This time of year is all about countdowns—countdowns until testing is over, countdowns until the last day of school, and countdowns until that well-deserved (and long overdue!) trip to the beach.

Well, we’re counting down too: counting down the final days to enter contests and win prizes! Submit a comment to our blog by midnight on Monday, May 31, and tell us about your  countdowns. One lucky reader will win an assortment of books, including Pierre the Penguin: A True Story from Sleeping Bear Press. Written by Jean Marzollo, this book tells the story of a penguin who loses his feathers—and the creative aquatic biologist who saves him. (Update: congratulations to Sherry H., who was our lucky winner!)

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There are just a few days left to enter the Classroom Fun sweepstakes from Oriental Trading! One lucky teacher will win $750 in classroom supplies, and ten more teachers will win $25 gift cards from Oriental Trading. You can enter daily. This contest ends at 5 p.m. eastern time on Monday, May 31. Don’t delay–click here now!

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In honor of sun safety, the Friday before Memorial Day (this year it’s May 28) is Don’t Fry Day. Get a printable poster, coloring sheets, skin cancer facts, and much more at www.epa.gov/sunwise/dfd.html. There’s even a Don’t Fry Day pledge; if you complete it before Don’t Fry Day, you’ll be eligible to win additional sun safety resources. Check it out!

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The clock is ticking on this great deal: purchase an X-Acto SchoolPro pencil sharpener between now and July 1, 2010, and you’ll be eligible for a $5 rebate. When we posted this offer on The Mailbox Facebook page, teachers gave this sharpener a big thumbs-up. One teacher said, “This is the BEST sharpener! Love it!” Don’t miss out!

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Have you noticed the special logos that periodically appear on Google? Here’s your chance to pick the next one! As part of the Doodle 4 Google contest, students of all ages submitted logos on the theme “If I Could Do Anything, I Would…” Finalists are posted at www.google.com/doodle4google. Voting is open now until May 25 at 5 p.m. Pacific time. You’ll be amazed at the creativity and talent of students around the country!

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We’ll keep the countdown going—and keep you posted on other great offers that are coming up!

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Just a quick reminder that the WIN contests on our website end on Monday! If you haven’t yet entered, click here now! You’ll have a chance to win software from Inspiration, Faber-Castell MAX Colored EcoPencils, Astrobrights paper, a Bare Books gift pack, Sundance Literactive Readers, and dozens of other prizes. Don’t miss out!

If there’s a Learning reader who knows the benefit of entering our contests, it’s Rachel Martin, a fourth-grade teacher in suburban St. Louis. Rachel recently won a huge collection of children’s books that received the Learning magazine Teachers’ Choice Award. “I didn’t even remember that I entered the contest,” Rachel said. “I was thrilled to win!”

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So far her students’ early favorites are the Uncommon Animals series from Bearport Publishing, the Edge Books: Sanitation Investigation series from Capstone, and the Remarkable People biography series from Weigl. Rachel says that her students have been talking about the books at recess and looking up information in the library to learn more about the different topics.

A former kindergarten teacher, Rachel will soon complete her first year of teaching fourth grade. And this prize from Learning magazine has provided her with lots of extra resources to use this year and in the years to come. Congratulations, Rachel!

Click here now to enter the current Learning WIN contests. You could be our next winner!

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Blame it on spring, but for some reason the word that has been buzzing around in my head today is, well, buzz—buzzwords, creating buzz, all abuzz. So with that in mind, here’s a quick list of some of the fun freebies we’re buzzing about here at Learning magazine this week.

What are you buzzing about? Submit a comment to our blog by midnight on Monday, May 17, 2010. One lucky reader will win a copy of the new book Outdoor Science: A Practical Guide from the NSTA Press. And if your post includes the word “buzz” or “bee,” I’ll throw in the new children’s book The Buzz on Bees: Why Are They Disappearing? from Holiday House. Post your comment today!

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Looking for ways to keep your students reading this summer? Try the Reading Warriors Summer Reading Challenge, a free summer reading program from HarperCollins. Based on the warrior cats in Erin Hunter’s bestselling Warriors adventure series, this program for students ages 8 and up includes downloadable reading journals, a booklist, an educator’s guide, games, and more. Click here now!

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Teachers truly are all abuzz about this great offer: get three free pairs of kids’ scissors from Westcott! Try them; then add them to your school supply list. You could win Westcott supplies for your entire grade level! Click here now to request your free scissors and to access free activities and a ready-to-use school supply list. This offer is for K-6 teachers. Don’t miss out!

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Are you a member of the Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program®? Then here’s great news: you now have two ways to return your empty glue containers! Either drop them off at Walmart or participate in the Elmer’s Glue Crew Brigade™ Program with TerraCycle. Click here now to learn more!

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Is Response to Intervention, or RTI, a buzzword at your school? If so, find out exactly what RTI is by visiting Mentoring Minds. Click here now to get the scoop and to find out about RTI resources. While you’re at the site, find out how to follow Mentoring Minds on Facebook and have a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card.

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And finally, if you really want to get the buzz on bees, sign up your class to participate in PollinatorLIVE. This free program includes webcasts, web seminars, and satellite field trips. The first event is on Wednesday, May 12. The program is designed for grades 4-8.

I think that’s plenty to keep you buzzing for now. Enjoy!

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