Call for Entries: 2009 Letters About Literature Contest
Teachers, Students, Parents:
We invite students in grades 4-12, to consider entering the 2009 Letters About Literature Contest, a national reading and writing promotion program organized by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target Stores. To enter, students write a letter to the author (living or dead) of their favorite book, and describe how that book moved or changed them.
The contest format is simple and the benefits for students are many. Students choose a book that has been important to them and write a letter to its author. In the process, of course, they have to do quite a lot of thinking about the book, the author, themselves, and the relationship between art and life. Entries are sent to the national LAL headquarters for screening, and then the semifinalist letters are sent back to Maine where they are judged by a panel of esteemed Maine educators and community leaders.
There are three levels for participants: Level I grades 4-6; Level II grades 7 & 8; Level III grades 9-12. The Library of Congress’ Letters About Literature Web Site contains all the information you need to help you or your students enter the contest. The contest deadline is December 6, 2008.
This is the eighth year that the Maine Center for the Book, the programming arm of the Maine Humanities Council, has run the Letters About Literature contest in Maine. Teachers who have involved their students with the contest have some very positive comments about its effectiveness as a teaching tool.
A teacher from Camden-Rockport Middle School had this to say:
What a great opportunity your contest was for my students. We had fantastic discussions about books and authors. The materials on-line helped immensely with the structuring and developing of their letters. Peer sharing of their thoughts was very valuable. Even though the entire process took quite a few periods, I think the overall results were well worth the time spent. Thank you.
A teacher from Leeds Central School wrote,
This year a lot of my students avoid reading and writing, so it has been difficult to motivate them. This contest was one way that helped to spark them, and I have seen more effort in this task than I have seen in any other so far this year. They have truly enjoyed this writing activity and I have been very impressed with the results.
To enter:
For more information about the contest, visit the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress web site: www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letters.html or www.lettersaboutliterature.org where you can download the guidelines, entry coupon and teaching resources [sample lesson plans and letters] and find more general information.
