Registration
Nevada Poetry Out Loud
Nevada Poetry Out Loud is open to Nevada students in grades 9 -12. Students may participate from in-school or after school programs, as well as home school and distance learning programs. Students compete in school and district semi-final competitions. Winners of the district competitions will compete in the live and in-person state competition. The state champion will represent Nevada in the national competition in Washington, D.C.
Registration open for High School Teachers for 2024-2025 School year.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT REGISTRATION
Individual students whose schools are not participating in Poetry Out Loud may self-register as independent participants. However, they will be required to participate in a school and/or district semi-final competition in their county.
Educational support materials
Starting at the classroom level, teachers are provided with a teacher’s guide and multimedia resources located on a comprehensive website, http://www.poetryoutloud.org all aligned to national standards – to augment regular poetry curriculum with poetry recitation and a school-level competition. School-level recitation champions advance to their district competition. District semi-finalists travel to Reno for the state final competition.
- Why should I participate as an educator? This program is turn-key, with all the materials and study guides provided for teachers to integrate it into their own lesson plans or allow teachers to set it up as a stand-alone program within the school, depending on the need and resources available.
- Why is this good for my students? This program helps students:
- Public speaking skills build self-confidence
- Learn about literary history & contemporary life
- Cash prizes for state winners
- The program fulfills nine NCTE Standards and aligns with Common Core Standards
The 2025 Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Final Competition is scheduled to be held live and in-person this year! The Nevada State Champion receives $200, and his/her school receives $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. The Nevada State Champion will compete in the live, in-person, national final competition in Spring 2025.
How it works:
| August | Registration opens for 2025 Nevada Poetry Out Loud |
| August to September | Set up Poetry Out Loud program, whether in the classroom or extracurricular activity. Explore the resources available. |
| September to November | Recruit participants, choose poems, and set up school competitions. |
| November to December | PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! |
| Dec. 13, 2024 | Registration deadline by 5 p.m. |
| January 2025 | District competitions are held. |
| March 15, 2025 | District winners travel to Reno, Nevada, to represent their district in the statewide Nevada Poetry Out Loud Competition at the University of Nevada, Reno. Can’t attend in person, set up a watch party and support your district winner! |
| May 2025 | The state champion travels to Washington, D.C., for the national competition. Set up watch parties and follow the finals! |
Nevada Arts Council Staff
Shereen Choudhury, Southern Nevada Arts Learning Specialist & Poetry Out Loud State Coordinator, at schoudhury@nevadaculture.org.
Sogand Tabatabaei, Northern Nevada Arts Learning Specialist & Poetry Out Loud State Coordinator, at stabatabaei@nevadaculture.org.