Students who have a gift with words can win prizes for their teachers and their classrooms in the 2011-2012 "My Favorite Teacher" contest, which is sponsored by Barnes and Noble. The goal of the contest is to use writing to share why the student appreciates or admires the story, or to write an expository story or poem demonstrating how a teacher has influenced the student. This is also a great enrichment classroom activity, since students can write about their favorite regular classroom teachers in enrichment and work on devices such as metaphors as well as writing styles, such as persuasive writing.
Overview of the "My Favorite Teacher" Contest
Students can recognize the special teachers in their lives and gain recognition for those special teachers by entering the "My Favorite Teacher" contest. The contest began on September 12, 2011, and entries will be accepted until March 1, 2012. The contest is open for United States students who are enrolled in grades 1 through 12. The teachers who are nominated must be United States teachers who are currently actively employed in elementary, middle or high schools.
The prizes vary by the grade the teacher teaches, but Barnes and Noble's contest page says that the winning teachers will be recognized at a special Barnes and Noble event. receive an award, and free books for their classrooms. Six regional winners will win Nook ebook readers and Barnes and Noble gift card. The winner of the grand prize of "Barnes & Noble Teacher of the Year" award will win $5,000 and the winning teacher's school will receive $5,000 as well. There will also be opportunities for teachers to publish the winning entry with ebooks and print on demand books.
Barnes and Noble considers the My Favorite Teacher contest to be another way to honor teachers. They offer discounts and coupons for teachers, and they also provide free books for students and resources for parents and teachers during the annual Summer Reading program, which runs from May until September. Barnes and Noble also has video books and author interviews available for teachers and media specialists to use in their classrooms and with their schools.
My Favorite Teacher Contest Rules
Students who enter the contest may write an essay, a poem, or a thank you note. The contest submission cannot be more than 500 words long, and they need to be turned in to the local Barnes and Noble store (or mailed to the store). Students who want to participate should submit their essay or poem to their local Barnes and Noble by March 1, 2012.
There is a form that needs to be turned in with the contest entry. According to the contest rules, which are in the same PDF file as the Barnes and Noble My Favorite Teacher entry form, the winning entry will be judged on "the compelling nature of teacher’s inspiring qualities (50%), sincerity of student’s appreciation (25%), and the quality of expression and writing (25%)."
The prizes are not just for teachers and classrooms; according to the September 14, 2011 press email about the contest, Barnes and Noble will award the students who wrote the winning essay or poem. The media release says that students "will receive a $25 Gift Card, a certificate of recognition and will be honored at their local store during a ceremony for the winning teachers.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
