The back-to-school issue of Learning magazine is in the mail! While you’re waiting for your copy, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at some of the goodies in this issue. There are 150 prizes, 22 contests, and 48 freebies. Wow! Click here now to visit our website to start entering contests and finding freebies before the school year begins!

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When does school start in your area? Let us know when your first day is and what’s on your mind for back-to-school. Submit your comment to our blog by midnight EDT on Monday, August 2, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of my favorite children’s books featured in the Learning back-to-school issue: Magnus Maximus, a Marvelous Measurer. Magnus revels in his role as the town’s official measurer as he counts the stinkiest socks and the bristles on his toothbrush. However, a little boy teaches Magnus that the most marvelous things aren’t to be measured at all. This book from Farrar, Straus, and Giroux provides lots of opportunities for cross-curricular lessons. Click here to learn more and to see the book video!

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As you’re doing your back-to-school planning, set aside time to check out Thinkfinity. This site from the Verizon Foundation includes thousands of free lesson plans that cover the curriculum. You’ll find interactive games, print-and-use pages, classroom-ready activities, and much more. Click here now to take a tour. Once school starts, you’ll be glad you checked it out!

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Here’s another great way to start your school year: sign up for a free e-newsletter from WhisperPhone. WhisperPhone allows students to hear themselves as they read aloud, improving their skills and encouraging them to read with expression. The newsletter includes easy ideas for using WhisperPhone, giveaways, and more. Plus you’ll have a chance to share how you use WhisperPhone in your classroom and win free WhisperPhone products! Make sure you don’t miss out: click here now!

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Smokey Bear is having a birthday! What better way to start your school year than by celebrating Smokey’s big day–August 9–in a big way with books, coloring books, DVDs, and more in English and Spanish from the US Forest Service. Visit www.symbols.gov to order these products and others. Mark your calendar!

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We’ll have lots of other resources to help you get ready for back-to-school. Keep reading!

PS: If you haven’t heard, we’re hosting a free online workshop on Tuesday, August 3, at 2 p.m. Click here now to register!

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Wouldn’t it be great to win school supplies for your classroom? This blog post features a variety of contests and grants that provide opportunities to get the supplies you need. Scroll down to get started!!

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Here’s your first chance to WIN: Let us know which contests you enter by posting a comment on our blog by midnight EDT on Monday, July 26, 2010. One lucky teacher will win a set of ABC Animals classroom decoratives from Barker Creek. This colorful set includes a matching incentive chart, bulletin board border, set of file folders, set of library pockets, ABC poster, and more. These decoratives will add a real burst of color to your classroom!

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The X-ACTO $250 Classroom Giveaway features a prize pack with all kinds of school supplies! The lucky winner receives a TeacherPro Sharpener, stand-up stapler, three-hole punch, rotary trimmer, and replacement blades. Hurry, this contest ends August 31, 2010. Click here now for your chance to win these great supplies!

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Is your school supply list ready for distribution to parents? If you’ve included Westcott kids’ scissors, fax or email a copy of your list to Westcott and you’ll receive a free gift! (I can’t tell you what the gift is, but I will say that it’s well worth it!) Get all of the details at www.themailbox.com/westcott. While you’re there, enter the sweepstakes to win Westcott school supplies for your entire grade level. And if you haven’t yet prepared your school supply list, check out the ready-to-use lists provided. Click here now!

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Looking for funding for your creative classroom projects? Apply for a grant from the Kids in Need Foundation. The foundation awards up to 300 grants ranging from $100 to $500. Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2010. Visit www.kinf.org/grants today!

Don’t forget, post a comment on our blog to let us know which contests you enter. You’ll be eligible to win the classroom decor set from Barker Creek!

PS: This just in! The editors at Learning® magazine and The Mailbox® magazine will host a free online workshop to tell you about award-winning products to make your job easier this school year. We’ll also give away LOTS of PRIZES! Click here now to register for this free event, which will be held on Tuesday, August 3, at 2 pm EDT. Register now; attendance is limited!

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Summer is the time for books. There’s nothing like buying a best seller to pack in your beach bag or downloading an audiobook to listen to as you travel. With that in mind, this week I’m sharing freebies related to books and reading!

Which of these resources will you use? Submit a comment to our blog by midnight EDT on Monday, July 12, 2010; you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a new book from Candlewick Press. A Family of Readers: The Book Lover’s Guide to Children’s and Young Adult Literature provides a wealth of information on reading to kids, reading with them, and putting them on the path to reading on their own. The book won’t be released until September, but I’ll send you the advance copy that I received in the mail today. Post your comment right now! (Update: Congratulations to Darlene, who was our winner. Darlene, please let us know what you think about the new book from Candlewick!!)

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Staying in touch with students via email over the summer? Teaching a summer reading program? Be sure to tell your students about the Borders Summer Reading Double-Dog Dare program. When a student age 12 or under reads ten books, he or she will be able to choose a free book at a local Borders or Waldenbooks store. Books on the list include Ramona the Brave, Flat Stanley, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Hoot, and others. Click here to learn more!

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Ready to hit the road? Download a free audiobook at BooksShouldBeFree.com. You’ll find recordings of lots of classics, including Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Secret Garden, The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle, and many others. I’ve found lots of titles that I’ve been meaning to read or reread; now I’ll be able to listen to them as I travel. Click here!

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Do your students have a story to tell? Visit StudentPublishing.com to learn more about free options for publishing students’ books. Students can create books online or mail their submissions. Click here now to get all the details!

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Looking for a new way for students to share details on what they’re reading? Check out Wordle. Students enter words related to a topic, and then the site generates word clouds that show the terms. Here’s a Wordle that was created by someone who I’m guessing teaches fourth grade. The possibilities are endless for subjects across the curriculum! (Note: Read the Wordle FAQs on how to be sure students access only kid-friendly content.)

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Mark your calendar: the new Ramona and Beezus movie opens on July 23! Visit www.beverlyclearly.com for teacher’s guides, games, an author interview, and much more! The movie stars Selena Gomez as Beezus and newcomer Joey King as Ramona.

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Happy reading!

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