Weekly Reader Publishing - Updates

Meet the Winners

Where can you find the best student writing of 2011-12? Which school publications were outstanding this year? Is there an online-only student publication that stands above the others?

We've got the answers: two stirring essays, two outstanding print periodicals, and one online-only student publication have been named the winners of Weekly Reader's Student Publishing Contest 2012.

The contest honors outstanding nonfiction by students in elementary, middle, and high school.

A Cool Story

Manny, Diego, and Sid are on thin ice in a new movie! In Ice Age: Continental Drift, Scrat’s hunt for his prized acorn leads the gang on an adventure filled with pirates, long-lost family members, and new friends. John Leguizamo voices a ground sloth named Sid. That is an animal that lived until about 10,000 years ago. Weekly Reader student reporter Bella F. recently spoke with Leguizamo to get the scoop on the new movie, which hits theaters July 13.

Bella F.: How would you describe this movie?

Planet on the Move

Have any plans for June 5?

Venus does. Earth’s next-door neighbor will be making a rare move. It will pass in front of the sun. That event is called the transit of Venus, and it won’t happen again for 105 years. The next transit is scheduled to occur in December 2117.

During its transit, Venus will pass between the sun and Earth. From Earth, Venus will appear as a small black dot moving across the face of the sun.

The event usually lasts a few hours. The last transit of Venus, in 2004, lasted six hours.

Rain Forest Surprise

NEW YORK (AP) — An ancient hidden city in a damp Guatemalan rain forest has yielded a big surprise to scientists exploring the site.

Archaeologists have found a small room in Mayan ruins where royal scribes apparently used walls like a blackboard to keep track of astronomical records and the society's calendar some 1,200 years ago.

The walls reveal the oldest known astronomical tables from the Maya. Scientists already knew they must have been keeping such records at that time, but until now the oldest known examples dated from about 600 years later.

Father of the 'Wild Things'

The man who knew Where the Wild Things Are has died.

Maurice Sendak spent more than 60 years producing remarkable picture books. From a wild rumpus through the place Where the Wild Things Are to the zany pig party of Bumble-Ardy, Sendak told stories that delighted generations of young readers. He also caused more than a few adults to furrow their brows over his depictions of less-than-perfect children in far-from-ideal situations.

Sendak died on Tuesday, May 8, in Danbury, Connecticut. He was 83.

Happy Anniversary, Current Events!

May 20 is the 110th anniversary of the founding of Weekly Reader's original classroom periodical, Current Events. It was launched by Charles Palmer Davis, a newspaperman who was startled to find that many students in his daughter's school could recite ancient Greek and Latin phrases, but only two could name the current president of the United States! (The answer when he posed the question in 1902: William McKinley).

My Best Teacher Ever! 2012 Winning Entries

This is the fourth year that Weekly Reader has run the "My Best Teacher Ever!" contest for students in grades 2-12. Once again, we were amazed by the hundreds of entries from students across the country who truly appreciate what their teachers do for them every day. Students describe teachers who are funny, tough, caring, and who help them see the world in a different way.

Treasured Tale

Ahoy, mateys! Make way for a new adventure. In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, a pirate captain sets out to prove that he’s a terror on the high seas. With the help of his crew, the captain tries to win the Pirate of the Year award. The movie sails into theaters April 27. Weekly Reader student reporter Robbie P. recently fired off a few questions to one of the film’s directors, Peter Lord.

Robbie P.: Which character in the movie is your favorite?

Tragedy on the Mississippi

Everyone knows about the disastrous trip of the Titanic. One hundred years ago this month, the great ocean liner sank, and more than 1,500 lives were lost.

As awful as the Titanic disaster was, it was not the worst boat tragedy in American history. That happened 147 years ago this week on the Mississippi River.

Hero Image May

Chris Van Hollen

Jack Reed

“One of the things I did was read constantly. Not just in school, but also in the summers when I wasn’t working. I think constant reading really shaped my perception. I read a lot of history, which gave me a great interest in the military and prompted me to go on to West Point.

Nancy Pelosi

“My introduction to politics came at a very young age, when my father was mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. My family taught me the value of compassion, empathy, and awareness of the world around me; but at the forefront of my education were lessons on the importance of public service.

Ed Pastor

"I paid attention in class and finished and turned in my homework on time."

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Cynthia Lummis

“To this day I recall my first public speaking experience. A shy character doesn’t begin to explain my personality. But fraught with a nervous stomach, I entered a speech contest hosted by 4-H, a youth development organization I was involved with. Fourteen years later I was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives.

Richard Lugar

Zoe Lofgren

“Studying hard and succeeding in school can help you realize your dreams. But learning can also come from beyond the classroom through community involvement.

Tom Harkin

“There were several things I did as a student that helped me prepare for my career as an elected official. First, I read a lot—especially biographies of early American leaders. I also studied hard and did well on tests. In high school, I worked on political campaigns: knocking on doors, distributing literature, creating lists of voters, and working at polls on Election Day. Each of these activities in their own way prepared me for the person I am today.”

Bad Brother

Think you could battle Captain America, Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Thor? That’s the task faced by Tom Hiddleston, who plays the villain Loki in The Avengers. Loki, the adopted brother of Thor, rejected his family after learning he had been deceived by his father, the ruler of the magical realm of Asgard. In The Avengers, which hits theaters May 4, Loki leaves Asgard to take over Earth and rule as king. It’s the job of the Avengers, a band of Marvel superheroes united by an international agency, to stop him.

Brett Guthrie

“The most important thing I did to prepare me for public office was working hard in school, learning about our government from an early age, and participating in the legislative process. I still remember my first election as a seventh grader in 1976. I think it was recommended by Weekly Reader to have a mock election. I was Gerald Ford. I lost to Myron Wilson, who was Jimmy Carter.

Charles Boustany, Jr.

“From a young age, I was always very interested in reading. I read a variety of topics, but my favorite by far was American history. It has best prepared me to succeed as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

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Lou Barletta

“School was an important part of my life growing up. My parents instilled in me the importance of going to school, getting a good education, and improving my life. That’s what I did.

When They Were Kids

What do you want to be when you grow up? Whatever it is, you are laying the groundwork for that future now. The activities you participate in, the games you play, the people you interact with—all will influence who you are and what you will become.

The Plastic Predicament

Try to get through a day without using plastic. For that matter, try to go just one hour without it. From food and drink packages to cell phones and toothbrushes, plastic is nearly impossible to avoid. You can't even turn on a light without flicking a plastic switch.

Talking with Ben Loory

Ben Loory's short story "The Octopus" currently graces the pages of READ magazine. It is the tale of an anthropomorphic octopus who resides in New York City and collects spoons! READ recently caught up with the author and asked him a few questions about his writing.

For more information on Ben Loory and his stories, go to www.benloory.com.

READ: Where did you get the idea for "The Octopus"?