For Immediate Release: September 17, 2008
Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov
Iowa schools invited to participate in 2009 Poetry Out Loud contest
Teachers must request resources by Nov. 1 and register school participation by Dec. 1
(DES MOINES, Iowa)— The Iowa Arts Council invites Iowa schools to participate in the 2009 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, a program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.
Administered in Iowa by the Iowa Arts Council, Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, which help them master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about literary heritage. 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.
Teachers should contact Dawn Martinez Oropeza at dawn.oropeza@iowa.gov or Jen McClung at poetryoutloud.dca@iowa.gov by Nov. 1, 2008, to request free resource packets and by Dec. 1, 2008, to register their schools for participation.
The resource packets outline the program and provide free multimedia materials that augment regular poetry curriculum with recitation and classroom-level competition. The materials are aligned with national standards and include a poetry anthology, teachers’ guide and lesson plans, posters and a comprehensive Web site at www.poetryoutloud.org.
IAC is offering a Poetry Out Loud teacher orientation at 3 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008, via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) to provide tips on bringing the program into the classroom. There are Iowa-specific curriculum and resources available on-line at www.iowaartscouncil.org.
School-level recitation champions advance to the state and national levels. Poetry Out Loud awarded more than $100,000 in prizes to students and schools at the 2008 state and national competitions.
The 2009 Poetry Out Loud state competition will be March 7, 2009, at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines.
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The Iowa Arts Council is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and works to enrich the quality of life for Iowans through support of the arts. Funding for the Iowa Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Iowa and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please visit www.iowaartscouncil.org for more information.