Education Newswatch August/September 2006

Read for the Record
On August 24, adults and kids will gather in libraries, coffeehouses, schools and community centers around the country over the beloved classic The Little Engine That Could. This nationwide effort, called Read for the Record, has a goal of setting a world reading record in support of early literacy education. Created by nonprofit literacy organization Jumpstart, the read-a-thon's purpose is to connect adults and children in the learning relationships that all children need before they enter kindergarten. For more information, a lesson plan and to register your participation in the event, visit www.readfortherecord.org and click on "Get Involved" then "For Libraries and Schools."

Straight talk - watch the free streaming video at www.stutteringhelp.org

Back-to-School Stuttering Help
The Stuttering Foundation is making its resources for how to best assist disfluent students available free of charge. A 20-minute video, titled Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teachers, provides teachers with information and practical strategies. It features speech-language specialists as well as children who discuss their experiences in the classroom. Available for purchase in DVD or VHS format, it is now also offered free via streaming video at www.stutteringhelp.org A comprehensive guidebook by the same name is now available as a free download, as well.

Hundredth-Day Contest
Share your favorite 100th Day project and enter to win a school visit with children's author and literacy expert Lester L. Laminack. Lester is the author of several professional books for classroom teachers as well as children's titles (all from Peachtree Publishers) including Saturdays and Teacakes (2004),Trevor's Wiggly-Wobbly Tooth (2002) and the new Jake's 100th Day of School (2006). E-mail your favorite 100th Day project description and a photograph in JPG format to hello@peachtree-online.com beginning August 31, 2006. All entries will be put in a drawing to win other prizes, including a signed copy of Jake's 100th Day of School. Entries may be considered for inclusion in the upcoming Jake's 100th Day of School Teachers Guide. The contest ends on Read Across America Day, March 2, 2007, and the winning project will be announced March 20 and featured on Peachtree's website. For official details, visit www.peachtree-online.com starting August 31.

DIRECTV School Fundraiser
DIRECTV, Inc., has announced a fundraising opportunity called DIRECTV4Schools. Through this new program, the satellite television provider will donate $100 to a participating school for every parent, teacher or friend who activates and maintains DIRECTV® service for one year. DIRECTV will also donate $100 for any current customer who makes a new programming commitment and continues their DIRECTV service for an additional year. Every person who activates DIRECTV service or makes a new programming commitment through the program will be entered into a sweepstakes (the grand prize is a $100,000 college scholarship) at the end of the 2006-2007 school year. In addition, every person who activates or makes a new programming commitment before September 30, 2006, will receive a special gift from DIRECTV. Schools must register for the program at www.directv4schools.com or by calling 877-674-7246.

Reviewer's Checklist
This is a searchable guide to books for children, teens, and families - and a great resource addition to your fall newsletter to parents. There are more than 9,500 titles from more than 150 publishers. Users can Search by keyword, publisher, or author. If you want to search by theme or category, just click the Browse button to go directly to collected reviewer checklists. Many of the book reviews link to actual pages of the book. www.reviewerschecklist.com