For Educators
This section includes:
- Persons of Color Literary Panel Resource List
- Resources
- Educators’ Guides
- Banned Books Resource List
For starters, please feel free to download or copy whatever material you can use from my site. What you’ll find here are student writing prompts, recommended lists of poetry for grades K‑12 (one for elementary schools, and a second list of YA titles), and ideas for presenting poetry to your students. The list will change from time to time as I come across new and exciting titles to add, or when existing titles go out of print.
If you’re planning a conference for which I’ll be a featured speaker, please download these lists and idea sheets for your conferees.
That’s it. I hope you find something you can use!
Persons of Color Literary Panel for Young Readers Resource List
Resources
“Children’s Institute 2023: Nikki Grimes and Brian Pinkney Collaborate in A Walk in the Woods,” Antonia Saxon, Publishers Weekly, 19 May 2023
“Nikki Grimes’ Wild Ride,” Raven Howell in Bookbug, Story Monsters Ink, February 2023
“Celebrating Poetry Month: Nikki Grimes,” Avalon Felice Lee, Diverse Verse, 28 April 2022
Banned Books Resource List from Nikki Grimes
“What Makes a Book ‘Appropriate’ for School?” Nikki Grimes, Publishers Weekly, 27 Aug 2021
Nikki Grimes’ Word Economy Exercise Template
Popular Poetry Teaching Tools
#HFGather: A Poetry Chat with Nikki Grimes and Sarah Aronson (2020)
“50 Black Young Adult Novelists You Should Read, from Angie Thomas to Walter Dean Myers,” Mary Cadden, USA Today, 17 Feb 2021
Brief List of K‑6 Poetry Titles, recommended by Nikki Grimes
Brief List of Young Adult Poetry Titles, recommended by Nikki Grimes
“Begin a Poem with a Picture: Poet Nikki Grimes shows how you can write a picture poem,” Instructor, Jan/Feb 1995
“Have a Heart,” Creative Classroom, Jan/Feb 1999
“Sideyard,” originally published in From a Child’s Heart by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Brenda Joysmith, © 1993 by Nikki Grimes
Educators’ Guides
Click on any of the titles below. The guides and activities can be printed directly from the website.
Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift
Multiple Intelligence Projects
At Break of Day
Discussion and Activity Guide for Parochial Schools
Multiple Intelligence Projects for Public Schools
Teacher’s Guide for Public Schools
At Jerusalem’s Gate
Discussion Questions and Projects
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
Between the Lines
Between the Lines: Foster Kids Resource List
Bronx Masquerade, Between the Lines Teaching Guide
Bronx Masquerade
Coretta Scott King Author Award Acceptance Speech
Bronx Masquerade: An Insider’s Perspective
Your students are caught up in the excitement of Open Mike Friday. Poetry is their newest passion. Now what?
Bronx Masquerade, Between the Lines Teaching Guide
Multiple Intelligence Projects
C is for City
Multiple Intelligence Guide
Chasing Freedom
Come Sunday
Teacher’s Guide for Parochial Schools
Teacher’s Guide for Public Schools
Multiple Intelligence Guide
Danitra Brown, Class Clown
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Danitra Brown Leaves Town
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Dark Sons
A Dime a Dozen
Comprehension Guide / Quiz Questions
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Garvey’s Choice
Educator / Discussion Guide
Garvey in the Dark
Educator / Discussion Guide
A Girl Named Mister
Hopscotch Love
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Jazmin’s Notebook
Multiple Intelligence Projects
My Man Blue
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Oh, Brother!
One Last Word
School Library Journal, “A Renaissance Woman,” Luann Toth, Feb 3, 2017
Planet Middle School
Pocketful of Poems
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Poetry Toolbox: Personification
Poems in the Attic
The Road to Paris
Teacher’s Guide by School Street Media
Shoe Magic
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Stepping Out with Grandma Mac
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Tai Chi Morning
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Talkin’ About Bessie
Multiple Intelligence Projects
Thanks a Million
Multiple Intelligence Projects
What is Goodbye?
When Gorilla Goes Walking
Teacher’s Guide, Across the Curriculum
Words with Wings
