Dayton Region Teachers: Celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month by engaging your students in the literary and performing arts! The Ohio Arts Council has announced that Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest for high school students, will be available throughout Ohio in 2015-16.

Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud teaches students their literary heritage while also helping them master public speaking skills and build self-confidence. Students memorize classical and contemporary poetry from a diverse selection of authors, then use elements of theatre to recite the poems in a pyramid-structured competition.

Students compete first at the classroom and then at the school level. Winners from each participating school are invited to compete in a regional semi-final contest in Columbus, Cleveland or Dayton, in early March 2016. The top scoring students from each semi-final will advance to the state finals to be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. The winner at the state level will receive $300 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship, which will be held in Washington, DC, May 2-4, 2016. State and national winners receive cash prizes, scholarships, and stipends for their school libraries.

Teachers who sign up to participate receive all of the materials needed to complete the program, including free lesson plans, a teacher’s guide, and the Poetry Out Loud anthology. The curriculum can be completed in 2-3 weeks and adapted to each class’ needs and schedule.

For questions or to register, contact Ohio’s state Poetry Out Loud coordinator at pol.contractor@oac.state.oh.us or call 614-728-4481. Visit poetryoutloud.org for more information about this free national arts program.