2017-2018 Poetry Out Loud Registration is now open.

Deadline to register is October 20th, 2017.  If you would like to register your school or classroom please follow the link below: 

Registration Form:

https://goo.gl/forms/RwKu3baMtclKVUqx1

Informational Teleconferences for educators that have any questions about the Poetry Out Loud Program please sign up below:

Informational Teleconference Sign Up:

https://goo.gl/forms/adld1ZHE8qKDaFSB2

2017 -2018 Competition Info:
October 20, 2017—Deadline for Alaska Poetry Out Loud Registration

December 1, 2017―Deadline to submit state finals date to poetryoutloud@arts.gov

January 26, 2018―Deadline to submit schools list & participation numbers to poetryoutloud@arts.gov

January 26, 2018—Deadline for Alaska Rural School Competitions

January 29, 2018—Video Posting Deadline for Alaska Rural Schools

February 2, 2018—Deadline for all Alaska Regional Competitions

February 5, 2018—Deadline for all Alaska State Finalist Info to the State POL Program

March 6, 2018 —Alaska State POL Finals

March 13, 2018—Deadline for State Finals competitions*

March 15, 2018—Deadline for state champs to register for National Finals

April 13, 2018–Deadline for registering to get a name tag at Nationals

April 23-25, 2018—Poetry Out Loud National Finals

2018 is the 13th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud, and we hope you will join us!  Rather than being a simple exercise in memorization, learning to recite poetry encompasses college and career ready skills, including structural analysis, interpretation of meaning, point of view, close reading and the use of higher order thinking skills. Students must read closely to determine what the text says, and are then asked to use the highest order thinking skills possible to translate and create what they know about the text into a unique performance that uses subtle gesture, posture and physical presence to embody the meaning of words. Poetry Out Loud supports learning for all students, as each one is able to approach it from his or her own level AND as the program aligns with the Alaska ELA standards.

Our hope for Poetry Out Loud, is that teachers will embrace the program as a teaching and learning tool that supports ongoing curriculum, and is required of every student for credit. We know that many of the greatest successes happen by surprise, and often students who would never view themselves as successful in this area may discover a new opportunity and strength. Many teachers admit that they would never have imagined students being able to do what it took to create an imaginative and engaging performance as they witnessed from students in this program. Students can discover very important ideas and concepts that will stay with them forever.

Please consider involving ALL your students in every class regardless of the level. AP students may excel, but so might your ELL students, or those with specific needs that usually require adaptation. The arts level the playing field for all, and the National Poetry Out Loud program website includes accessibility guidance within the teaching resources section. Thank you for your commitment to your students. Our goal is to support you in using the arts to reach your students – all of them.

What is The Process?

At the school level, each school including grades 9-12 coordinates its own competition. School winners participate in a region-wide competition; in Alaska, rural schools submit a video recording of their school winner’s poetry recitation for adjudication by a panel in Juneau. Currently, Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks North Star BSD, and the Mat-Su BSD are able to support a multi-school, in-person urban regional competition. One winner from each region travels to Juneau for the Alaska state competition. The winner of the state competition travels to Washington DC for the national finals.  The winner of Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest receives a $20,000 cash prize. Transportation and lodging for the Alaska state finalists is provided by the Alaska state competition in Juneau and for the Alaska state champion and a chaperone to the national competition in Washington DC.

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2016 Competition Info:

Juneau Arts & Humanities Council is delighted to announce the winner of the 2016 Poetry Out Loud State Championship is Shannon Croft of West Anchorage High and the runner up is Rachel Moore of Shaktoolik. The POL competition was held March 15th at the Studio @360 North. There were 9 participants from high schools throughout the state of Alaska.

2015 Competition Info:

Juneau Arts & Humanities Council is delighted to announce the winner of the 2015 Poetry Out Loud State Championship is Maeva Ordaz of West Anchorage High and the runner up is Rachel Moore of Shaktoolik. The POL competition was held March 14th at the Studio @360 North. There were 9 participants from high schools throughout the state of Alaska.

Maeva’s winning performance in the National Competition in 2015

Watch To hear about the program from the 2015 Alaska and National Poetry Out Loud Champion, Maeva Ordaz, in a video she produced with the Alaska Teen Media Institute you can click the link at https://vimeo.com/138813527. Maeva discusses the value of the program and her experience with the Alaska State and National Poetry Out Loud Program.

2014 Competition Info:

Hear about the program from the 2014 Alaska State POL finalists

Learn more about Poetry Out Loud

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