Teachers Guide: Publicity Tips

Download the complete Teachers Guide.
Download the Poetry Out Loud promotional brochure

The Poetry Out Loud contest is a great way to raise school spirit and generate positive visibility for your school. Here are some simple ways to increase awareness of Poetry Out Loud, as well as share your students’ achievements with the community at large.

In Your School

• Post a “save the date” notice on the school calendar and on bulletin boards throughout the school.
• Send a notice announcing classroom champions to the school website/newsletter/TV show.
• Publicize the school-wide competition on the school website and in the student newspaper.
• Write an article about the school-wide contest for your PTA newsletter.
• Announce classroom winners and the school-wide competition in the daily PA broadcast or at assemblies.

In Your Community

• Call your community newspaper (we suggest the metro section editor) and invite them to attend the school-wide competition. See this sample media advisory.
• After the event, send the local newspaper a follow-up press release highlighting the contest, along with a photo of your “poetry champions.” See this sample follow-up press release.
• Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Use the letter to showcase your school’s participation and discuss the benefits of poetry in the classroom.