleishman's memories in his essay "My House of Voices" are shared with the class. Students then write a descriptive essay that gives a tour of the voices in their homes, school, etc.
![Animate that Haiku!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/298_0.jpg?h=0d27ee61&itok=3ZbjGTDQ)
![Celebrate Louise Erdrich's birthday today.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/13_3.jpg?h=556e0257&itok=Sfw6XD9q)
![Poet William Blake was born in 1757.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1208.jpg?h=c24dd408&itok=VRw37yGW)
![Poet and author Pat Mora was born on this day in 1942.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1034_0.jpg?h=a82907fc&itok=Z8HOhuup)
![In 1931, Toni Morrison was born.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1036_0.jpg?h=7e9abe27&itok=C-PBX5He)
![Frederick Douglass began publication of <i>The North Star</i> today in 1847.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/71.jpg?h=0b884c22&itok=wOS8HTq2)
![Zines for Kids: Multigenre Texts About Media Icons](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1424_0.jpg?h=2e9e19b1&itok=LBzjremP)
![Riddle Interactive](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/946.jpg?h=73541a1f&itok=_e_7IAAs)
The Riddle Interactive outlines the characteristics of riddle poems and provides direct instruction on the prewriting and drafting process for writing original riddle poems.
![360 Degrees of Text: Using Poetry to Teach Close Reading and Powerful Writing](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/246_3.jpg?h=1f1ed29f&itok=fADORMQl)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/RWT1-small_37.jpg?itok=SdDyL6dW)
Even if they are few in number, diverse books do exist. Tune in to hear about recently-published YA titles that celebrate diversity in a range of genres. There's something for every reader here: comic book superheroes, Civil Rights history, love stories, humorous essays, poetry, artwork, and stories of suspense.
![Multigenre Mapper](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/933_0.jpg?h=73541a1f&itok=OnanE2Zh)
This interactive invites students to create original multigenre, multimodal works--one drawing and three written texts--making the tool flexible for multiple writing activities.
![Jonathan Swift was born on this day in 1667.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1045_0.jpg?h=ef25e2b5&itok=-MCkC5Ml)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/calendar_20210_soto_305w.jpg?itok=2oIYvrLS)
![](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/activity_30173_spiral-flower_160w.jpg?itok=lPx4GXOL)
Use shape and theme poems, or poems that look like the things they describe, as a fun way to introduce children to poetry.
![Sandra Cisneros was born today in 1954.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/21_2.jpg?h=34219f4c&itok=35VvGQzH)