New York, NY (February 11, 2025)—The Academy of American Poets, the founder of National Poetry Month and the publisher of Teach This Poem, a series of free poetry lesson plans serving 40,000 teachers nationwide, is excited to announce two dynamic educational resources: Dear Poet 2025 and this year’s official National Poetry Month poster. These free tools are designed to bring the joy of poetry to classrooms, libraries, and homes across the country, inspiring young readers to find their voices and embrace the power of poetry in fresh, engaging ways.

Dear Poet: A Unique Opportunity to Connect with Living Poets

Dear Poet, an interactive multimedia project, invites students in grades five through twelve to write letters responding to poems written and read by award-winning poets, including Academy Chancellors—a distinguished group of poets who champion poetry nationwide. Since the  launch of Dear Poet in 2015, tens of thousands of students from hundreds of schools and congressional districts across the U.S. and beyond have participated, sharing their reflections on inspiration, creativity, and the writing process. Each letter will be read by a poet, a volunteer educator, or a community member.

Last year, one student—Ainsley from North Carolina—responded to Leila Chatti’s poem “I Went Out to Hear” by writing: “To me, your poem wasn’t just a simple message of: ‘appreciate the little things.’ It was so much more. Yes, there is beauty in passing moments, but there is also beauty in stopping, commemorating, and remembering. To look back at those moments is to be alive.” Chatti responded: “There’s so much beauty all around me, all the time. I know it won’t last. I know it comes, sometimes, with pain. But I open myself to it. As long as I’m alive, I’d like to truly be.”

Dear Poet 2025, which is accepting submissions from February 11 through April 24, features readings by an inspiring lineup of poets, including Academy Chancellors Jericho Brown, Natalie Diaz, Kimiko Hahn, and Afaa Michael Weaver, as well as former Academy Chancellor Anne Waldman and award-winning poets Nickole Brown, Denice Frohman, Joy Ladin, and Meg Day, whose poem is interpreted in American Sign Language.

Students and teachers interested in participating can visit the Dear Poet 2025 page.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Your Own Poetry Poster

This year’s National Poetry Month poster will be distributed free of charge to over 80,000 classrooms, libraries, bookstores, homes, and community spaces in time for National Poetry Month in April—the world’s largest literary celebration. Designed by bestselling Scholastic author and illustrator Christy Mandin, the poster features a powerful excerpt from former Young People’s Poet Laureate and Academy Chancellor Naomi Shihab Nye’s beloved poem “Gate A-4”: “This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.”

Educators, librarians, and poetry lovers of all ages can order a free copy of the 2025 National Poetry Month poster through the official poster request page. 

“Poetry can open many doors, especially in the minds and imaginations of young readers. It can unlock their confidence, give them a voice, and empower them to see the world in new ways,” said Ricardo Maldonado, President and Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets. “When poetry enters a classroom, students begin to trust their own thoughts, share their experiences, and connect with others through language. We want every student to feel that poetry belongs to them—that their words and emotions matter. These resources will help teachers create a space where young people can explore, express, and discover the strength of their own voices.”

Free lesson plans for National Poetry Month from the Academy’s Teach This Poem series will also be available at the Materials for Teachers page in March.

About the Academy of American Poets

The Academy of American Poets is a leading publisher of contemporary poetry and a champion of poets across the United States. The organization awards over $1.3 million annually to more than 200 poets through its prize programs and operates Poets.org, the world’s largest publicly funded poetry website. The Academy also founded and organizes National Poetry Month each April, publishes Poem-a-Day and American Poets magazine, provides free resources for K–12 educators, and hosts readings, literary seminars, and events. Additionally, the Academy leads a national Poetry Coalition to promote the vital role poets play in our culture. Learn more at Poets.org.