Instapoetry, a subgenre of poetry on Instagram, is one of the most accessible forms of poetry there is. The lines are typically short, to the point, and emotionally driven. Sometimes called the “gateway drug to literature” instapoetry can inspire a new generation of poetry lovers! Learn how to use Instagram to teach poetry in your classroom today.
So, why Instagram?
Instagram, the wildly popular photo-sharing app has over one billion users, and that’s not surprising due to its simple, fun way users can capture, edit and share photos, videos and messages. Students love social media, especially Instagram! Not so long ago, poets began using Instagram to share their Instapoetry.
What is Instapoetry?
Poetry is great means of communication and can be a wonderful emotional outlet. Instapoetry is usually short, free verse poems that are often paired with a shared image that represents the poem’s theme. Some poets use their own sketches and artwork (including photography) as background images for their poems. This innovative and creative use of Instagram need not be limited to social media, it can easily be integrated into our classrooms. In this article, I will share ideas that will inspire your students to use IG to share their own poetry!
Have students check out popular Instapoets like @rupikaur_, @birdy_skyes, @nayyirah.waheed, to see firsthand the effect and emotional impact IG poetry can have! Have them take note of how the nuances of instapoetry (i.e. themes, punctuation, and background images) all work together to convey the poet’s message.
I recommend setting up a classroom IG account and having students write, design, and share (using @nameofyouraccount). For elementary school students, you might want to have students create poems in a small group or a pair-and-share.
For middle school and high school students, it may surprise you to know that many students already know about this genre and will be eager to share their work on your classroom hub.
Before students begin writing their own instapoems, you will need to discuss common aspects of writing instapoetry (i.e. how to edit down and abbreviate poetic lines, theme, symbolism, and of course, aspects of figurative language).
Poetry forms that work well for instapoetry include haiku, free verse, limerick, and cinquain. For those students who aren’t sure what to write about or for those who are not as in tune with emotional rhetoric, I prefer using blackout poetry to assist them in crafting instapoetry. Check out my article on How to Teach Blackout Poetry for more information.
Here are some guidelines for students to follow:
• Instapoems must be short, 3-6 lines, and written in free verse (generally punctuation is used only for effect)
• Each poem must have a connecting background image and a readable font that compliments the poem’s message or theme
• Students IG names, poems, and images must be school-appropriate
• Encourage students to write and design at least 3 instapoems and then select the best one to share. Writing several poems will help get students inspired!
• Using IG for instapoetry could be a great end to a literary unit (there are many ideas and options for thematic or character-driven topics
On Edutopia.org, Kyleen Gray suggests in her article, Using Instagram to Teach Poetry that she “had asked students to post their poetry over the span of a week or so, and we started each language arts lesson by taking a look at a few students’ work. I gave students 10 minutes or so each day to read each other’s posts and like or share their favorites. We tracked everyone’s individual favorite (and most shared) poems, and talked about what made certain poems both visually and intellectually engaging.”
Furthermore, Gray states, “These were great conversations focused on the craft of poetry and on media techniques. We made it a bit of a contest; the three students with the most shared and liked poems got recognition and a treat from my classroom prize box.”
Another wonderful and free resource is at The Secondary English Coffee Shop offers a FREE WORKSHEET for students to find examples of IG poetry and then answer questions for a more thorough analysis.
Using instapoetry throughout the school year, will not only add to your IG hub for years to come but, more importantly, it will reinforce the fundamental literacy skills and appreciation of poetry that we are all trying to instill in our students.
If you are looking for more engaging materials for teaching poetry, check out 40 Poetry Writing Prompts for Kids. I’d love to see your students’ instapoems, so have them use #teachingwithpoetry to share their instapoems with me @teachingwithpoetry!
