Kids Can Write Contest

2008-2009 school year

The current Kids Can Write contest begins August 1, 2008 and ends with a POSTMARK DEADLINE of April 25, 2009.

For this year's contest, write a jigsaw poem. Click here for an explanation and suggestions on how to teach jigsaw poems.

Winning classes and individuals will receive an inscribed copy of one of Susan Katz's poetry collections (of their choice).

Classroom winners will be chosen in the following categories:

a. Grades K - 1
b. Grades 2 - 3
c. Grades 4 - 5

Classrooms from grades K-5 may submit work as a class, with a minimum of 10 poems and a maximum of 40 poems to represent your class. Please be sure all poems are clearly marked with your grade level and school mailing address. Please do not send children's individual addresses. Individual winners will be notified through their schools.

Every poet who enters the contest as part of a class is also automatically considered as a contestant for the prize for the best individual poem.

A single poet in grades K-5 may enter the contest independently as long as his/her poetry is submitted through a teacher or parent.

You may send the poems by e-mail to katz@netaxs.com (but please type them into the regular message area; PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM AS ATTACHED FILES.) If you prefer to send them by U.S. mail, contact me for instructions.

Winners will be determined by a committee whose members are either teachers, librarians, writers, or kids.

While Susan Katz will read all contest entries personally and will always be a member of the committee of judges, she will not be able to comment on individual poems.

To see answers to some frequently asked questions, click here.

To find out how this contest is judged, click here.

To see a list of winning classes, click here.

To read sample poems by young poets, click here.

To check out other poetry-writing suggestions, click here.

To return to the main screen, click here.