Joining Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is a great way to teach poetry and help students with written and oral communication skills. Poetry Out Loud was designed so that teachers may easily implement this “poetry bee” contest in the classroom. Poetry Out Loud awards more than $100,000 in prizes to students and schools at the state and national levels.

Teachers love the program because it
· fits well into their literature curriculum,
· creates an entry point for students to appreciate poetry,
· strengthens community in the classroom,
· reaches students whom they’ve never thought would take to poetry and take to the stage.

Poetry Out Loud satisfies most of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) English Language Arts Standards. In addition to memorizing and performing great poems, students will have the opportunity to discuss poetry and—if the teacher wishes to use the supplemental lesson plans—to write poetry of their own.

Get Started. For an overview of the program, classroom tools, and model recitations visit www.poetryoutloud.org

Get Connected. Contact the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education at aaae@bellsouth.net to officially sign up your school to become part of the National Poetry Out Loud competition or Download the Application and deadlines here and Mail the completed application to:

Alabama Alliance for Arts Education
410 N. Hull St.
Montgomery, AL 36104

Get Out Your Calendar. Poetry Out Loud classroom contests and district/regional contests typically happen throughout winter and the state competition happens in early spring, culminating in the National Finals in the nation’s capitol April 25-27, 2010.

www.poetryoutloud.org/