Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition 2021
In the midst of a truly unpredictable year, we have seen moments of extraordinary resiliency. One such glimmer was the October announcement of the Inaugural City of Rockford Youth Poet Laureate, Jocelyn Kuntz. As Youth Poet Laureate, Jocelyn will support the annual event of the Poetry Out Loud recitation competition for 2021.
In the classroom or online, high school Speech, English, or Theater students can participate in Poetry Out loud 2021. In the sixteenth season of Poetry Out Loud, the regional and state contests will be virtual. As Northern Illinois Regional Coordinator, we will make the submission and evaluation process easy and accessible.
Poetry Out Loud satisfies most of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) English Language Arts Standards. In addition to memorizing and performing stellar poems, students will have the opportunity to discuss poetry and—if the teacher wishes to use the supplemental lesson plans—to write poetry of their own.
Competing: This year students can record themselves reciting a memorized poem for submission.
How to navigate Poetry Out loud for your students: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/teachers-organizers/
The poetry selection anthology is live for students now.
Please follow the instructions here to get started: https://arts.illinois.gov/grants-programs/special-initiatives/poetry-out-loud/how-participate
2021 POL Contests:
Northern Illinois Regional: February 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Illinois State: Early March
Although we cannot be in-person for school competitions, we are happy to know that your students can participate in this wonderful program safely.
Contact: Kate Kilgore
Education & Community Engagement Director
Rockford Area Arts Council
k.kilgore@artsforeveryone.com
