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Poetry Out Loud

How to Apply | Workshops | Prizes | Curriculum Materials |
NCTE Standards

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national contest that encourages high school students to expand their knowledge of poetry through memorization and recitation. The program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

How to Participate

Poetry Out Loud materials are sent in the fall for use through early winter. To request materials and for information on how your school can participate, contact Ann Thompson, Executive Director. Additional information is available at the Poetry Out Loud website: www.poetryoutloud.org.

2011 Contest Schedule

For the 2010-2011 school year, school registrations are due by December 1, 2010, and all school competitions must be held before January 21, 2011. Regional and state finals will be scheduled for February and March.

Workshops

Teachers may contact Ann Thompson to schedule a free classroom workshop at any time. Workshops model recitation styles, focus on the value of memorization, and may also include a creative writing component

Contest Structure

Competitions begin at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to regional and state finals, and ultimately to the National Finals.

Prizes

The state finals winner will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington (with their teacher) to compete for the national championship. The winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up will receive $100; his or her school will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books.

A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to winners at the National Finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship awarded to the National Champion. Note: prizes are offered only for official competitions identified and conducted by the Oklahoma Humanities Council.

Curriculum Materials

Resources include the POL anthology, teachers guide, audio CD, "Best Performances" DVD, promotional guide, and supplemental matierals about teaching poetry. Hard copies of curriculum materials are free for participating schools. Schools not involved in the official contest may download online materials from the Poetry Out Loud website: www.poetryoutloud.org.

NCTE Standards

Poetry Out Loud lesson plans satisfy all of the NCTE English Language Arts Standards. In addition to memorizing and reciting poetry, students discuss the lives of great poets and their work. The program requires only 2-3 weeks of class time and does not require full class periods.

2010 State Finalists

Catherine Horton, a junior at Lawton High School, won the 2010 state finals competition held on March 6th at Oklahoma City University.

As the state winner, Horton will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the National Finals, April 25-27 in Washington, D.C., where more than $50,000 in scholarships will be awarded. Lawton High School will receive a $500 stipend with which to purchase poetry books.

Nine high school regional winners from across the state competed in the Poetry Out Loud finals, including:

Amber Ransom, Ada High School
Blake Smith, Arnett High School
Emily Essary, Bethel High School
Sarah Anderson, Nathan Hale High School - Tulsa
Kirstin Shields, Pittsburgh High School
Tiffany Howerton, Putnam City West High School - OKC
Elizabeth Armstrong, Stillwater High School (2nd Place)
Johnathan McClintick, Southmoore High School - OKC
Morgan Winkelmann, Union Intermediate High School - Broken Arrow

Read more about this year's state finalists on our News/Media page under press releases.

OHC facilitates Poetry Out Loud in partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation.