What makes poetry poetry? Is it the rhythm and rhyme that matters? Or the right syllabic count or meter that makes it better? Or the deep feelings that one shares using words and phrases that make people utter or mutter? Reading and understanding poetry can lift ones spirit but when lost in translation, appreciation fizzles.Writing poetry is even more difficult.Imagine writing limericks without humor or writing free verse that looks like a never-ending prose.However, if done well, a poem becomes more than just a written verse with a beat and count.It becomes a written and oral expression of self.It opens a window into ones soul-regardless of ethnic background.It is a poetic discourse that has the power to change lives-of both the poet and the reader.These are some of the challenges that students face in a Creative Reading and Writing Poetry class.In this paper, I share effective teaching approaches and methodologies in teaching English-major students the basics of writing modem poetry in a fun and meaningful way.I also discuss various learning activities that range from reading & writing free verse to lyrical poetry.Useful tips and guidelines in integrating mobile technology and Web 2.0 tools for easy replication that teachers can adopt into their own English literature or poetry class are likewise given.Examples of students poems produced as part of the creative writing workshop, which exhibits their ability to write new forms of poetic expressions are also analyzed.