Poetry Out Loud - Arts in Education“Now I look at poetry not as a collection of lines that you have to analyze for class. It's more like an outpouring of emotion. It took Poetry Out Loud for me to understand that.” Grace Shuman, 2012 Poetry Out Loud State Final Contestant
Recitation and performance are major trends in poetry. There has been a resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the popularity of hip-hop. Poetry Out Loud builds on this momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with state arts agencies to support Poetry Out Loud, which encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
"My 9th grade honors classes' POL competitions were amazing this year! It was by far my favorite day of the school year.” Carolyn Gilman, Poetry Out Loud teacher from Olympia High School
Contest Structure and PrizesPoetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance from classroom competitions to school-wide competitions, regionals and then to the state competition. One student from each state advances to the National Finals.
Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Finals.
“A lot of my friends didn't really think much about poetry, but after Poetry Out Loud, we could have intelligent conversations about our poems and their meanings. Everyone should have a chance to learn - not just about the poetry - but also about themselves.” Grace Shuman, 2012 Poetry Out Loud State Final Contestant
Poetry Out Loud 2012 State FinalSpokane student Langston Ward wins state Poetry Out Loud competition. The Poetry Out Loud 2011 State Finals was filmed by Pardiman Productions. Watch video clips of students reciting during the state finals competition.
Visit the national Poetry Out Loud website, www.poetryoutloud.org for additional resources. | |||||||
