Learning Poems by Heart

Caroline Kennedy writes that, �If we learn poems by heart, we will always have their wisdom to draw on, and we gain an understanding that no one can take away.�

For the Poems to Learn by Heart collection, Kennedy chose more than 100 poems that can speak to all of us.

The Poetry Foundation has collected a few poems from the book and offers a Poems to Learn Teacher Guide which includes activities aligned to Common Core Standards for grades K-12.

Sample Poems

Grades K-3�Don't Worry if your Job is Small� by Anonymous
�Some Words Inside of Words� by Richard Wilbur

Grades 4-6
�Invitation to Love� by Paul Laurence Dunbar
�A Blessing� by James Wright

Grades 7-12
�Theme for English B� by Langston Hughes
�Bilingual/Biling�e� by Rhina Espaillat
�If�� by Rudyard Kipling
�Ballad of Birmingham� by Dudley Randall