Book Summary
Expressing Myself discusses familiar situations with which writers are faced as they create compositions. These situations include: thinking of topics to write about, choosing a title, writing dialogue, and making revisions. Illustrations support the topic of each poem. Approximate book level: Q. 

Build Background
Ask students to explain what they know about poetry. Explain that there are many different types of poetry. Invite them to share favorite poems and/or poets. 

Explain to students that rhyming poetry follows a beat that is based on syllables. Write the following words on the board: letter, poem, write. Have students practice clapping the syllables in each word on the board. Ask volunteers to come to the board and put a slash mark between syllables in each word. If necessary, remind students of the rules for dividing words into syllables (VCV: between the consonant and vowel; VCCV: between the two consonants; compound words: between the two words). 

Preview the Poems
Discuss with students information they already know about the writing process and the characteristics of a composition, such as title and dialogue. Show students the front and back covers of the book and read the title. Turn to the title page. Discuss the information on the page (title, author's name, illustrator's name). Discuss the book's illustrations. Invite students to explain what they see in the illustrations and what they think the poems might be about. 

For detailed lessons on teaching types of poetry, click here.

During Reading
Have students listen as you read each poem. Read the poems expressively, emphasizing the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences. 

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know to help make sense of the poems. React to parts of the poems with facial expressions and gestures. Allow students to stop to ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something. Invite students to identify characteristics of poetry (it uses description, it allows a reader to see a topic in a different way, it has a beat based on syllables, and so on). 

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poems. Have them identify and discuss their favorite poem. 

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poems.

• What do you think is the author's purpose for writing this poetry book?
• What does the author suggest the title of a composition should be based on?
• Why is Expressing Myself a good title for this poetry book?