Heart of Art—Welcome to Poetry Out Loud 2026

By Meghan Joy “MOJO” O’Keefe

This article was originally published in the Ledger Dispatch Newspaper on October 10, 2025. Click here to read the article on the newspaper website.

Poetry season is just getting started across the state. Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide competition for high school students and it is brought to the people of California by their local arts councils. Since 2016, the network of State Local Partners (also known as county arts councils) have worked to train teachers on this free curriculum, administrate the county competitions, and support the champions traveling to the state finals in Sacramento each March.

This year is no different, as Poetry Out Loud begins to launch throughout the state, reaching new schools and communities, introducing teens to the power of their own voices, and giving them a platform to put that voice to work.

Launched by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in 2005, this standard-based curriculum is more than a contest (and chance to win over $20,000). Many people who participate in Poetry Out Loud fall in love with the program and never even compete. It’s because words are fun and fascinating and can open the unique language we each hold within our authentic self. Many people love poetry but are simply not interested in competing with it.

For those of us who are not interested in competitive poetry recitations, Poetry Out Loud is a treasure trove of fun for anyone who wants to learn with poetry and play with words—you don’t even have to be in high school to get a lot out of this super cool resource that puts thousands of poems at your disposal for free.

The Poetry Out Loud website (poetryoutloud.org) is currently under construction, but is still functioning. At that site, any teacher or poetry lover can find super helpful lesson plans to teach poetry in your class (regardless of your interest in the competition itself). These lessons help you and your students analyze text, learn about poetic forms, explore memorization techniques, understand mood and tone, consider historical context, employ dynamics, and explore vocal techniques. In addition to PDF lesson plans, there are fun video lessons—again ALL FREE.

My personal favorite is the poem of the day. This feature allows anyone to open up the app or website to discover a daily gift of fabulous poems across all times and spaces throughout humanity. It’s such a fun way to learn about other poets and be introduced to new word play that you may not have encountered before.

As a Poetry Out Loud teacher since 2017, I have seen this program bring smiles and laughter to some of the most serious and disengaged teens. Even in classrooms where memorization is not an option, students have had a blast with the Poetry Out Loud app (secretly learning Poetry and Literacy just by having fun with this free content). Of course, they all get a kick out of my silliness while we play with movement and voice—it’s impossible to learn recitation without training your breath and body.

This season, Amador County Arts Council (Amador Arts) is bringing Poetry Out Loud to classrooms in Amador and San Joaquin counties. If you want Poetry Out Loud in your classroom, simply contact yours truly at (209) 256-8166 or info@amadorarts.org. Teachers who want a brief Poetry Out Loud workshop in their classroom are encouraged to reach out as soon as possible to book your free session.

The Amador Poetry Out Loud Competition will take place on Sunday, January 25th at 2 PM at First 5 Amador, 975 Broadway, Jackson CA 95642. This event is open to the public and free to attend. Each High School campus in Amador County may send up to three students to compete in the county finals. Students must register by submitting the Poetry Out Loud Registration form available on our website at amadorarts/org/poetryoutloud. The deadline for students to register for the competition is January 9th at 11:59 PM. Visit our website at https://www.amadorarts.org/poetry/ to get all the information.

Following the county competition, the winner will continue onto the state finals in March (all expenses paid), where yours truly will teach a poetry workshop to all of the state’s champions. I look forward to reporting back to our readers about the experience—the youth are always passionate and inspiring. Poetry Out Loud empowers youth across the country to develop their voices and put them to use. This program supports professional development for youth of any background, regardless of career pursuits. By teaching communication, public speaking, text analysis, dynamics, breath, and tone, Poetry Out Loud prepares any teen with grit and resilience as they approach their next big steps in life.

If you want to be part of bringing professional development to youth and young artists who are dying to work in the arts sector, then your passions belong at Amador Arts. Together, we provide resources, opportunities, and professional development to artists in our community so that the next generation of creatives can thrive right here at home—because the arts drive tourism, community cohesion, and wellness. Amador County Arts Council (Amador Arts) is a 501c3 #94-2811333 since 1982. A designated partner to the California Arts Council and member of the Sierra Regional Arts Organizations Collaborative Network, Amador Arts brings resources, opportunities, and professional development to advance arts, culture, and creativity for all people. Find out more at amadorarts.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Since this article was written, the Poetry Out Loud website has undergone significant changes to content, lesson plans, and the poetry anthology. Please do not hesitate to contact Amador Arts with questions at (209) 256-8166 or info@amadoararts.org.