Blog

Three Winter Poems for Children to Memorize

I am a firm believer in children memorizing poetry. It is not only a gift of language and learning, but also of BEAUTY. And the best thing about memorizing poetry? It is one of the most simple things you can do with children!

As a child, I memorized My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson. This simple poem has remained with me my entire life. Maybe you have a similar poem that stayed with you, too.

Through my children’s homeschool years, I was sure to include poetry memorization in their education. The easiest time to practice anything we were memorizing was Morning Time. Perhaps the favorite poem that stuck with us was Teddy Bear by AA Milne.

Now that my children have graduated, I still enjoy reading poetry. I especially enjoy children’s poetry, probably because of memories of my mother sharing poetry with me as a child and the memories I made sharing poetry with my own children.


As it turns out, I’m in good company with my belief that children should memorize poetry. According to Susan Wise Bauer,

…memorization builds into children’s minds an ability to use complex English syntax and stocks the language store with a whole new set of language patterns.

Beautiful poems are such simple gifts we can give our children! I’d like to suggest three poems that your children can easily memorize - and these can be used with ANY age of child (or adult!).

Three Winter Poems for Children to Memorize

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

“Dust of Snow” was published in the Pulitzer Prize-winning volume of poetry New Hampshire. Frost uses a conventional ABAB rhyme scheme and omits adjectives or adverbs in the poem. This style elucidates the simplicity of the everyday occurrence: a crow taking flight from a tree branch; but, most importantly, Frost shows how such an innocuous action has gravity for the narrator, giving him “a change of mood.” Frost’s uncanny ability to elicit deep-meaning with colloquial and basic language is in full display in this poem.” (source)

I love the ABAB rhyming pattern and the lack of adverbs and adjectives. Kids might enjoy trying to write their own poem in the same manner.

The North Wind Doth Blow by Tasha Tudor (Traditional Mother Goose)

Tasha Tudor’s books have long occupied a place in my heart. I vividly remember this poem from my childhood (see what a gift poetry is?).

The poem is a very simple Mother Goose nursery rhyme which Tasha Tudor included in a 1944 collection. I have included the first “verse”, but there are actually five in case you want to memorize all of them.

Three Winter Poems for Children to Memorize

Snowflakes by Linda A. Copp

This contemporary poem presents such beautiful imagery of snowflakes.

If I were still teaching music in elementary school, I would set out triangles, shakers, sand blocks, and a host of xylophones and metallophones to help children develop an accompaniment for this poem.

Three Winter Poems for Children to Memorize

How to Memorize a Short Poem with Children

We always kept it simple when memorizing poetry:

  1. Display the printed poem (If you memorize many poems during the year, consider hanging them all in one place. You’ll be amazed at how accomplished children will feel, challenging themself to memorize the poems on the wall, fridge, door, etc…! )

  2. Read the poem together several times each day.

  3. Use the poem as copy work. (Maybe you want to make more of a lesson out of the poem, too - but I believe a beautiful poem can stand by itself, so don’t put pressure on yourself to turn it into a big lesson!)

  4. Eventually, your children will begin reciting the poem from memory.

  5. Keep track of the poems you memorize and periodically review them so your children don’t forget them!

Download the Winter Poems PDF printable, which includes all three poems.

I’d love to know if you memorize poetry with your children. Or, maybe you have a favorite poem from childhood. Share it with me in the comments below!

Books for December

Most of the time my reading life varies with the wind; I will read whatever strikes my fancy at a given moment. I love recommendations from friends, picking up a new release from the library, or going into the bookstore and finding something on a whim.

This December, however, I am going to be more intentional. I researched and sought out several different types of books to help fill my soul, help me escape, and learn a little bit, too.

Last December, I shared five of my favorite holiday books, which are still my favorites today. This year’s holiday book post contains more variety and types of books, and I hope you can find something in my list to add to your reading life!

Books for December

Books For December

I chose two middle-grade/read-aloud books. I enjoy reading this genre all by myself, but gosh, I miss the days of reading aloud to homeschoolers.

Next, I wanted a beautiful book of Advent wisdom/devotion. I’m looking forward to setting up my Advent Wreath on December 3rd.

A little fluff is necessary (for me, at least!) in December. I’ve heard great things about this next book and am excited to read it.

Books by Christian publishers and authors always top my list, which is why I included the next two books on the list:

This last book has been on my shelf for about a year. It’s high time I read it, and once again - I’ve heard great things about it!

An increased affection for literature has been a beautiful by-product of homeschooling. Once I began to share so much literature with my children, and once we began to discover other worlds in books, it became a passion of mine to keep READING.

Join us on Facebook in our reading group, Homegrown Book Picks. We have a lot of fun! If you’re an Instagram person, you can also join me there!

What are YOU reading this December?

Leave me a comment below, and we’ll compare books!