Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Book Giveaway - Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood by Phillip Done

Thanks to Anna and Hatchette Books Group, we are giving away Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood by Phillip Done!


About the Book, courtesy of the Publisher:

A twenty-year veteran of the classroom, elementary school teacher Phillip Done takes readers through a lively and hilarious year in the classroom. Starting with the relative calm before the storm of buying school supplies and posting class lists, he shares the distinct personalities of grades K-4, what he learned from two professional trick or treating 8-year-old boys, the art of learning cursive and letter-writing, how kindergartners try to trap leprechauns, and what every child should experience before he or she grows up.

These charming, sweet, and funny tales of Mr. Done's trials and triumphs as an award-winning schoolteacher will touch readers' hearts and remind them of the true joys of childhood. We all have that one special, favorite grade school teacher whom we fondly remember throughout our adult lives - and every teacher also has students whom they will never forget. This is the perfect book for teachers, parents, and anyone else who is looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic read.


About the Author:

Phillip Done knows it is a child’s birthday without looking at the calendar, that broken candy canes do not taste as good as unbroken ones, that peanut M&Ms spark in the microwave (Peeps do not), and that measuring the diameter of an Oreo cookie is more fun than measuring the diameter of a coffee can lid. After pumping up his 500th red rubber ball, he decided it was time to write it all down. Hence, 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny and Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind: Thoughts on Teacherhood were born.

A veteran of twenty-plus years in the classroom, Done is a five-time champion of the staff watermelon-eating contest and was nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year Award. He took a pie in the face at this year’s school talent show and was honored as a Teacher of the Year in California. When not searching for envelopes for newly pulled teeth or making rain parkas out of Hefty bags on rainy field trips, Phil accepted the prestigious Charles Schwab Distinguished Teacher Award from Charles Schwab himself. (He refrained from asking Mr. Schwab if Intel was a good buy.)

Born in San Jose, California, he grew up in Sunnyvale, attended Fremont High School, and studied music and education at San Jose State University. He currently lives in Mountain View, California. His passions are teaching, old movies, and garage sales. His writing has also appeared in Real Simple, Instructor, Parent and Child, and NEA Today.

Read more about Phillip Done and his books on Phillip Done's website at http://www.phillipdone.org.php5-12.websitetestlink.com/index.php

CONTEST DETAILS

To enter, share something about your favorite grade school teacher. Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win. No email address, no entry.

The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at 6 pm on Sept. 15, 2009.

Thank you so much to Anna and Hatchette Books Group for generously sponsoring this giveaway!

19 comments:

  1. My favorite teacher was my third grade teacher--she made everything interesting and was so fun that the other teachers were jealous of her!
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. My favourite was my first grade teacher because she made it fun and interesting for the kids in her class.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  3. My absolute favorite teacher in elementary school was Ms Hudon. She was my grade 5 teacher as well as our french teacher. She was one tough lady but a fantastic teacher. I was lucky enough to keep in touch with her over the years until she passed away a couple of years back.


    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. My favorite grade school teacher was Miss Hawkins. She taught 4th grade and was a lot of fun. She loved to joke around and make us all laugh. One day, it was probably around Halloween, she was telling us a story about an old witch. I raised me hand and, when called upon, asked if the witch's name was Miss Hawkins. Everyone, including Miss Hawkins had a great laugh at that and I think I got some sort of treat (from the treat box, provided for those who made particularly insightful or humorous comments).
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    ruthann (dot) francis (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  5. My favorite teacher was Mrs. Buettener in second grade. She understood that I was bored and so came up with special projects--particularly centered around reading--to keep me engaged. And because she was such a talented teacher, I knew none of this at the time, only learning later from my mom.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Carol
    cdirks1@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  6. My favorite teacher was my 3rd grade teacher, who read aloud to us every afternoon.

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  7. My 6th grade teacher told us when President Kennedy was shot in the most gentle & caring manner!
    ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I went to private Catholic school in the 60s. The nuns were very strict and not hesitant to discipline. I had to stay after school for a week to improve my handwriting. Not a fond memory but my handwriting vastly improved.
    travelwithdog@att.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. My favorite teacher was my second grade teacher. She was the typical grandmotherly type of the 50's.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my gosh, I should write "Third Grade Nightmares" .... those times tables about did me in!!! My favorite teacher in fact was my third grade teacher "Mrs. Unruh"....... it helped that her name is/was "Mary" which was and still is my fave name!!!
    Thanks for the offer!!!
    Darby
    darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. My favorite grade school teacher was my second grade teacher, Mrs. Hakes. She was supportive, kind, and stern. She always commended what she liked and stated boldly what she did not.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. My favorite teacher, Mr Guidry, was tall, dark, and very good-looking. All of us 4th graders had crushes on him! Sigh.

    imsuzie2@earthlink.net

    ReplyDelete
  13. I had Mrs. Ellis for 3rd and 5th grade - she taught us sign language because her daughter was deaf!
    Thanks
    Sarah
    believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Since I had the same teacher for 6 years (one room country school) Miss Tabor was only choice. I went on to become a teacher. Then I realized how great she was.

    ReplyDelete
  15. My favourite grade school teacher was by far Mrs. Forster in 2nd grade... She was phenomenal. I was a newly arrived immigrant child and she always gave me extra attention, made me feel included and provided me with extra help when I needed it. She was great and I still am in contact with her. She is what teachers should be.

    Aliya D.
    aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
  16. Mrs. Spangler was my favorite grade school teacher because she was funny and always made me laugh.

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

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  17. I can't remember which grade Mrs. Bear was, but she was the best teeth puller. I used to come back to her when my teeth were loose. Finally she told me that I had to learn how to take my own teeth out when they were loose. I was heart sick after that. :)

    tami.winbush @ gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. My favourite teacher was my grade 1 teacher, Mrs. Stoneman. She made an extra effort to help out the shy new girl (me!) and always made me feel special.

    simplystacieblog @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  19. My favorite teacher was my high school history teacher. He really cared for all of his students and was very much interested in seeing us all succeed. He was the kind of teacher that you could go to for just about anything and everything, I still email him occasionally.

    andie.v107(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete