The Dirty Shirt recommends You’ve been Sentenced!

Many thanks to Jennifer at The Dirty Shirt for a fab review of You’ve been Sentenced! If you haven’t been to The Dirty Short, this is a wonderful blog written by a really nice mom of three, who also happens to be Neilsen’s Top 50 Power Moms!

Below is an excerpt from her review. To read the full review of You’ve been Sentenced!, learn about other fun products in Jennifer’s Holiday Gift Guide, or enter any her great giveawy contests visit http://thedirtytshirt.com/you%e2%80%99ve-been-sentenced-review-and-giveaway

“I have had a dual reaction to playing this game with my children. One from a parents point and one from a teachers point.From my teachers point of view this game is not only fun but it has helped my children, especially my 5th grader, how to form sentences correctly. As a parent, I am happy to see an educational game that helps our children grow and learn. I am so pleased with this game and my family has enjoyed lots of laughter filled evenings playing it. I recommend this to everyone! Kids can have fun and learn too!

I am so happy to say that the wonderful people at McNeil Designs has offered to donate two games for a giveaway to some lucky Dirty Shirt readers. Please see rules below to enter to win a You’ve Been Sentenced! game today!”

Though Nov. 27, win prizes at WDEL’s online version of You’ve been Sentenced!

Sponsored by WDEL Delaware’s news radio and Arizona State University, the You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game begins Monday October 19 and runs through November 27. Based on the multi-awarding winning language game, the You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game allows listeners to play online for a chance to win great prizes daily, plus, a chance at the Grand Prize, an all-inclusive four-night trip for two to the Occidental Grand Punta Cana Resort including airfare, courtesy of Apple Vacations.

Simply go to the WDEL website at www.wdel.com to create a sentence and justification – it’s easy and fun! The 5 funniest submissions for each day will be read aloud on air and one will be chosen as the daily winner of a free copy of the board game version. Winners can pick up their prize at any one of the participating retailers which include YoYo Joe’s in North Wilmington, Days of Knights in Newark, and Kids Ketch in Lewes.

Plus, if you’re a student and your sentence is read on air, you will win a pilot pass for the interactive white board version of the game for your school. The interactive white board voucher can be used for any white board and the application will be available later this fall.

All winners will be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for a chance at a trip for two to the Punta Cana Resort in Mexico, sponsored by Apple Vacations. This luxury vacation includes airfare, accommodations and an all-inclusive package at the fabulous Occidental Grand Punta Cana Resort. (Trip must be redeemed before March 31, 2010. U.S. & foreign departure taxes, airport user fees, travel insurance and fuel surcharges not included.)

The You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game is presented by Arizona State University and WDEL, created by McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds and sponsored by Apple Vacations, YoYo Joe’s, Days of Knights, and Kids Ketch.

For more information about the contest, visit www.wdel.com

The importance of early literacy

According the great folks at the literacy organization Reach Out and Read, children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are more likely to learn to read on schedule. More interesting stats …

•  16% of parents of children age three years and younger do not read at all with their children, and 23% do so only once or twice a week.*
•  Percentages are even lower among low-income families, whose children face the highest risk of literacy problems.
•  Reading difficulty contributes to school failure, which increases the risk of absenteeism, leaving school, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy — all of which perpetuate the cycles of poverty and dependency.
•  Families living in poverty often lack the money to buy new books and materials, as well as access to libraries. Parents who may not have been read to as children themselves may not realize the tremendous value of reading to their own children.
•  Educators and developmental psychologists have long considered reading aloud to children important in helping those children develop early literacy skills.

*Young, KT, Davis K, Schoen C, et al: Listening to parents. A national survey of parents with young children. Arch. Pediatr Adolesc Med 1998;152:255

Red Clay Family Resource Fair, Nov. 21

Visit us at the 3rd Annual Red Clay Consolidated School District Family Resource Fair! The event will be held on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Conrad Schools of Science. Conrad is located at Jackson Ave. and Boxwood Road in Wilmington, Delaware.

Bring the FAMILY and attend this FREE, fun-filled event! 

• Make your child’s education a family project!
• Meet with school staff and get your questions answered
• Pick up information and resources to support your children’s learning and enhance academic achievement and student success
• Learn to access the Home Access Center
• Exhibitors – Displays – Demonstrations
• Community Agencies and Resources
• Giveaways
• Refreshments

 This event is sponsored and funded by the Red Clay Consolidated School District CGPAC. For more information, contact Chris Miller, Parent and Community Involvement Liaison at Christine.miller@redclay.de.us

http://www.redclay.k12.de.us/

NCTE Convention this November

On November 19-22, McNeill Designs will be a part of the annual  NCTE Convention, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For those of you not familiar with NCTE, the National Council of Teachers of English is a dynamic group of educators devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. And, I am happy to report, NCTE members love McNeill Designs’ language game You’ve been Sentenced! and often use it, not just for fun in the classroom, but as a teaching tool, as well. Pretty heady stuff!

For anyone interested in attending, the Early Registration Deadline has been extended to October 30th. If you have not yet registered, you still have time to take advantage of the early registration discount. Register by Friday, October 30, and save $30 on your registration fee.

The Convention offers many workshops and some very exciting speakers. I am particularly excited to meet Sharon Draper, National Teacher of the Year and five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award!

For more information or to register for the Convention, visit http://www.ncte.org.

Our field trip to Merriam-Webster headquarters

On Monday, I had the privilege of visiting the Merriam-Webster’s headquarters in Springfield, Massachusetts to meet with John Morse, Merriam-Webster’s president and publisher, James Withgott, Vice President, and Hilary Hoffman.

Walking through the massive front doors, I was immediately struck by the overwhelming sense of history embodied in that enormous brick building. America’s first dictionary was produced by none other than Noah Webster in 1806 and was entitled A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language.

Merriam-Webster can be considered the direct lexicographical heir of Noah Webster, because in 1843, the Merriam-Webster company bought the rights to the 1841 edition of Webster’s magnum opus. Since then, the company has grown and adapted with the changing times – from pocket dictionaries, to electronic dictionaries, to websites designed just for children. And yet, Merriam-Webster has remained a true piece of Americana. I mean, who hasn’t had a red Merriam-Webster dictionary at their desk since the third grade?!

For a self-confessed word nerd like me, this visit was truly a thrill! I got to explore the firm’s amazing collection of dictionaries through the last 160 years, which were displayed in a hand crafted glass and wood case that was larger than my living room and most likely cost more than my house. I also got to learn first-hand how new words are added with each evolution of the dictionary — something I had always wondered about!

But the most exciting part was discussing the potential of future collaborative efforts between the great folks at Merriam-Webster and McNeill Designs. On the table was a new game venture (still hush-hush), as well as the potential for a joint effort in the new interactive white board application of You’ve been Sentenced! created by Arizona State University.

Partnering with the leader in defining the English language, the true American word authority, would be a dream come true! Will it happen? Stay tuned!

Sharpen those pencils, today is the National Day on Writing

Did you know that currently, over 10,000 pieces live in more than 1,800 galleries in the National Gallery of Writing, and these numbers are still increasing? If you haven’t already done so, you can add one more by submitting your composition to http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting

Important dates and times:

• The National Gallery of Writing Opens at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time, on Tuesday, October 20.
• A Web cast of the national event will air live from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, on Tuesday, October 20.
• On Thursday, October 8, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring October 20 as the National Day on Writing!

This event and the National Gallery on Writing is sponsored by the NCTE (National Council Teachers of English).

And remember, the WDEL online version of You’ve been Sentenced! is now available. Make a sentence, win prizes. It’s that easy. Just visit http://www.wdel.com

WDEL’s You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game Starts October 19

Win Daily Prizes or the Grand Prize, an All-Inclusive Trip for Two to Punta Cana

Sponsored by WDEL Delaware’s news radio and Arizona State University, the You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game begins Monday October 19 and runs through November 27. Based on the multi-awarding winning language game, the You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game allows listeners to play online for a chance to win great prizes daily, plus, a chance at the Grand Prize, an all-inclusive four-night trip for two to the Occidental Grand Punta Cana Resort including airfare, courtesy of Apple Vacations.

Simply go to the WDEL website at www.wdel.com to create a sentence and justification – it’s easy and fun! The 5 funniest submissions for each day will be read aloud on air and one will be chosen as the daily winner of a free copy of the board game version. Winners can pick up their prize at any one of the participating retailers which include YoYo Joe’s in North Wilmington, Days of Knights in Newark, and Kids Ketch in Lewes.

Plus, if you’re a student and your sentence is read on air, you will win a pilot pass for the interactive white board version of the game for your school. The interactive white board voucher can be used for any white board and the application will be available later this fall.

All winners will be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for a chance at a trip for two to the Punta Cana Resort in Mexico, sponsored by Apple Vacations. This luxury vacation includes airfare, accommodations and an all-inclusive package at the fabulous Occidental Grand Punta Cana Resort. (Trip must be redeemed before March 31, 2010. U.S. & foreign departure taxes, airport user fees, travel insurance and fuel surcharges not included.)

The You’ve been Sentenced! Radio Game is presented by Arizona State University and WDEL, created by McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds and sponsored by Apple Vacations, YoYo Joe’s, Days of Knights, and Kids Ketch.

About You’ve been Sentenced!

You’ve been Sentenced! is an innovative language game which utilizes pentagon-shaped cards containing conjugations of funny words, famous names, and familiar places. With a hand of 10 cards, players build sentences, challenging their ingenuity while trying to score the most points per round, constructing a grammatically correct and justifiable sentence. You’ve been Sentenced! has received overwhelmingly positive industry reviews and is the winner of numerous national awards including:

* Creative Child Magazine, Seal of Excellence 2007

* Dr. Toy Best Products, Spring 2007

* Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, 2007 Gold Seal Award

* Spewgie Award, Best Family Fun Game 2007

* iParenting Media Hot Product Award

* FAO Schwarz Toy Auditions, Winner

* National Parenting Seal of Approval

* Scholastic Teachers Pick 2009

* Mr. Dad Seal of Approval

* George Lucas Educational Foundation’s Edutopia magazine, Hot Media for Educators

* MENSA Society’s Parenting for High Potential magazine, Resource Roundup Pick

For more information about the contest, visit www.wdel.com

Twisted Fish named to Top 100 Games, 2009 by The Dice Tower

Many thanks to The Dice Tower for naming Twisted Fish in the Top 100 Games for 2009. We think it’s a winner, too! The Dice Tower  is a fabulous website dedicated to providing honest, objective reviews of some of the hottest games out there. The site was created a few years back by none other than Tom Vassel!

In Tom’s own words, “Several years ago, I began to write reviews of board games, so that others could find out about these wonderful games. I’ve also authored an “Interviews by an Optimist” series, a series of interviews with notables in the gaming world, and started a series of deeper board game discussions – Musings On…”

“In May 2005, I started the podcast The Dice Tower with Joe Steadman – a podcast all about board games, and one that has gradually changed over its many episodes. Joe has since left the show, but with a host of other contributors, the Dice Tower is still being produced biweekly, and is one of my favorite things to do.”

To see the other choices in the Top 100, visit Tom at http://www.thedicetower.com

McNeill Designs lends a hand at annual book drive

McNeill Designs' CEO Don McNeill and members of Team 365 load up the first van for transport to the Success Won't Wait warehouse.

As many of you may know, back in 2005, McNeill Designs formed a charitable partnership with the literacy organization Success Won’t Wait. Since then, McNeill Designs has donated a portion of sales of the language game You’ve Been Sentenced! to the group. The mission? To encourage reading — particularly by children — by providing free books to organizations and programs nationwide. Because You’ve been Sentenced! is inherently an educational game (as well as lots of fun), we wanted to partner with an well established organization that focused on reading and literacy as our beneficiary.

The books begin to pile up as the teams arrive.

But McNeill Designs’ commitment to the organization goes much further In addition to financial support, McNeill Designs principles frequently volunteer time and manpower to various Success Won’t Wait events. Saturday was just one of those events! October 10 was Duel on the Delaware and Miracle of Education Book Drive. Five years ago, John Laroc of First State Robotics (a part of the FIRST organization) invited Success Won’t Wait to become a part of this annual event as a community service element to the establish robotics competition.

A trailer? Seriously?

For anyone not familiar with FIRST, this is a truly amazing organization. Founded by Dean Kamen (inventor of the infamous Segway) this nationwide non-profit teaches kids about robotics, engineering, teamwork and competition. Led by adult volunteers and engineers, local teams are comprised of high school students who design, construct and ultimately compete with large scale, working robots. These kids are nothing short of astounding!

Our part of the competition is the annual book drive. Each competition hosts between 15 – 30 teams (in this case all from the East Coast). Throughout the year, the teams collect used books from family, friends, churches, schools and more. They bring these on competition day to be weighed (they are budding engineers, after all!) and counted. The friendly rivalry sometimes gets a little tense as the numbers are tallied and a 1st runner up and a winner are announced and trophies are presented. The winner receives, in addition to bragging rights for the year, a refund on their team’s entry to the competition. This year, through the drive, Success Won’t Wait collected almost 5,000 lbs. of books!

These teams really work so hard and we want to give them a huge thank you for their efforts! This year, the finalists were:

WINNER: Team 423

1ST RUNNER UP: Team Chuck 84

A big thank you, too to the other teams who competed and collected thousands more lbs. of beautiful books for our literacy projects: Team 375, Team 1647 ,Team 365 – MOE, Team 1712, Team 433 and Team 357.

To learn more about the FIRST organization, please visit www.FIRST.com

To learn more about Success Won’t Wait, visit www.SuccessWontWait.org or

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com/