StudentPublishing

Mrs. Karen Fleming – 7th and 8th Grade Teacher

“Thank you so so much for the promptness in which you sent our books to us. I was so excited when I received them today. They are beautifully bound and just like we had anticipated them to look. The students were excited to see their work in print. This has made a positive impact on them and for that I am thankful. I hope to continue this project each year regardless of the grade level I will teach.”

Mrs. Karen Fleming
7th and 8th Grade Teacher
Mantachie Attendance Center
Mantachie, MS

Angie Kelley – 4th Grade Teacher

“I am a 4th grade Language Arts teacher and firm believer in making learning fun! Writing stories can be hard for some students, but when I tell them, ‘Your work will be published in a book,’ they get so excited and really engage in the process! Year after year for the past 5 years, my students have been publishing books using the StudentPublishing.com program, and every year, they are so excited to write their books.

Not only are the projects great for developing students’ interest in writing, but the finished books inspire them to read. Every year, when a new class arrives, they always ask to read the student books and want to know if they can make them also. The students are surprised by the wonderful books other students their age published. It brings confidence to many to know they can create a book just like this because someone their age has already done it. As a teacher, you know you’ve connected with students when they come to class the first day hoping to write and publish stories.

My students feel they are successful writers after writing a book because they had fun with the project and they were able to accomplish something really important to them. This success means so much to them, their parents, and of course to me! I have seen students who have trouble writing really take a turn for the best when it is time to create their books. Something about having stories published makes a world of difference to them.

Last year, our local news station announced our book on television during hurricane season. They did this because my students wrote about their experiences with Hurricane Katrina. One news broadcaster even asked if we could start a “Hurricane Katrina Fund” by selling this book with proceeds going to the fund. I was so excited to hear of this and how amazed others were with the book itself!

Other teachers, parents, and the administration at my school love these books so much that our librarian has purchased and wants to continue to purchase these books to keep in the library for all students to check out and enjoy. I will continue to use StudentPublishing.com for publishing my students’ books for years to come. We enjoy this project so much!”

Angie Kelley
4th Grade Teacher
Central Elementary School
Gonzales, Louisiana

Barbara Skane – First Grade Teacher

“I’ve been participating in Easy Student Publishing projects for over 12 years. When my former first graders come back and visit me, they always mention how they remember publishing their very own book. Parents love this project and have spread the word to other parents. The books make wonderful and memorable keepsakes that are cherished beyond the first grade years. I can’t think of better way to value student’s writing work than to publish their own stories and illustrations. Thank you for making this effort so worthwhile.”

Barbara Skane
First Grade Teacher
St. John’s School
Hollywood, Maryland

Carrie Reber – 4th Grade Teacher

“Each year fourth graders in my classroom complete several projects related to Texas history. The project relating to Texas symbols can be so beautifully done with the books students write through StudentPublishing.com. The book project not only completes our educational objectives, but the student’s handwriting and artwork are kept for years to come in a professionally bound book that the students are so proud to have. I have really enjoyed working with the folks at StudentPublishing.com”

Carrie Reber
4th Grade Teacher
Crown of Life Lutheran School
Colleyville, Texas

Cheri Olmstead – 4th Grade Teacher

“As a classroom teacher for 34 years and a Teacher Consultant for the National Writing Project, I value student writing and want to provide my students the opportunity to publish their work. Every year, all of the young writers in my class have proudly published a book to share with family and friends, but last year Easy Student Publishing offered students the opportunity to truly feel that they were real authors by publishing their stories in hardbound editions. Each of my thirty 4th grade GATE students published an environmental fiction book. Then we celebrated the efforts and the writing at the end of the year with a book signing party. This year, through the generous funding of a grant from the Great Valley Citibank Success Fund, we will be able to expand our program and publish our environmental stories without parent contributions.

Oftentimes, papers, research work, and stories written for class are lost and forgotten soon after the work is completed. By publishing these stories into hardbound copies, student work is honored and shared with others to provide that lasting memory. There is no more powerful motivation for young authors to work hard to improve a piece of writing than publishing for an audience who will appreciate the work. Thanks to Easy Student Publishing for offering us this opportunity.”

Cheri Olmstead
Valley Oak Elementary 4th Grade GATE Teacher
Area 3 Writing Project Teacher Consultant
UC Davis
Davis, California

Diane Goldsmith – Kindergarten Teacher

“I have been publishing my students’ stories through Easy Student Publishing’s program for the past four years. A highlight of the kindergarten year at our school is the publishing of an original story that each child has written. Throughout the year, our children work on writing stories. In the spring, each child chooses his/her favorite story to publish. The process is fairly simple. The students write the text of their story on the specially provided paper and illustrate each page. We eagerly send the stories away and in a few weeks the beautiful professionally bound books are delivered. I have never had a disappointed parent or child. When the finished books arrive, the faces of these young children are priceless; the pride in their work inspires them to continue their writing, even during the summer. I have had children who had their books published five years ago bring their precious books to show me and ask if I remember their story!

This is an amazing project and working with Easy Student Publishing is a pleasure. I highly recommend using this publishing site with children of all ages.”

Diane Goldsmith
Kindergarten Teacher
New School Prep
Orlando, Florida

Dominick Martiniello – Library Media Specialist

“As a library Media Specialist in a K-5 school the benefits of publishing our students using Easy Student Publishing’s program have been amazing. These projects motivate students to want to write and be creative. The cost was affordable and the books were of high quality. StudentPublishing.com is a wonderful company to help you publish your students’ stories. Publishing will help you to enrich your writing curriculum and support cross-content learning for all students.”

Dominick Martiniello
Library Media Specialist
Connor Elementary School
Suffern, NY

Ellee Thompson – First Grade

“We at McDonogh 1st grade love doing our Published Book Project. The children gain such autonomy in the writing process. They begin to understand that an author does not just sit down and type a story and print it out in book form. They are so proud of their illustrations and are champing at the bit for the books to come. The process is very easy and working with the StudentPublishing.com staff, a Joy! We have been using this publisher for 10 years and look forward to many, many more!”

Ellee Thompson
First Grade
McDonogh School
Owings Mills, Maryland

Flav Ann Karst – 1st Grade Teacher

“I love making StudentPublishing.com’s books with my class. The projects are perfect for teaching students the whole writing process from ideas to final publication.

We begin our projects by talking about and brainstorming ideas for story writing. Then we teach students to use specific vocabulary, which helps when they are limited to 20 words on a page (this is for stories that the company types, but you can use more if students handwrite them or make them online). This exercise also provides a concrete way for students to understand the reason for increasing their vocabulary – being able to say more with fewer words. After the stories are written, we begin illustrating. Discussing the vocabulary helps students with their illustrations, as we talk about how illustrators make the pictures match the words on the page – like being able to see what the words have said. Since the finished books are created just like a real storybook to include the “front pages,” we are able to use the project to introduce the title page, dedication page, and about the author page to the children. They can then find these pages in other books and better know what they’re for.

An exciting part of these projects for teachers is that the books can be written at each specific student’s level. Beginning readers can write using the words they know and focus on writing simple pattern sentences. At the same time, advanced readers can write more complicated stories. They can develop their ideas depending on what they are reading and writing. When we are finished, each child has a book they not only wrote, but can, and do, read over and over again.

I have never been disappointed with a book and am always amazed when they are delivered. Each book is beautiful! Of course, I love new books – and love even more when I see the children glowing as they see their own finished book. Parents are impressed with each book and grandparents adore them.

Once the project is complete and all books have arrived, we take the children, as a grade level, to the gym or cafeteria to share our work. Each student finds a friend to read their book to. We can spend 20 minutes or more reading books. What a way to get kids to read!!

Personally, when my daughter wrote hers about her aunt and uncle having a baby, the book was so cute that we made them a copy and gave it as a baby gift. Other parents have used the books as gifts for grandparents and other family members. We have parents write us thank you notes after they receive the books – they’re so happy to have the books and to see their children’s accomplishments.

Publishing stories with StudentPublishing.com has become such a tradition for us that when we have sibling of students in class in later years, the second and third child ask when are we going to do the published books. It’s so rewarding to have students excited about learning!

Of course I have all of my children’s published books on a special shelf in our home too. They are cherished reminders of all that children can do and many wonderful memories of smiling faces and great pride.”

Flav Ann Karst
1st Grade Teacher
Horace Mann Elementary School
Huntington, Indiana

Frankie Harris – 7th Grade Language Arts

“The process of writing, editing, and illustrating a book can be intimidating for my seventh grade students. However, when they know their work will be published as a real book for them to keep, they are motivated to work hard to create their best writing. It is all made worthwhile when they see the finished products. A family treasure has been created! All of this is possible because of StudentPublishing.com projects. Our school has tried other publishing companies, but the final product just isn’t as nice. I am glad I stumbled onto StudentPublishing.com five years ago.”

Frankie Harris
7th Grade Language Arts
Berlin Community School
Berlin, New Jersey

John Luvera – 5th Grade Teacher

“My students have been highly motivated to complete writing projects using StudentPublishing.com. Students are proud to see their written work professionally and colorfully published in a bound book. Parents have been pleased to have their own child’s work recognized through this high-quality product. StudentPublishing.com allows you to connect student work to the real-world through a meaningful writing and publishing project.”

John Luvera
5th Grade Teacher
Coupeville Elementary
Coupeville, WA

Kristen Miller – 3rd Grade Teacher

“For the past two years my students have used StudentPublishing.com to create projects. I have found that this activity really motivates my students to want to write. Although my students write every day and write final copies of our writing to create books, the idea that their work is going to be sent away and printed as a real book gets them very excited and involved in making it their best work. When the students receive their books back from the company, they are very proud of their final product and I hope that this motivates them to want to write more in the future. This year I am hosting a publishing party where the parents are invited in to the classroom so the students can showcase their writing. I think this will be a great way to celebrate their terrific work and to help them feel how special it is.”

Kristen Miller
3rd Grade Teacher
Center Grove School
Randolph, New Jersey

Lisa Maki – 4th grade teacher

“Publishing a book through StudentPublishing.com has both academic and affective benefits that will impact the students this year and in the future. Enriching the writing curriculum with this project will motivate children to write. The pride students feel in their work goes a long way to motivate them and excites them to share their books. Sharing their stories and explaining how they were written will help other children learn and want to create a book of their own. This multi-step project develops many skills which will add value to their educational experience.

This is my third year of working with this program. It is wonderful to see the quality of work the students are able to produce. The finished books give each student pride in their accomplishments and enables them to keep and share their work for years to come. We have also added several student books to our school library, so they are available to all students in the school.”

Lisa Maki
4th grade teacher
Sacred Heart Cathedral School
Knoxville, Tennessee

Melissa Albert – High School Teacher

“Fulton Academy is a National Service Learning Leader School. Every week, students brainstorm ideas on how they would like to impact their community, state or world. A few years ago a group of students decided to research the literacy rate in their community. After their discovery they decided to write a grant that would allow them purchase children’s books to give to children within their community. As the brainstorming continued, they decided to write their own children’s books as well.

We had a flyer that we received through the mail and for some reason, I just held onto it. The flyer was from Easy Student Publishing about publishing students’ stories. I decided to contact someone from the company to find out more and was connected with the student publishing department with staff who were very knowledgeable and helpful. They worked sincerely worked with us and the final books to help ensure they were the best quality. The students’ children’s books were a sure hit!

We held an ‘Author’s Night’ at one of our local coffee shops, inviting parents, relatives and friends. Our students signed their books and gave copies to the person to whom they were dedicated. The parents were so very impressed. As I looked around the room and saw our students, along with some of the small children who were also present, parents, and friends laughing, bonding and sharing, it brought goosebumps to my skin.

Since then the Fulton Academy students try to write a grant every year so they too can engage in the same experience and satisfaction that is so highly talked about at our school.

Thank you Easy Student Publishing!”

Melissa Albert
High School Teacher
Fulton Academy
Fulton, MO

Michelle Baer – 2nd Grade Teacher

“Each year my second grade students study fairy tales extensively, and then write their own. When it comes time to publish them, even my reluctant writers are eager to begin. The looks on their faces when they get their books back is indescribably priceless! I have received many dedicated to me over the years, and they always ask if they get to do it again in third grade. The StudentPublishing.com projects provide wonderful way to motivate students to write and to take pride in their work. I will continue to use them each year with my students.”

Michelle Baer
2nd Grade Teacher
Marvista Elementary
Normandy Park, Washington

Michelle Caudill – Third Grade Teacher

“The children look forward to our “Author’s Party” every year! The biography books written about their parents and shared by my third graders bring tears to all who attend! The children are so proud and the parents treasure the beautifully bound, published books for years to come! It’s an annual event at Jacksonville Elementary School. Thank you Easy Student Publishing for this wonderful opportunity to validate the children’s’ writing!”

Michelle Caudill
Third Grade Teacher
Jacksonville Elementary School
Phoenix, Maryland

Patty Shaw – 3rd Grade Teacher

“The centerpiece of our school’s Third Grade Reading/L.A. program is “Junior Authors,” in which students write and publish a story. The children have fun learning the writing and publishing process as we work through the steps, moving from ideas to finished books. After webbing ideas, writing rough drafts & drawing sketches, the children work diligently and patiently on their final manuscripts, trying to create their best work. Although the amount of time we spend on the project varies each day, the total writing process takes about 6-8 weeks, because we strive for in-depth study and strong finished stories. As the shipping deadline approaches for when we must send the stories to be published, excitement and panic fill the air! We all want to finish on time, but still do our best work.

While the books are in Colorado being published by StudentPublishing.com, the students prepare and memorize their scripts for the Junior Author Celebration, to which families and friends are invited.

Complete with balloons and decorated authors’ tables with a display of published books, the Junior Authors explain the process to parents and visitors, thank the program’s sponsors and proudly sign autographs as family and friends swarm the newest authors in town.

All our third grade students participate in this program and experience pride and satisfaction in their published books. Thanks again to StudentPublishing.com for providing these projects for us, for the caring and responsive customer service and for the quality of the published books. You’ve helped us bring delight and pride to our students!”

Patty Shaw
3rd Grade Teacher
The Pine School
Stuart, Florida

Sheila Bowers – Librarian

“Our students love the books provided by StudentPublishing.com! Both the quality and customer service is excellent. I would recommend this company and their products to everyone! Our school was working on a tight deadline and StudentPublishing.com worked with us while remaining pleasant and efficient!”

Sheila Bowers
Librarian
Tiefort View Elementary
Ft. Irwin, CA

Terry Melancon – 3rd Grade Teacher

“Three years ago I received a brochure in the mail introducing published books by children. It came at just the right time. I had a few students who were shining as third grade writers and many more who were almost there or who needed a carrot to get them to work harder. YOU were the answer. I introduced the idea to the students and got their input. They were very excited. That is, all but one. I dove into the project with the students and we started writing books. They wrote, edited, rewrote, edited, and then conferenced with me. It was very hard work for them and for me.

Then the time came for us to do it again. This time it was on the manuscript paper and for real. We were hyped. Even the one student who was lagging behind on the idea was ready. Their illustrations and story ideas just boggled my mind. They showed more creativity than a normal narrative. I was as excited as they were.

We sent them in and waited (not too patiently). It felt like waiting for Christmas and Santa’s arrival with the gift we wanted most of all.

I remember the day the books arrived so clearly. It was a Friday afternoon after school had let out. I went to the office to get my mail and there were two boxes with my name on them. I squealed! The other teachers and office personal gathered around to see what was going on. I quickly explained and proceeded to open the boxes. OH MY GOSH! I was in tears. They were gorgeous! The others in the office were devouring the books as fast as I could pass them out. It was a bubbling readers’/writers’ paradise.

I was so impatient for Monday morning to come to share with the students. It was so exciting! I brought friends around to the school over the weekend to view the books my students had written. I was so proud of them.

Monday finally arrived and I couldn’t wait to show the students their own books. It truly was like Christmas. Everyone was overjoyed.

We proceeded to plan an author’s tea and invite our parents and the press. We arranged for refreshments to be served and a space for each of the author’s to sign their books. The computer teacher made us special bookplates so we could sign them professionally. The PTF donated funds so that each student could get one hard covered book, which was given to the library. The librarian dedicated a special shelf for the books and catalogued them. We were truly authors just like our favorites like Mary Pope Osborne, Jane Yolen, and Roald Dahl.

After the tea, we went to other classes to read our books to them. The other students were very impressed.

What does this project do for my students? It gives them a purpose for writing. It builds confidence as a writer. And it brings the families into the school for academic achievement to praise and honor their child’s efforts in writing.

We have done this project for 3 years, adding to the library shelf each year. The students’ books are checked out and read. And each year, we have the accumulated books to point to and ask, ‘Do you want to be a published author? It takes hard work, writes and rewrites, and editing and patience. Are you up for it?’ The answer is always a resounding, ‘YES!’

Here is another story I just must share. It’s about one student author that brings tears to my eyes. I had an autistic girl who had serious speech difficulties. The night of the tea, some of the children wanted to sit in the rocking chair and read aloud, using the microphone from a hearing impaired student, to the whole group of parents. I said a few could and they began. How wonderful they looked and sounded. My autistic girl raised her hand to read her book. I was astounded, as this was very uncommon for her, but gave her the opportunity. She put the headset on, sat in the chair and read her book aloud. Her mother and I just stood there and cried with joy. The power of this project is amazing.”

Terry Melancon
3rd Grade Teacher
State Street School
Windsor, VT

Vicki White – Media Center

“Our school has been using Easy Student Publishing projects for many years and in many different ways. One such way was an afterschool enrichment program for the GATE students. The most rewarding group, though, was our students who needed some help and guidance to enhance their writing skills. They were so excited to be ‘published authors.’ It really gave them a sense of accomplishment to see their work completed. Our school even purchased as extra copy of each child’s book and put them in the school library for others to check out and enjoy. The librarian said that they were some of the most popular books. We also had an “Author Book Tour.” The students took their books to other classrooms, read their stories and answered questions about their writing experience. After the tour we all enjoyed refreshments and took a group photo for the school yearbook. We had such a positive response from the students that we had a waiting list each year to participate.

truly don’t know who benefited more or was rewarded more, the students or myself!”

Vicki White
Media Center
Cameron School
West Covina, CA