If you’d like to set up a free 15 min skype session with me, take a look at the dates that I’ve posted for Dec-June. Teachers, librarians, and parents of homeschoolers can sign up now! First come, first served.
Math teacher Mindy LeBlanc had a great idea for a resource for her classroom: a creative writer showing that even writers need to learn math. Here is my video. Teachers, if you can’t access youtube in your classroom, please let me know if you’re aware of a better option than TeacherTube. TeacherTube isn’t processing my videos well for some reason.
ISBNS for Mary Amato’s Books:
Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook (Holiday House, 2010).
ISBN-13: 978-0823423866
Invisible Lines (Egmont USA, 2009).
ISBN-13: 978-1606841877
Take the Mummy and Run: The Riot Brothers are on a Roll (Holiday House, 2009).
ISBN-13: 978-0823422739
The Chicken of the Family (Putnam, 2008).
ISBN-13: 978-0399241963
Stinky and Successful: The Riot Brothers Never Stop (Holiday House, 2007).
ISBN-13: 978-0823421961
Please Write in this Book (Holiday House, 2006).
ISBN-13: 978-0823421381
Drooling and Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return! (Holiday House, 2006).
ISBN-13: 978-0823422043
The Naked Mole-Rat Letters (Holiday House, 2005).
ISBN-13: 978-0823420988
Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All (Holiday House, 2004).
ISBN-13: 978-0823420629
The Word Eater (Holiday House, 2000).
ISBN-13: 978-0823419401
I love the state of Maryland.
Every October, I choose one school in Maryland (as long as it is 31 miles or less from the intersection of Colesville Road and University Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD) to receive a free author visit (one or two assemblies) to be scheduled on a mutually-agreeable date/time during the December, January, or February.
Who can enter? Teachers, librarians, administrators, parents, and/or students (with a parent and using a parent’s email address).
When to enter: You may enter only in September or October.
To enter, send me an email with the following three items:
1. Your school name
2. Your school’s complete address, including zip code
3. Your name, phone number, email address, and how you are connected with the school.
On October 31, I will put all the entries into my hat and draw a winner.
Please note that the previous year’s winner has to wait three years to enter again. The 2011-2012 winner: Westover Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD.
The following contests and magazines are open to submissions from students. Please send in any other contests that you know about and I’ll add them to the list. Also, let me know if any contests have been discontinued.
Contests
NASA is holding an essay contest about Saturn’s moon Titan & Jupiter’s moon Europa for students in the United States in grades 5-12.The contest deadline is February 28, 2013. In your essay, you can include information about what science instruments you would put on the orbiter and balloon or lander, if you wish, based on what you hope to find on Titan or Europa. Winning essays will be posted on a NASA website, and winners and their classes will be invited to participate in a videoconference or teleconference with NASA scientists.Questions about the Titan & Europa essay contest can be sent to: titaneuropa@jpl.nasa.gov
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is holding a short story contest for students in grades 9-12 living in the Washington metropolitan area. Short stories must be no longer than 1,000 words and must begin with one of three lines provided on the contest website. Entries must be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document by Feb. 15, 2013. First, second and third place winners will be announced at the Book Festival on Saturday, May 18, 2013.
Washington Post KidsPost Annual Poetry Contest occurs every April in honor of National Poetry Month. See their website for rules on how to enter.
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are for students in grades 7-12. Awards in many categories include: film, design, short story, poetry, and more.
Scholastic Bookfairs Kids are Authors Contest is an annual competition open to students in Grades K–8 in the United States and U.S. international schools and is designed to encourage students to use their reading, writing, and artistic skills.
Letters About Literature (LAL) is a state and national writing contest sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Arts Council that encourages young readers in grades 4 to 12 to respond to an author through a letter expressing how that author and book changed their worldview and themselves.
American Pet Products Association is sponsoring a poetry contest about animals called Pets Add Life for grades 3-8.
SOMIRAC (State of Maryland International Reading Association Council) sponsors a Young Authors’ Contest for Maryland students in Grades 2-12 at the local council and state levels. All entries must be original work and include a completed “Submission Form” signed by the student author and sponsoring teacher. To find out more, please see your school’s reading specialist or contact SOMIRAC.
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (MD) Fran Abrams Creative Writing Award for high school seniors.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MD) STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PUBLISHED with BETHESDA YOUTH WRITING CONTEST. Students are invited to write a 100-500 word essay about what they would do as a grown-up for a day, for the Bethesda Literary Festival’s Youth Writing Contest. The top 10 winners from grades K-8 will be published in Washington Parent magazine and will receive a certificate and prizes. Entries for the Youth Writing Contest must be received by Thursday, March 1, 2012 by 5pm. The contest is open to students in grades K-8 who live or attend school in Montgomery County. Students can enter the contest either as individuals or through their teacher, if the whole class would like to participate. For an entry form and more information, please visit www.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.
Magazines
Creative Kids magazine is the nation’s largest magazine by and for kids. The magazine bursts with games, stories, and opinions all by and for kids ages 8–14.
New Moon Girls Magazine focuses on girls, women, or female issues. New Moon Girls was created by girls and women for girls who want their voices heard and their dreams taken seriously. It is edited by and for girls ages 8 and up. New Moon Girls takes girls very seriously; the publication is structured to give girls real power. The final product is a collaboration of girls and adults. An editorial board of girls aged 8-14 makes final decisions on content for the magazine and website.
Stone Soup is made up of stories, poems, book reviews, and art by young people through age 13.
Teensite, a website for teens through Montgomery County (MD) Public Library, invites Montgomery County, MD, students to submit original writing to their ongoing site. They also hold an annual contest: Understanding Diversity through Creative Writing. Contact your branch librarian to find out more.
Teen ‘Zine, hosted by Howard County (MD) Public Library system, invites submissions from Howard County teens. The HC library also offers an annual Sherlock Holmes essay contest.
