About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Click here to learn more.
Who Can Participate
Bigger is better. California's Poetry Out Loud is the largest state POL competition in the nation, with room still to grow. Every high school in the state is eligible and encouraged to participate. Students who are homeschooled can get involved by joining in a local registered high school's competition, or by organizing a contest with fellow homeschooled students. Poetry Out Loud is accessible to students with disabilities—learn more here.
Teacher's Resources
- Poetry Out Loud Teacher's Guide
- Find a poem
- Lesson Plans - Poetry Out Loud is not intended to replace classroom activities like creative writing. In fact, the two naturally complement each other. For that reason, National Endowment for the Arts has created a number of optional writing activities and lesson plans for teachers.
- Organizing a Contest
- Understanding the Impact of Poetry Out Loud: Findings from a National Study
Judge and Contest Resources
Click Here to access judge and tabulator resources!