DAKOTA VALLEY STUDENT WILL REPRESENT SD AT NATIONAL FINALS
PIERRE, S.D. – Next week, Grace Powell, a student at Dakota Valley High School in North Sioux City, SD, will take the national stage at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals.
Powell won first place at South Dakota’s Poetry Out Loud state contest, which earned her the opportunity to compete among 54 high school students from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the national title.
On Tuesday, May 9, the state champions will compete throughout the day in three semifinal rounds organized by region. Powell will compete in semifinal 3, at 5 pm EDT. The top nine finalists (three from each semi-final round) will advance to the final round on Wednesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. EDT.
These events are free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Both days of competition will also be available through a live, one-time-only webcast at http://arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. More information about the program is available at https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2023/poetry-out-loud-national-finals.
View the full press release online [linked here]
WHAT IS POETRY OUT LOUD:
Poetry Out Loud is a FREE program for South Dakota high schoolers (grades 9-12), in public, private, or home school, that encourages students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation. This program provides avenues for students to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn about their literary heritage, and compete for more than $50,000 in prizes.
NCTE & COMMON CORE STANDARDS:
As teachers, you have more to do than prepare lesson plans and teach. At Poetry Out Loud, we've developed FREE lesson plans and classroom resources to help complement your busy schedule. This program also satisfies more than half of the NCTE English Language Arts Standards along with many of the Common Core State Standards in Reading and Language.
POLStandardsFlyer [linked here]
The schedule and curriculum for Poetry Out Loud can be completed in 2 - 3 weeks, depending on each teacher’s schedule. It DOES NOT require full class periods, so instructors can take it at their own pace. We also have virtual POL lessons that students can access on their own. Check out our Youtube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT4a42VZ5YbUsIHN8y-6X5ioaoLrew7Z0
RESOURCES (2023):
Teachers Guide to Poetry Out Loud: Teacher's Guide (PDF)
Poetry Out Loud in the Classroom online at https://www.poetryoutloud.org/teachers-organizers/
Story Flyer (PDF)
Tips on Reciting
Recording Guide for SD Contests (PDF Guide)
Original Poetry Guide (PDF)
PRIZES:
State Champion: $200 and $500 to their school’s library to purchase poetry material
Receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. with a chaperone to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National finals for a chance to win $20,000!
Runner-Up: $100 and $300 to their school’s library to purchase poetry material
Original Poetry: $100
REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL ANYTIME:
Contact State POL Coordinator Madison Lukomski
Madison.lukomski@gmail.com
Or Rebecca Cruse
Rebecca.Cruse@state.sd.us
Phone: (605)295-4052
Learn More: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/
To opt in to POL newsletters containing important deadlines, information, and resources please fill out the following form [linked here] or email Madison.lukomski@gmail.com
