What’s poetry got to do with it? The importance of poetry for enhancing literacy and fostering student engagement

Beginning with a description of a Year 10 poetry unit taught by the writer, the article argues that despite apparent decline, poetry teaching in secondary literacy programs for years 7–10 remains vital because of its potential for deep personal engagement and for its promotion of a diverse range of literacy competencies. The article offers suggestions for enhancing poetry teaching and nurturing greater focus on poetry, not only in literacy and English classrooms, but across the curriculum.