How To Register Your School for Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation that encourages the study of great poetry.

Poetry Out Loud is a fun, participatory way to teach poetry and meet Delaware’s English Language Arts requirements(Opens in a new window.). 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.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) with the State Arts Agencies to bring Poetry Out Loud program to all 50 states including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Poetry Out Loud builds on the recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as demonstrated by the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among our youth. By performing great works of literature, students can master public-speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn more about their cultural heritage.

Delaware High Schools of any type – public, private, parochial, independent, charter, etc. – and its students in grades 9-12 may participate in Poetry Out Loud.

No student may be excluded from participating in Poetry Out Loud on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Schools may determine eligibility for classroom and school level Poetry Out Loud programming pursuant to local and state law. As part of the routine collection of biographical information, you will need to confirm eligibility of your school champion and runner-up prior to their participation in the state competition.

A volunteer lead teacher will coordinate the competition in your school. The Lead Teacher will:

• Provide necessary information to the Delaware Division of the Arts
• Coordinate the contest in your school and organize the school-wide competition

We suggest that teachers implement the program in the classroom and school in the late fall. Each individual teacher might spend from one to three weeks on Poetry Out Loud, although the program will not require full class periods during this time. A teaching artist can visit free of charge, contact State Coordinator Briana Henry at briana.henry@delaware.gov if interested in this opportunity.

The Delaware Division of the Arts provides registered schools with the following support services:

• Ongoing updates and best practices for teachers: The State Coordinator and teaching artists are both available to discuss questions that arise during the competition season.
• Preparation workshops. If desired, the registered Lead Teacher may arrange for a teaching artist to present the Poetry Out Loud curriculum via Zoom workshops during classroom time periods free of charge by contacting the State Coordinator
• Student/teacher coaching on how to choose poems for recitation. Teaching artists are happy to provide tailored advice to teachers and students, if desired, on methods for choosing poems and preparing recitations.

Poetry Out Loud curriculum materials include online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, a companion guide of past national competition performances to use as a learning tool, promotional and media guides, and a comprehensive website. Curriculum materials are available for download on the Poetry Out Loud website www.poetryoutloud.org.

• Guide for Teachers
• Example Lesson Plans
• Resources for Organizing Your School Competition
• Resources for Judging a Competition
• NCTE and Common Core Standard Connections

The online poem anthology, sample audio and video clips of poetry performances, and tips on poem selection and recitation are available on the Poetry Out Loud website year-round, free of charge.

The Teacher Packet, which includes a teacher’s guide, learning recitation DVD and posters, will be sent to participants soon after registration.

Please note, changes can be made by the National Endowment of the Arts at any time.

No, all poems must be selected from the approved Poetry Out Loud anthology, which is updated every summer. Check the website after September 1st of each year to view the official POL anthology for the current school year

Poems may be removed from the online anthology before October 1st, so please check after that date to ensure that the poem is eligible for competition in the current school year. The removed poems are no longer eligible for competition.

At the state and national competitions, students must have three (3) poems of the student’s choosing prepared.  Previously, requirements from the National competition required one poem 25 lines or shorter, one written before the 20th century (the same poem may be used to meet both criteria), and a third poem of the student’s choosing. That is no longer required.