Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest

 

Mia Pierson of Roland-Story High School won the 2009 Poetry Out Loud in Iowa contest

Mia Pierson earns trip to National Finals in Washington, DC

“By memorizing a poem, a student gets a profound and intimate understanding of literature,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “The experience of reciting a poem before their peers and the public also develops practical skills that students will use every day in the workplace and in the community.”

“To learn a great poem by heart is to make a friend for life,” said John Barr, president of the Poetry Foundation. “The national recitation program brings fresh energy to an ancient art form by returning it to the classrooms of America.”

GOALS:

• To encourage the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance
• To help high school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about our literary heritage

Educators: to register your school for participation in Iowa’s 2009 Poetry Out Loud program, send an email now to PoetryOutLoud.dca@iowa.gov!

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Recitation and performance are major new trends in poetry. There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music. Poetry Out Loud builds on that momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theatre into the high school English classroom.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with State Arts Agencies to support Poetry Out Loud , which encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance.

Shawntay A. Henry from the United States Virgin Islands was the National Champion for 2008. Henry advanced to National Champion from a field of competition that included more than 1,500 high schools and 200,000 high school students around the country.

“Poetry was never something I thought I’d get involved with, but I realized I had a hidden talent,” said
Henry, who capped her winning performance with a thoughtful recitation of the poem “Frederick
Douglass” by Robert E. Hayden

CONTEST STRUCTURE AND AWARDS

Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Classroom winners advance to the school-wide competition, then to the state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals.

Iowa’s state champion will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship. Each state champion’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up at the state level will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded as prizes at the National Finals.

PROGRAM MATERIALS AND SCHEDULE

Poetry Out Loud curriculum materials include print and online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, an audio CD featuring distinguished actors and writers, promotional and media guides, and a comprehensive Website. Hard copies of all materials are free for schools participating in the official program. All curriculum materials are also available for download on the Poetry Out Loud Website. Schools not involved in the official contest are welcome to use the online materials, without participating in the state or national competition.

If you are an educator interested in participating in the official program, please contact the Iowa Arts Council at PoetryOutLoud.dca@iowa.gov.

Poetry Out Loud materials will be sent to interested educators in September.  Participating schools will run the program during 2-3 weeks of class time through early winter. The State Poetry Out Loud Competition for Iowa will be held Saturday, March 7, 2009. Following the state finals, the National Finals and Semifinals will be held in Washington, DC, April 26-28, 2009.

You must register to be an official participant – you must be an official participant to receive curriculum materials and to participate in the state competition. To learn more or to receive curriculum materials, contact the Iowa Arts Council at PoetryOutLoud.dca@iowa.gov by November 1, 2008!

For more information regarding the national Poetry Out Loud program, go to: www.poetryoutloud.org

Please check back here for updated information, supplemental information and resources, plus links to registration forms.