Arts Learning

The Commission has collected a list of books and journals that may be of interest to you as you participate in Poetry Out Loud. The websites are definitely the most appealing as they offer social networking that you, as a student may already be familiar with. Take advantage of these resources, especially the web resources, as they offer you several opportunities to engage with other students who share your interests and experiences. Do you have any recommendations? Let us know.

Websites

Official Poetry Out Loud Website
The NEA and the Poetry Foundation have done an incredible job creating a user friendly poetry database. If you don't feel like thumbing through the anthology, hop online and search for a poem by title, author, subject, hit frequency, etc. Feeling lucky or, want to leave your poem up to fate? Take a gamble and chose "random selection".

Poetry Out Loud MySpace
As a new networking outlet for students the official MySpace Poetry Out Loud web page is a great place to check in on what is happening in the multiple worlds of Poetry Out Loud, seen though the eyes of both teachers and students.

Poetry Out Loud on Facebook
You’ll need to create a Facebook account in order to search for Poetry Out Loud, but once you do, search for Poetry Out Loud and a number of groups will pop up. The official Poetry Out Loud Facebook page has over 60 group members including students, school and program administrators, and NEA and Poetry Foundation staff. You’ll find quite a bit of information on this site throughout the year, including videos, photos, notes, and postings from students like you!

YouTube
You may not think of You Tube as a likely source for Poetry Out Loud, but you’ll be surprised to discover that many students have used the site as a way to garner feedback from peers and show off their skills. You'll find several pages of student recitations, National and Local media, backstage documentaries, and even a spoof of Poetry Out Loud. Find out how other students across the nation are taking to this program and have put their spin on it.

American Academy of Poets
A great resource for teachers, students, and poets. Lists resources ranging from audio guides, podcasts, discussion forums, and reading recommendations from fellow poets.

Modern American Poetry
Critical and historical essays and syllabi on modern American Poetry. Many of the works relate to poems in the Oxford Anthology of Modern American Poetry.

National Endowment for the Arts
The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. The Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

Poets & Writers
A great source for creative writers. The website offers information, support, and guidance for emerging poets, fiction, and creative non-fiction writers and funding for readings and workshops.

The Poetry Foundation
Publisher of Poetry magazine, the Poetry Foundation is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture.

The Poetry Society
Non-profit organization devoted to fostering and promoting poetry in the US. Excerpts from Crossroads (official journal), sponsored events and information about poetry.

Journals and Books

The American Poetry Review
Published six times a year, The American Poetry Review contains a diverse amount of contemporary authors ranging from poetry to prose. Over the past 30 years, APR has helped to make poetry a more public art form without compromising the art of poetry. For more information, visit www.aprweb.org.

An Invitation to Poetry: A New Favorite Poem Project Anthology
edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz
This collection of 200 poems will capture the attention of those experienced in, and newbies to poetry, this anthology is a accompanied by a DVD featuring a variety of everyday people introducing their own favorite poems ranging from classic to contemporary selections. The anthology follows the Favorite Poem Project founded by Robert Pinksy.

Poetry Out Loud
by Robert Alden Rubin
This easy-to-read book will help students, teachers, and poets understand poems more clearly. Every page of poetry has marginal notes highlighting, rhythm, rhyme meter, language, and sound. This book offers a diverse range of poetry to engage any reader.

Poetry Speaks: Hear Great Poets Read Their Work from Tennyson to Plath
by Elise Paschen and Rebekah Presson Mosby
Read along while you listen to 42 renowned poets recite selections from their own work. The book also includes photos and biographies of the poets and three CDs with recordings reflecting the pitch and tone of presenting a poem. A great resource for the Poetry Out Loud program.

Shades of Meaning: Comprehension and Interpretation in Middle School
by Donna Santman
Engaging students to think imaginatively and interpret assigned readings can lead to students writing more creatively and expressive. Santman describes the framework on teaching students how to read between the lines and think creatively while expanding their reading comprehension.

Song of Ourselves: The Uses of Poetry in America
by Joan Shelley Rubin
What is the use of poetry in America? Rubin explores this question addressing the history of poetry in the development of American society. Rubin not only addresses what poetry has meant but also leads the reader to think about what poetry means today, to them.

The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach
by Robin Behn
Contemporary poets contribute exercises to help writers develop poems. The book is broken down into chapters on form, metaphor, structure, sound, rhythm, and reflection. With tips about how to overcome writers block, this book guides a novice poet through the steps of creating a poem.

The Spoken Word Revolution: Redux
edited by Mark Eleveld
Classis, contemporary, and slam poetry rolled into one book. The Spoken Word Revolution offers a unique taste of poetry from across the board. A CD featuring recitations by students, musicians, and poets demonstrates the variety of poems and meanings of poetry. The book is divided into several sections each introduced by an essay by poets, musicians, professors of literature.

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