Dash into Poetry {Review & Our Experience}
We love poetry and we love the Dash into Reading program, so Dash into Poetry was a no-brainer purchase! My kids and I are all in love with this new addition to our poetry teatimes. (Dash into Poetry does NOT need to be used along with the reading program. It is 100% standalone.)
[If you’re interested our experience with the Dash into Reading program, you can read that here.]
We’ve been doing poetry teatime in some form since my oldest (now 9) was 3! My kids have come to associate poetry with connection and treats. In some seasons we’ve consistently delved into poetry each week; in others it’s more sporadic. In some seasons we sip tea and have themed poetry (see: baseball poems for Opening Day). In other seasons we drink sparkling water, or popsicles on a picnic blanket, and I grab one of our poetry compilations and just read at random.
Do-able Recitation for Younger Kids!
One aspect of poetry that I’ve wanted to incorporate for years but never have is recitation. When I first learned of the idea of poetry teatime, I loved the idea of each participant selecting a poem to share with the family. With my kiddos being younger, I didn’t really know how to make that work. So, I was thrilled when I saw that Dash into Learning was coming out with a poetry companion that had pre-selected poems that are decodable and able to be read by my younger children!
Just like the reading program, the poetry program is divided into 3 levels. (If you use the reading program, each poetry volume is intended to be used at the completion of that level readers. You could go slowly instead and read a poem at the conclusion of each book rather than the whole level. There are 10 poems in levels 1 and 2; fourteen in level 3.)
My 1st grader was so pumped to see that he could pick up and read the Level 1 poetry book! (He’s in mid-level 2 reading right now, for reference.) AND, he was thrilled that some of his “friends” from the readers were featured in the poems (“Fan and Sam! I know them!”).
After purchasing and using the entire reading program and poetry bundle myself, I became an affiliate. I can now offer you a discount code to purchase their already affordable products: librarianinthehouse20 for 15% off (not valid on sale prices). Click here to visit the website.
Level 1
In Level 1, the poems are original works by Amelia Murdock (author of the program). The volume gets gradually more difficult, matching the pace of the reading program. So, the first poem in the book is 13 words long, with decodable words and one sight word (“my”). The final poem of the book is 40 words long, still decodable with Level 1 phonics skills.
Levels 2 and 3
Levels 2 and 3 feature poems by well known poets, such as Christina Rossetti and Robert Louis Stevenson. My kids were familiar with a few of the poems from our readings and memory work at co-op. (“Look, mom! It’s the old man with a beard!”)
My third grader was able to pick up the Level 3 reader and share with us, and I could tell he felt proud to be reading works by famous poets.
How We Use This
My kids each read one poem each week at our teatime. They are assigned to practice the poem on their own earlier in the day so that they’re ready to recite beautifully for us. (I’m there to assist, of course.) After their recitations, I continue our normal poetry reading from whatever books/volumes we are working through. You could certainly make this a week-long project to prepare for the recitation.
Activity Books
The activity books add another layer to our poetry fun! (These are optional add-on purchases or buy in a bundle for a little extra, which is what I did.) Once a week I “assign” my kids to the section in the activity book that corresponds with the poem they’re reciting that week. This includes copywork and some type of activity like a “how to draw” section, dot-to-dot, maze, coloring page, seek & find puzzle, etc. Each level comes with 3 options: print, cursive, and D’Nealian (all included). My 1st grader is completing the print book and my 3rd grader the cursive, but I have the option to switch that up at any point by printing out the other pages. This takes the place my kids’ normal handwriting for that day. It’s nice to have a change of pace one day a week!
Benefits
Recitation is such a valuable tool. Being able to communicate clearly and read with fluency are critical skills. My 3rd grader tends to speed through reading, often skipping words. Poetry recitation has forced him to slow down and read EVERY WORD correctly, with beautiful dictation. Poetry can’t be rushed through (well, it can, but not well). I love that we are working on these skills over treats in a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by beautiful words and savoring word play!
The books are small (trim size as well as length), and therefore not intimidating! The poems are short as well. The illustrations are darling, too. My 1st grader especially loves these.
I also love how affordable this program is! You can use my code librarianinthehouse20 for 15% off (not valid on sale prices). As of my writing, the whole bundle with 3 readers and 3 levels of activity packs (each with 3 handwriting options) comes down to about $40 with my discount code. Here’s the direct link to the poetry program.
Do you do poetry recitation with your kids? Any questions about Dash into Learning? I’d be happy to help! Connect with me in the comments below or on my social media accounts: Instagram / Facebook.
Here are a few of my previous Poetry and Teatime themed blog posts:
Poetry Teatime: Getting Started
