The Easiest Way to Teach Poetry To High School Students (That They Will Actually Love)
I was always one of those students who loved poetry. I loved it in high school, I wrote an honors thesis on it in college, and I even did my master’s in teaching poetry at the secondary level. But actually teaching poetry in high school English class? That was a whole different story. While there were times I felt like I got a poem that students loved or was able to spark some fun analysis, most of the time it felt like a slog. Students walk in convinced they don’t like poetry, most teachers feel nervous about teaching it, and, for most of us, the whole unit ends up stressful.
Then I found the secret that changed everything: Poetry Unbound. One year, I decided to play an episode of the Poetry Unbound podcast, which is part of the On Being Project, and my students were so engaged—it completely transformed my classroom. I love this podcast for my own brain, and my students were into it too. Win-win.
What Is Poetry Unbound—and Why Does It Work in the Classroom?
Poetry Unbound is a short-form podcast by Pádraig Ó Tuama, and it’s one of the easiest ways to teach poetry to high school students in both traditional classrooms as well as homeschool settings. Each 6–12 minute episode includes:
A warm, poetic reading
Insightful, accessible analysis
A second reading of the poem so students can hear it with fresh understanding
It works because poetry actually is interesting—poets are endlessly creative with language and their work speaks to the human experience in unforgettable ways. And Ó Tuama is an amazing guide: his voice is calming, his reading is captivating, and his analysis blends personal insight with thoughtful, rigorous commentary.
How to Use Poetry Unbound in Your Poetry Lessons
Every Poetry Unbound episode can become a complete 45–60 minute high school poetry lesson. Here’s my go-to format:
Print the poem for students to follow along (bonus: let them doodle while they listen).
Play the podcast episode.
Start discussion with an open-ended question like, “What stood out to you?” and let the conversation flow.
Use discussion questions that connect students to the poem rather than staying with surface-level analysis.
Some of my favorite episodes to teach:
“What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade” — nostalgia, identity, and life lessons
“i’m going back to Minnesota where sadness makes sense” — grief and place
“Ode to My Homegirls” — friendship, survival, and joy as resistance
These poems resonate deeply with teens—they reflect their lived experiences and give voice to emotions students often struggle to name.
Related Post: How to Help Teens Love Reading Again
No-Prep Poetry Lessons That Students Actually Enjoy
If you don’t want to wing it, I’ve created a ready-to-go, no-prep Poetry Unbound Mini Unit with five of my favorite episodes. It’s perfect for:
A random one-day lesson
National Poetry Month activities
A between-unit palate cleanser
A full, two-week poetry unit with an engaging PBL podcast project at the end
This mini unit is:
Engaging — emotional, current, unforgettable poems
Zero prep — just print and press play
Flexible — use as a stand-alone lesson or a full two-week unit
Discussion-rich — built for authentic conversations, not worksheets
AI-proof — everything is done by hand and aloud, so no essays for ChatGPT to write
Related Post: What do High School English Students Need to Learn in the Age of AI?
What’s Inside the Poetry Unbound Mini Unit
5 episodes with direct links to audio + transcripts
Editable discussion questions that spark genuine insight
A creative podcast project where students record their own analysis
You can teach one poem or the whole unit. Use it as a launching point into deeper poetry study or just a refreshing break from your novel units.
Or save it to your wish list for when you need a quick win this semester.
If you’re teaching in a homeschool or microschool environment, check out this blog post:
Teaching Poetry to Teens: How to Make it Fun and Engaging at Home
And here is a link to the full unit adapted for homeschooling families:
Homeschool High School Poetry Unit | Poetry Unbound Analysis & Project
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best way to introduce poetry to high school students?
Start with poems that connect to students’ lived experiences and allow for open-ended conversation. Poetry Unbound provides both the text and an accessible analysis, making it easy to build buy-in.
Can Poetry Unbound work in a homeschool or micro school setting?
Absolutely. Each 6–12 minute episode provides a full lesson, and the discussion questions in my mini unit work just as well with one student or a small group.
How can I make poetry lessons engaging for teens?
Choose poems that are current, emotional, and relevant. Pair listening with discussion-based activities rather than heavy-handed analysis.
What are some no-prep poetry activities?
Listening to a Poetry Unbound episode, doodling while following the transcript, and using the included discussion questions can fill an entire class period with zero prep.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to reinvent your poetry unit to make it meaningful. You just need the right poem, the right voice, and a few good questions. Let this be the year your students stop saying “I hate poetry” and start saying “Can we listen to another one?”