by Stone Marshall | Jan 2, 2015 | Awesome Book News, parent-news |
Last week, Nicole Bollerman won $150,000 from Capital One’s #WishForOthers contest. But rather than spend the money on herself, the 26-year-old teacher at UP Academy Dorchester decided to give the money to her third-grade students. In her contest entry, Bollerman wrote that she wished her “voracious, adorable, hardworking, loving scholars all leave for their December break with a book in their hand.” This won over the hearts of the people at Capital One and, ultimately, won Bollerman the funds needed to make her wish come true.
“I really made the wish for my students, and I was blessed, lucky, and thankful that Capital One gave me the opportunity,” Bollerman told ABC News. “Since I made the wish for my students, I thought I would do something to make their lives better rather than spend it on myself.”
In addition to the $150,000, which Bollerman hopes to put toward better computer access and coding lessons for the children, Capital One gifted each of Bollerman’s students with three books of her choosing: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, My Father’s Dragon, and Where the Wild Things Are. But in order for every child at the school to receive reading material, Bollerman and her mother used their own money to buy books for all of the other students. Is that teacher of the year material or what?
Read original article here:
by Stone Marshall | Dec 26, 2014 | parent-news |
A third-grade teacher in Boston who won $150,000 in an online contest donated her entire winnings to her school.
Nicole “Nikki” Bollerman, 26, was honored this week by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh after she donated her grand prize of $150,000 from a Capital One #WishForOthers contest that also funded three books per student.
“I really made the wish for my students and I was blessed, lucky and thankful that Capital One gave me the opportunity,” Bollerman told ABC News today. “Since I made the wish for my students I thought I would do something to make their lives better rather than spend it on myself.”
Bollerman teaches general third-grade education at UP Academy Dorchester, a public charter school that’s a year old.
“My #wishforothers is that my voracious, adorable, hardworking, loving scholars all leave for their December break with a book in their hand,” wrote Bollerman in her winning entry, according to the school’s website.
Capital One’s video of the book unveiling has been viewed about 900,000 times.
Bollerman said she has been working with school administration to make sure the gift will “improve the lives of the students,” including better computer access and coding lessons for the children, though the school has not made any commitments yet.
Capital One provided three books of Bollerman’s choice to her students:
1. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul,” the latest book in the popular children’s series. “Those kids just eat up those Wimpy Kid books,” Bollerman said.
2. “My Father’s Dragon,” a 1948 novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett, “one of my favorite chapter books growing up,” Bollerman said.
3. “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak, who grew up in Bollerman’s town. “I wanted the kids to have a picture book to share with their younger brothers and sisters,” she said.
Because Bollerman wanted all the third-graders to have books to read over December break, she and her mother bought each child not in her class a book as well.
Read original article Here:
by Stone Marshall | Dec 26, 2014 | parent-news |
Every year is a good year for books, and 2014 was no exception.
This week’s reviews include books that may lead to laughter, suspense or tears, as the stories lead readers on big and small adventures.
“Rain Reign” by Ann M. Martin, 2014, Feiwel & Friends, 226 pages, ages 9 and older.
Words have an important meaning to Rose Howard, especially homonyms, or words that sound alike but are spelled differently. Rose keeps a running list of homonyms, both mentally and on paper, which is one way she strives for order and control over her life. But order is difficult to find amidst life with her father. When a hurricane hits the town, the chaos impacts property, people and pets, including Rose’s dog Rain. Rose and her father try to come to terms with loss in many forms, but each needs order of a different sort.
“Skink No Surrender” by Carl Hiaasen, 2014, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 281 pages, ages 10 and older.
Adventure, a bit of mystery and a hungry alligator are at the center of this novel for middle-grade readers. Richard feels a sense of urgency to find his cousin Malley after she runs off with a strange guy she met online. Bypassing the police’s efforts, Skink, a one-eyed derelict ex-governor of Florida and Richard’s new friend, offers to aid in the search. Their quest takes the two into a swamp, along a river and through various towns of the Florida gulf coast, as Skink become an unlikely hero. Readers may recognize Hiassen’s other titles for younger readers, “Hoot,” “Chomp,” and “Scat.”
“The Map Trap” by Andrew Clements, 2014, Atheneum, 130 pages, ages 8-11.
Alton is a sixth grader who loves to make maps. Sometimes he gets creative with his maps, but he keeps these a secret … until one day his map folder goes missing. His reputation around the school could be at risk if the maps are found by certain people. Can Alton find the map thief before it’s too late? Andrew Clements, best known for the book “Frindle,” has sold over 10 million copies of his books. His school stories are funny, intriguing and usually have a surprise ending — a combination sure to please.
“A Snicker of Magic” by Natalie Lloyd, 2014, Scholastic Press, 311 pages, ages 9-12.
A snicker of magic is just a small amount of left over magic, and for Felicity Pickle and her family, this may be just enough magic to break the curse on their family that dates back many years. Felicity will have to use her special talent to find just the right words to convince her mother that life will be “spindiddly” (better than awesome) if only they stay put for a while and work things out.
This enchanting tale will be a word-lover’s dream, extending the vocabulary of a wide range of readers.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul” by Jeff Kinney, 2014, Amulet Books, 217 pages, ages 8-11.
In the zany style of the Wimpy Kid series, Greg Heffley’s family sets off on a family vacation that becomes unequal parts adventure and disaster. It’s safe to say that Greg, and his brothers Rodrick and Manny, won’t soon forget the biting pig, the pestering seagull and the crazy Beardsleys. Readers will be glued to their seat to find out how the family survives all of the fun of a family vacation.
Read Original Article Here:
by Stone Marshall | Dec 23, 2014 | parent-news |
Editor’s note: Second-grade students at Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School in Freeport have been busy writing letters to Santa Claus this month. The Journal-Standard is publishing a sampling of the letters today.
Dear Santa,
I want a real tablet, one Barbie book, one shirt and one kid’s car for my cousin Jaliyah. How are the reindeer doing? What do they eat? What games are they playing?
Love, Raniyah
Dear Santa,
How are you doing? I would like a doll. I would love an Easy Bake Oven. I would like a car for my brother, Gavin. I would like for my brother Elijah to get an Xbox One. Have a great day.
Love, Miranda
Dear Santa,
Hi Santa. I want to see you. I want a Barbie Dream House. I want a Barbie book. I’d like a pair of socks and my cousin wants a Barbie doll.
Love, Zaniya
Dear Santa,
How are the reindeer doing? I want a snowmobile, please. I want a LeBron James book. I want you to give my mom a necklace with a heart on it.
Sincerely, Payton
Dear Santa,
How are the reindeer and the elves? What is Mrs. Claus doing? I hope I’ve been a good boy so I can get a present. I want a cotton candy maker and a sweater and a Star Wars book. I wish my cousin, Mousie, can get a present, too.
Love, Demari
Dear Santa,
How are the elves? I want one sword and I want a Junie B. Jones book and pajamas and art supplies for my grandma.
From, Jayce
Dear Santa,
How are your elves? Well, I want a cupcake maker. Well, this is a bye-bye! Can you get a tablet?
Love, Cherita
Dear Santa,
Are your reindeer doing good? I would like a yo-yo. Can I have an animal book, please? Can I have a sweatshirt that says LOVE? And could you get Evan a Hot Wheels car?
Love, Lani
Dear Santa,
How are the reindeer? I would like a yo-yo, please. I would like a Minecraft book, please. I would like a shirt, please. I wish Kaden a surprise gift.
From, Keegan
Dear Santa,
Can I have a Barbie doll because I have a lot of toys. I would like a Princess book. Could I have a Husky dog named Rusty? My sister would like a Barbie doll.
Love, Adrianna
Dear Santa,
I want a Barbie doll. How is Mrs. Claus? I want a yellow skirt and a red and yellow dress. I want a gift for my sister, Faith.
Read Original Article Here:
by Stone Marshall | Dec 22, 2014 | Awesome Book News, parent-news |
Three-week shopping season that began Thanksgiving week, the newest installment in the Wimpy Kid series has sold more than 535,000 print copies at outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan.
Other strong print sellers for the season include the original Elf of the Shelf, which has sold about 210,000 copies, and 41, which has sold about 189,000 copies since Thanksgiving week.
Read Original Article Here:
