Professional poets spend many hours crafting a finished piece of work, yet we expect children in school to sit down and write when they are told to, whether they feel inspired or not. This series of four books is a toolkit to help you build a positive framework for children to read, write, understand and enjoy poetry - to bring a creative spark to the poetry classroom. A combination of featured poems, creative ideas, structured lesson plans and differentiated photocopiable activity sheets gives the series a uniquely flexible approach - which means you can use the materials in any classroom context.

If you're wary of poetry, if you think it's boring, or if you're nervous about teaching poetry, then you've chosen the right book.

Key themes covered in BOOK 1: Words and Wordplay are playing with words; making patterns with words; words and meanings; puns and puzzles; how words affect readers; moods, feelings and attitudes; and how poets manipulate words.

Other books in the series are: BOOK 2: Rhymes, Rhythms andRattles; BOOK 3: Style, Shape and Structure; and BOOK 4:Language and Performance.

Collette Drifte has been a Deputy Headteacher and has 22 years' experience in mainstream and special education. She is a freelance author, lecturer and INSET provider. Mike Jubb, a former primary teacher, is a widely anthologized children's poet, who frequently performs his poetry and leads children's writing workshops. He is also an INSET provider.

Key themes covered in the book are: * playing with words * making patterns with words * words and meanings * puns and puzzles * how words affect readers * moods, feelings and attitudes * how poets manipulate words