Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. POL uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC. More than 100,000 students are expected to take part in POL nationwide each year.
The 2023-2024 POL program and state finals event will be implemented in-person. Experienced poetry teaching artists will be available to work with you to implement the POL curriculum. Teachers and students may request cost-free virtual or in-person assistance in selecting poems, poetry performance techniques, and implementing the program. Guidance in requesting and hosting POL artists residencies to help your organization participate in this program is available at any time. The guidance program will include teacher training workshops, classroom workshops for students and one-on-one coaching sessions with school winners. Judges for the Poetry Out Loud Finals are selected for their backgrounds in literature, poetry, and theater. The state winner will be announced in early March.
The Delaware Division of the Arts will provide guidance in running your school’s POL program and is happy to answer any questions or concerns.
Previous Competitions
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
Poetry Out Loud is a fun, participatory way to teach poetry and meet Delaware’s English Language Arts requirements. Free, standards-based curriculum materials are available for all participating schools. Participating schools also have the opportunity to work with teaching artists who give workshops on poetry recitation for students.
Poetry Out Loud curriculum materials include online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, a DVD and companion guide of past national competition performances to use as a learning tool, promotional and media guides, and a comprehensive website located at www.poetryoutloud.org. Curriculum materials are available for download on the Poetry Out Loud website, which can also be used by schools not involved in the official current competition.
The Delaware Division of the Arts will provide guidance in running your school’s Poetry Out Loud program and is happy to answer any questions or concerns. Please contact:
Sheila Dean Ross, Program Officer, Arts in Education/Accessibility and Poetry Out Loud Coordinator
Important Dates (subject to change)
| August 1, 2023 | Registration Opens |
| October 20, 2023 | Registration Deadline |
| September-December 2023 | Classroom Instruction/School Competitions |
| December 22, 2023 | Deadline to Report School Winners |
| Jan. – Feb. 2024 | School Winners Coaching and Preparation |
| February 29, 2024 | DE State Finals – Smyrna Opera House, Smyrna, DE |
| April 30-May 2, 2024 | National Poetry Out Loud Finals – Washington, D.C. |
| May 2, 2024 | National Winner Announced |
Related Topics: Department of State, Division of the Arts, literature, poems, poetry, Poetry Out Loud, recitation, State of Delaware
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