At this stage I also add a complication. Some lines of poetry actually don't have the same number of syllables but they come out to the same length because either one word is sustained over two notes or two words are said quickly on the same note. This is not cheating. It's a standard practice for the best composers and lyricists. Check your hymnbook and you'll find plenty of examples, such as this one and this one.
The main point is to make sure the student decides on either AABA or ABAB before getting started and labels the lines accordingly.
- Children Aren't Happy (by Ogden Nash) *The words have been removed for copyright reasons, but they are quick to write in.
- Eletelephony (by Laura Richards)
- I Eat My Peas
- If I Were a Bear (by A.A. Milne)
You can see my original post about how to use these composition sheets here.