A few years ago , the Arizona State Poetry Society ( ASPS) established the Primary Poets® program to further its mission of promoting the art of poetry through youth engagement and education . The program was created to introduce young children to the joy of poetry while nurturing their creativity, imagination , and self-expression.
As a retired bilingual second-grade teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience , I immediately recognized this as a wonderful opportunity to combine my love of teaching with my passion for writing . With the invaluable support of the Arizona State Poetry Society, we launched an online pilot program on Zoom bringing together a group of 17 young aspiring poets. ( ages 5-12)
The children amazed me with their enthusiasm , originality , and willingness to explore the world of poetry. As their confidence and skills grew, I realized we needed to take the program a step further . I wanted to provide these young poets with and opportunity to showcase their poems, celebrate their accomplishments and share the creativity they had developed throughout our online sessions .
That vision became a reality when we held a Primary Poets® performance in the brand- new children’s program room at the Georgia T. Lord Library , located in the newly constructed Goodyear Town Square . The children exceeded my expectations. Standing before a packed audience of family members , friends and community leaders , they demonstrated remarkable confidence , creativity , and pride in their work . Watching them share their poetry so enthusiastically was a truly rewarding experience.
We are now excited to welcome our second group of young poets, scheduled to begin this November 2026. Even before the program is to begin children are already reaching out to share their poetic ideas with me . Their eagerness is a wonderful reminder that the desire to create ,imagine, and express oneself can begin at an early age when children are given the encouragement and opportunity to do so .
Teaching poetry to young children is about so much more than learning to write verses or find rhyming words. Poetry gives children a voice . It encourages them to observe the world around them, explore their feelings develop language skills, think creatively, and discover the power of their own words. Most importantly it helps them recognize that their thoughts , ideas, and experiences have value .
Through the art of children’s poetry , we plant seeds of creativity that can continue to grow throughout a lifetime . When we encourage children to find their voices today, we help nurture the imaginative thinkers , confident communicators ,and creative story tellers of tomorrow.
Please contact Karen Morales for more information regarding the Primary Poets® . Thank you . Spaces are limited. The cap will be 12 children this year ( ages 5-12) If you do not get in this year, next year it will be open to more students. It is free of charge .
Thank you for your support,
Karen Morales
thekrayonkids@gmail.com ( please add Primary Poets in subject area)