poetry out loud

Alex is from Cedar Crest High School and is the regional winner from our contest that was held on February 8, 2023. We are incredibly proud of their performance and all the other students who had participated in the Poetry Out Loud Contest this year! Good luck at states, Alex!

This year's Poetry Out Loud Contest will be held virtually on February 8, 2023.

Nearly 4500 high schools across the country and 112 high schools in Pennsylvania participated in the annual Poetry Out Loud (POL) national recitation contest last year and over $1Million in scholarships have been awarded! Join us! Your high school's champion will participate in the regional finals; the regional champion will participate in the state finals. Our region includes Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lebanon counties. The state champion will then participate in the national finals.

Poetry Out Loud is a free program offered to every high school student in Pennsylvania. Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Studying literature, including poetry, practicing speaking, listening, and language and reading skills strongly supports your district’s curriculum.

You may see the teachers’ guide at: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/teachers-organizers/

• The teachers’ guide offers suggestions so that you can customize the program to meet your time & schedule constraints.
• The guide also suggests ways to teach recitation and performance, a DVD of distinguished actors and writers reciting and talking about poetry, media guides, and promo materials.
• Teachers and students have access to the website and support materials that include nearly 1000 poems, media guides, and more.

Getting Involved

• Individual or groups of teachers, a school club, or the entire school may participate.
• Teachers can determine the extent of their participation. For example, incorporate POL into a unit of study, perhaps culminating in recitations by each student in front of the class.
• Offer the program as an extra credit project, after school program’s project, or use some or all of the lesson plans offered on-line teachers’ guide.
• Whatever you plan, the end result should be one winner from your school who will participate in the regional contests

What Must Students Do?

Students choose poems from the anthology to analyze, memorize, and recite. More than 1000 poems are online -- diverse choices are available including contemporary, traditional, and international works.

GO TO: 

https://www.poetryoutloud.org/search/?type=poem

• Recitations may not include props, costumes, or music. Some gestures and minimal movement may, however, be appropriate to a given poem.
• The Winner. . . . .Each school’s winner will then participate in the regional contest scheduled for February 8, 2023.
• Participants will prepare three(3) poems to recite.
• The regional winner will participate in the state competition Spring 2023.

Please complete the Registration form, return it by December 6 , 2022 (sooner is better), and we’ll keep you informed as plans for the regional contest progress.