1. Poetry Out Loud Background

2. School Participation

3. Timeline for the Program

4. Materials and the Website

5. Poem Selections

6. Teacher Implementation in the Classroom

7. Recitation Competitions

8. Contest Prizes

9. National Finals

10. New York State Contacts

Poetry Out Loud Background

What is Poetry Out Loud: National Poetry Recitation Contest?

Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country.  Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners will advance to the school-wide competition, then to the state capital competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC.  More than 100,000 students are expected to take part in Poetry Out Loud this year.

Who created Poetry Out Loud? 

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation created Poetry Out Loud.  At the state level in New York, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Alliance for Arts Education will coordinate school participation and the regional and state finals events. 

Why was Poetry Out Loud created?

In the recent “Reading at Risk” survey, the National Endowment for the Arts documented an increasing rate of decline in literary reading, especially among younger readers.  To encourage the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry, the NEA and the Poetry Foundation are jointly supporting Poetry Out Loud.  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.

Where will Poetry Out Loud take place?

Poetry Out Loud will take place in high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

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School Participation

What kinds of schools are eligible to participate in Poetry Out Loud?

Only high schools are eligible, but all kinds of high schools may take part in the program – public, private, parochial, independent, charter, etc.

How many high schools will participate in my state?

61 High Schools are participating from across New York State.

Who will coordinate my school-wide competition?

A volunteer Lead Teacher will coordinate the competition in your school.  The lead teacher is a self-selected volunteer.  If you would like to be your school’s Poetry Out Loud lead teacher, contact Sharon Scarlata at sharon@nysaae.org.

What is the role of the Lead Teacher?

The Lead Teacher will:

• Work closely with the Principal to coordinate the contest in your school (e.g., select judges for the school-wide competition, promote the event, organize the school-wide competition; organize student travel to regional and state competitions, etc.);

• Enlist fellow teachers to participate;

• Distribute Poetry Out Loud materials to each participating classroom teacher

• Provide necessary information to, and serve as the school point person for, the State Coordinator at the New York State Alliance for Arts Education

How can I sign up to participate?

Contact Sharon Scarlata at the New York State Alliance for Arts Education at (800) ARTS.N.ED or (800) 278.7633 or at sharon@nysaae.org to receive details about registration. 

If you are a returning school this year you are still required to fill out a registration form!

 The registration deadline for new and returning schools is October 31, 2008.

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Timeline for the Program

When can my school sign up to participate in Poetry Out Loud?

Schools must sign up to participate by October 31, 2008.  To receive a registration form, contact Sharon Scarlata, NYSAAE Program Coordinator, at sharon@nysaae.org or (800) ARTS.N.ED or (800) 278.7633. 

When should schools conduct their school-wide competitions?

Schools may begin their programs as soon as they complete their registrations.  The Poetry Out Loud anthology and the rules for the competition are available on the web at www.poetryoutloud.org.  In addition, each participating teacher will receive hardcopy materials to support implementation of the program soon after the school registers.  School champions and runners-up must be identified and their names and three poem selections must be submitted to Sharon Scarlata at sharon@nysaae.org by January 16, 2009.

How many students can we send to the Regional Competition?

Each school can send up to 3 students to the Regional Competition.

When will the New York State and National Finals take place?

The New York State Finals will be on March 12, 2009 at 6 pm at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY.  The state champion will participate in the National Finals in Washington, DC on April 26-28, 2009.  NYSAAE will keep you up-to-date as more information is available.

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Materials and Website

Will any materials be provided to support this program in my classroom?

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 recitations by distinguished actors and writers, promotional and media guides, and a comprehensive website located at www.poetryoutloud.org.  Curriculum materials are available for download on the Poetry Out Loud website, which can also be used by schools not involved in the official 2008-09 contest.

When will materials be available?

The anthology, audio guide, and posters are already available, both in hard copy form from the state coordinator and online for download on the Poetry Out Loud website (www.poetryoutloud.org).  The Teacher Packet, which includes a teacher’s guide, audio CDs and the poetry anthology, will be sent to you soon after you register.

Can teachers request additions to the anthology?

Yes. The NEA and the Poetry Foundation plan to continually expand the selection of poems available on the website.  We will try to satisfy anthology requests whenever possible, but please remember that copyright permissions and other issues must be taken into consideration.   Poems in the public domain may be easier to include, and we cannot include poems in translation.  Please note that student-authored poems will not be included on the website and cannot be recited as part of the official competition.

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Poem Selections

Can students choose poetry outside of the poems in the anthology?

Poetry Out Loud includes an online anthology of approximately 500 poems. The students may choose from that site, as well as from the shorter hardcopy version of approximately 100 poems that has been compiled for classroom use.  Students must choose poems from the print or online versions of the Poetry Out Loud anthology.

Are there any other requirements for students’ selections?

Each student must select and memorize three poems for recitation.  At the state and national competitions, each student will recite up to three poems, and he or she must recite at least one poem written before the 20th century.  Additionally, at least one of the three poems must also be 25 lines or shorter. 

How do I notify the State coordinator of my school winners’ poem selections?

Send your winning student’s poem selections to the state coordinator, Sharon Scarlata at the NYS Alliance for Arts Education, at sharon@nysaae.org.  Lead teachers must submit this information before January 16, 2009.  When you do so, it is very important to indicate the order in which your student will recite the poems: first, second, and third.

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Teacher Implementation in the Classroom

How much time will teachers need to spend implementing Poetry Out Loud in the classroom?

We suggest that teachers implement the program in the classroom and school in the late fall and early winter. 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.

What students are eligible to participate in Poetry Out Loud?

Schools may determine which students participate at the classroom and school-level Poetry Out Loud programs, pursuant to local and state law.  Under federal immigration and tax law, participation in state-level contests and the national finals is restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.   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 regional and state competitions.

Is there a creative writing element to Poetry Out Loud?

The central objective of the program is to familiarize students with the best of their literary heritage, while teaching them important public speaking skills. Poetry Out Loud is not intended to replace classroom activities like creative writing; in fact, the two naturally complement one another. For that reason, we are currently creating a number of optional writing exercises and lesson plans, which will be available to teachers on the website. Additionally, schools may plan to send writers into participating classrooms, both to coach students in performance techniques and to offer writing workshops.

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Recitation Competitions

Is there a minimum and maximum amount of time that a participant can use to recite his or her poem?

A sonnet generally takes about a minute to recite, and we are trying to keep the maximum time per poem to around three minutes.

Can embellishment be used to deliver the poems; i.e. movement (gestures, walking), or will participants be expected to stand and deliver the poems in one place? Can participants add any kind of sound or musical instruments for effect?

The recitation of poetry, in this context, is a bit different than theatre acting. Poetry recitation is about the poem, not the performance. No props, costumes, or music may be used. Overacting, exaggerated movements, and odd voices and accents can be distracting.  However, depending on the poem, gestures and some movement may be appropriate.

How long will the contest events run?

A contest event should take less than two hours; any longer than that can be difficult for the audience. There will be detailed instructions and recommendations in the Teacher’s Guide on organizing the contests, depending on the number of participants.

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Contest Prizes

What are the prize amounts at the state and national levels?

The winner in New York State will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete in the National Finals. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up from New York State will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. The NEA and the Poetry Foundation will be awarding $50,000 total in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals.

Who covers the cost of awards and travel for the participants? 

The Poetry Foundation will provide all prizes, including travel costs to the National Finals for each state winner and one adult chaperone.  Participating school in New York State will be responsible for covering the travel costs associated with student participating in the regional and state-wide competitions.

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The National Finals

Where will the National Finals take place?

The National Finals will be April 26-28, 2009.  The site will have a main stage, full lighting and sound facilities, and comfortable theatre seats for the audience.

Will students have amplification as part of their delivery such as a wireless or handheld microphone?

We expect to lightly amplify participants at the National Finals with a stage microphone, so volume will still be an element of evaluation.

Will a podium be available on stage for the students?

Unless a student has special needs or disabilities, there will not be a podium or other furniture for his or her use.

Will an audience be present at the National Finals, or just the judges?

There will be an audience, including media, at the National Finals.

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New York State Contacts

NYSCA and NYSAAE will provide guidance in running your school’s Poetry Out Loud program. We are happy to address your individual questions or concerns.  Please contact Sharon Scarlata at (800) ARTS.N.ED or (800) 278.7633 or sharon@nysaae.org.

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