HIGH SCHOOLS: GET INVOLVED NOW!
LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 21, 2011
In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and Georgia Council for the Arts, The Literary Center at the Margaret Mitchell House administers Poetry Out Loud for the state of Georgia. Enrollment is now open for the 2011-2012 competition year.
What is POL
This innovative program encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance of the written word. It incorporates the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English and drama class. Poetry Out Loud, which began in 2005, helps students improve public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn great poetry in literature.
Functioning much like a spelling bee, the POL competition uses a pyramid structure that begins in the classroom. Winners of each classroom recitation competition advance to a school-wide contest, then each school’s top winner goes to a semi-final competition. Semi-final competitions take place locally in February and March 2012. Finalists from the semi-final competitions will advance to the state finals in March 2012. Finally, one Georgia winner competes at the National Finals in Washington, D.C.
Prizes
The winner at the state level will receive $500 and an all-expenses-paid trip for winner and adult chaperone to compete in the National Finals in May 2012. The state winner’s school library will also receive a $500 prize for the purchase of poetry books. The runner-up is awarded $400, with $400 for that student’s school, and a third-place winner will receive $300 plus $300 for his/her school. At the national competition, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded, with one national winner taking home a college scholarship for $20,000.
Program Materials
Curriculum materials include a teacher’s guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, a print and online poetry anthology, an audio CD demonstrating spoken word through use of famous actors and writers, and a “Learning Recitation” DVD. All of these items are provided free to participating schools.
How to Get Involved
If your school would like to get involved, we need to hear from you as soon as possible. For a high school to participate, one point person, or "school coordinator," at that location must commit to be the liaison between the high school and the state coordinator.
Sign up online to be a school coordinator.
For questions or to register your school, contact the State Coordinator Melanie Eisenhart via email or phone at 404.814.2063.
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PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Deadlines and Upcoming Dates
Octoer 21, 2011: Deadline for school registration
February 17, 2012: Deadline for school competitions
February/March 2012: Semi-final competitions (Dates TBA)
March 2012: State Finals in Atlanta
May 13-15, 2012: National Finals in Washington, D.C.
In the News
2011 Competitions
Program Resources
Quick Links
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