World Read Aloud Day: March 9, 2011

Celebrate the Power of Words and Stories and Take Action for Global Literacy
Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their name. What would you miss most if you could not read or write? Imagine your world without words.

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology. By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.


Across the globe nearly 171 million children could be lifted out of poverty if they left school with basic reading and writing skills. Quality literacy education is the difference between life and death, prosperity and despair. This is literacy for survival.

It’s time to join the global literacy movement. http://www.litworld.org/worldreadaloudday/
"I know the day is coming when global literacy isn’t fiction. I don’t know how long it will take, but I know that day will come."

- 10 year-old World Read Aloud Day Participant from Connecticut, USA

Accomplished so far:

• Reached 35 countries and 40,000 participants in Year One, March 3, 2010

• Preparing for March 9, 2011

for more info and sign up: http://www.litworld.org/worldreadaloudday/


KATHY STEMKE'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
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DKV Writing 4 U is having a March 2011 Business Marketing Special

To celebrate winter coming toward a long awaited end, we’re offering one 200 – 300 word ghostwritten health or business article per customer for a rock-bottom introductory price of $10.

Utilizing organic marketing is an essential part of online business. Providing quality and valuable information is what creates an information funnel back to your site. So, if you’re a business owner take advantage of our special today.

The special will be effective from March 1st through March 15th. For full details visit:

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DKV Writing 4 U is a writing service that includes ghostwriting, copywriting, editing, proofreading, critiquing, and resumes.


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Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer. She is also a member of the Professional Writers Alliance, and the International Association of Professional Ghostwriters.


Learn about the DKV Writing Team at: http://www.dkvwriting4u.com/dkv-writing-team/


KATHY STEMKE'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
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Dancing With The Pen: a collection of today’s best youth writing!

Check out this media release of Dallas Woodburns latest young writers anthology.  My granddaughter, Victoria Hutchinson is in this book.  I will be posting some excerpts and more information soon!

M E D I A R E L E A S E
Contact: Dallas Woodburn

Write On! Books and Write On! For Literacy

Phone: (805) 889-5570

E-mail: dallaswoodburn@aol.com

Web: http://www.writeonbooks.org/

Dancing With The Pen:
a collection of today’s best youth writing

What:

• Dancing With The Pen, the debut anthology from Write On! Books youth publishing company, features stories, poems, and essays by more than sixty young writers in middle school and high school from across the United States and even abroad: Singapore, Canada, New Zealand.

• Write On! Books has a twofold goal: give young writers an outlet for expression, while also publishing exciting, creative stories that get kids excited about reading.

• Founder and editor Dallas Woodburn says, “Dancing with the Pen is a book for young writers, young readers, and the young at heart. Even if you are not normally a big reader, this book is still for you. Maybe you'll recognize yourself in these pages. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to pick up a pen, step out on the dance floor, and go for a whirl yourself!”

Who:

• Dancing With The Pen features the work of more than sixty young writers from across the U.S. and abroad.

• Dallas Woodburn, anthology editor, is the author of two award-winning collections of short stories. She has written more than 80 articles and essays for national publications including Family Circle, Writer’s Digest, The Los Angeles Times, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Creative Writing and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Fiction Writing at Purdue University.

Why:

• Woodburn founded Write On! Books publishing company in 2010 as an offshoot of her organization Write On! For Literacy that empowers youth through reading and writing. The annual Write On! Holiday Book Drive has donated nearly 12,000 new books to underprivileged kids.
Where:

• Copies of Dancing With The Pen are available at www.writeonbooks.org for $24.95, which includes shipping and handling. Discounted bulk orders are also available.

• For every copy purchased, a new book will be donated to Write On’s Holiday Book Drive to benefit disadvantaged youth.

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
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Check Out My Movement and Music Article!

Click here to see my guest poat article: http://wholechildpublishing.blogspot.com/2011/02/kathy-stemke.html#comments

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285
 

5 Free Online Resources for Teaching Early Math Skills

If there’s one subject that’s hated by most kids, it’s Mathematics; however, this subject’s bad reputation is more because of poor teaching than because it is difficult. With the right foundation and teachers who know how to teach, you’ll see Math in a whole new light. Today, it’s easier to love Mathematics and become skilled at it because there are many more resources available, and thanks to the Internet, most of them are free. So if you’re looking for sites that help with building math skills and boosting the interest of your young students, here are a few to start with:

• Online Math Learning: This site has all you need to get children interested in Mathematics – it has fun puzzles, quizzes and lessons to explain the basics of the subject at various levels, from kindergarten to Grade 12. It teaches Math for children through videos, songs, games and other activities according to their age and mental abilities.

• Kid Sites Math: This site points you to dozens of other math sites. You can browse through each of them to find what you’re looking for, based on the interests of your child and their skill level.

• Cool Math for Kids: This jazzy site teaches children the basics of Mathematics in fun and interesting ways. It offers resources for teachers and parents, and features Math games and jigsaw puzzles too. It’s billed as “the amusement park of Math and more”, so check it out if you’re looking for free and fun Math resources.

• Math Playground: Go here if you need to teach Math skills to children ranging from pre-school to middle school. This site features logic games and puzzles, word problems and other Mathematics-based games that are sure to boost your youngster’s interest in the subject and improve their skills.

• Kids Konnect: This site is a treasure trove of resources that offer teachers and parents help in improving the Mathematics skills of children.

Check out all the sites that are featured here, and choose the ones that best fit your child’s temperament and interest.

The key to understanding and doing well in Mathematics is interest – once this is developed, and children learn that Math is fun and not the drudgery that most people purport it to be, teaching them Mathematics is a cinch!

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by April Davis, she writes on the topic of Accredited Degree Online. She welcomes your questions and comments at her email: april.davis83(@)gmail(.)com.

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
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Meet Talented Author J. R. Turner

I'd like to introduce author J. R. Turner to you today.

J.R. is a huge fan of all things fun and thrilling. She gets a kick out of surprising her kids and loves to tell goofy jokes—that aren’t always funny. She lives in Wisconsin, a state known for cheese, bratwurst, and beer—and 1001 recipes for Cheesy Bratwurst Beer Soup. Between writing books, enjoying the outdoors, cooking exotic recipes like Kitty Litter Cake, and trying her hand at all types of arts and crafts, her life is one adventure after another. Visit http://www.jennifer-turner.com to learn more!

J. R. Thank you so much for having me visit today, Kathy!

KATHY: Thank you for coming J. R.  Can you tell my readers a little about your upcoming series?

J. R. I began writing this series at the request of my publisher. Electric Shorts—Sparking Young Imaginations is a pilot program designed to reach the reluctant reader. Each series runs six short stories and offers something unique. My series, Delbert Dallas and the Dragon Diaries, began in a brainstorming session with my 10-year-old son, Matthew. I had two themes I wanted to play with—musical instruments and history. Wow, did we go places!

KATHY: That's exciting!  I'm a retired teacher who knows how important interesting stories are to reluctant readers. I love that your ten year old son is your partner. Tell us more.

J.R. We began with the idea of a boy who had an electric guitar that turned into a time traveling dragon named Barbeque Bob. From there, we designed his archenemy, Walter Wheeler, with his own dragon named Firebrand. The boys visit different warriors and wars throughout history. From Vikings and Greek soldiers, to Denmark in World War II and all the way back to the Mongolian empire, we found little known facts and interesting myths and legends to include in the series.

KATHY: Wow!  Now I like your stories even better.  Not only do reluctant readers get to read, but they also learn history facts too.  When will the stories be available?

The titles and their release dates are:

March 22nd: Voyage to Viking Island


April 22nd: The Civil War Skirmish


May 22nd: Viva La Francine!


June 22nd: Meltdown in Marathon


July 22nd: Don’t Dis the Danish


August 22nd: Genghis Khan Do It!

Each short story will cost $.99 and will be available as an electronic download only. This makes them cost effective for schools and other literacy programs that wish to use them as teaching tools. We’re very excited to become part of summer reading programs as well. Our goal is to reach out to the kids who may not enjoy reading. For this reason, we’re using easy language and high action to keep the pace quick and hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end.

KATHY: Where can we find out more about you, your other books, and these great stories J. R.?

I’ll be updating my blog and website as we grow closer to the release date. Don’t be shy, stop on by, and let me know what you think! My website is http://www.jennifer-turner.com/ and my blog is http://jr-turner.blogspot.com/. Leave a comment today and you’ll be entered to win a free book thong in your favorite color!

KATHY: J.R. has included this great activity for kids to do!  Have fun!!

Delbert Dallas and the Dragon Diaries Activity

Dragon Guitar

empty shoe box

large rubber bands

ruler or stick

Cut an oval in the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands around the box. Replace cover and tape in place. Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the box on one end to act as the arm of the guitar. Cut Dragon head and wings from card stock. Paint, color, decorate with glitter and fun objects like sequins or stickers. Glue head to the stick and wings to each side of the box.

To play, strum or pluck the rubber band.  Have fun!

J. R. Thanks again, Kathy, for having me here today!

KATHY: Your welcome J. R.   I know the kids will love making this dragon guitar.  Actually, so will I!  I wish you great success with this much needed series o short stories.

Tomorrow on our virtual book tour Nancy Famolari is featuring author Jennifer Wylie.

KATHY STEMKE'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
 Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile
 Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285