Tiny Poems, Big Ideas

Second grade students have been practicing their writing skills as they experiment with Haiku writing this month. “Haikus are a great way to teach the writing process because they’re short,” says Second Grade Teacher Willa Gustavson. “We can jot down ideas, do a rough draft, have a writing conference with the teacher, and then do a final draft, all within a few classes.” 

Writing haikus gives students a fun way to practice syllable division as they craft poems in the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure. As second graders are encountering more multisyllabic words in their reading and spelling work, they learn to clap out the syllables—an exercise that naturally connects to creating haikus. For trickier words where the syllables are less obvious, students use strategies like humming the word or placing a hand under their chin to feel how many times their mouth opens for vowel sounds, helping them determine the correct syllable count.

To spark their writing, each student selected a nature photograph that resonated with them—whether a desert landscape, a sun-dappled forest glade, or a soaring mountain range. The brevity of haikus encourages students to practice careful and intentional word choice. Willa invites her students to brainstorm “juicy” words that engage the senses and paint vivid pictures for the reader. She also asks them to review their writing with a critical eye—editing out repetition, replacing “blah” words like nice or pretty, and ensuring every syllable counts.

In writing, students are transitioning from haikus to personal narratives, where they will apply their understanding of the writing process and use precise, thoughtful word choice to share meaningful stories from their own lives.