Poetry Out Loud – Bringing Poetry to Life in the Classroom! Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest for high school students, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and produced in this state by the Washington State Arts Commission. This is Poetry Out Loud’s ninth year in Washington State, and we look forward to continued growth. Any school serving students in grades 9-12 may participate. Poetry Out Loud builds on the recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form. Participating teachers are provided with free multimedia curriculum materials – DVD, teacher’s guide, posters, and comprehensive website. This program is aligned with NCTE and Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts, as well as Washington State standards in communication, reading, and theatre. Memorizing and reciting poetry can be a fantastic learning experience. Many teachers who participated in the past few years have seen this program engage students in surprising ways - whether it was the academically advanced students or the students who were shy, or struggling academically, this opportunity gave students new ways to connect to literature and to express themselves. Professional Development Workshops – Poetry Out Loud teacher workshops are offered every fall, in every participating region. These workshops include an overview of the program; information about running a successful classroom and school-wide program; and strategies for teaching memorization and recitation. We welcome new teachers who are just getting started, as well as “veteran” Poetry Out Loud teachers who are interested in sharing tips and strategies with peers as well as getting a refresher on the program framework. The workshops are free. Clock hours are available. Please register no later than 1 week prior to the date of the workshop you wish to attend. Workshop Schedule for the Puget Sound Area Tacoma (Registration Deadline October 16 th ) – Tuesday, October 22nd, 4:00-7:00 pm. Tacoma Public Library – Main Branch, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402. To register: Email Judy Cullen, poetry.out.loud@arts.wa.gov Olympia (Registration Deadline October 23rd) – Wednesday, October 30th, 4:00-7:00 pm. Capital Region ESD 113, 6005 Tyee Dr SW, Tumwater. To register: create an account or sign in to www.myesd.org , Session ID 47541. For questions regarding registration: email Nichol Lindsay nlindsay@esd113.org Judy Cullen State Coordinator Poetry Out Loud | ArtsWA w: arts.wa.gov p: 360.586.1270