Monday, October 13, 2008

Back to School List - Quondam giveaway


So, the kids have been in school here now for 30 some odd days and a routine has settled in. Get up early, rush around, get out the door. They then spend the day having information crammed into their brains and then you get them home, only to have to try and help cram some more information in via homework. Is it any wonder that most kids want NOTHING to do with reading, whether part of homework or even for fun?

Thankfully, there are some really great teachers and authors who get that. Jayel Gibson is BOTH.:) In an effort to help you engage your kids in educational yet fun activities, educator, author and video gaming advocate Jayel Gibson has written a terrific tip list (see below) with ideas on books and video games that will aid in learning. A mother, grandmother and teacher for more than 15 years, Jayel Gibson says reading and video games can go hand-in-hand. For her, gaming led her to write the fantasy fiction series "Ancient Mirrors Tale" and the latest book in the series, "Quondam."

"Too many people have labeled video games as a negative influence, but as a member of the gaming community and teacher, I have seen video games used to teach as they entertain," Gibson says. I think she has a real point. Take a list of some of her suggestions:

Back to school, back to fun: A new year with learning fun
By Jayel Gibson

For many kids, back-to-school signifies the end to the dog-days-of-summer and reuniting with classmates and friends. It means shopping for new clothes and school supplies, but it also signifies studying, homework and tests. When it comes to hitting the books, are your kids digging their heels in and refusing to get back into the swing of things? Engage them with these gripping sci-fi/fantasy novels that examine real-life issues facing today’s young adults. Huge plus, they are also on most library shelves. If your kids just refuse to read, offer them a video game off this wish list of highly anticipated video games that will educate while they play, long after the homework is done.

Recommended reads:

Beastly
by Alexandra Flinn
A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form.
(Suggested for ages 12 – 18)

Betwixt
by Tara Bray Smith
Three alienated teenagers are drawn to a strange outdoor concert in the woods outside of Seattle, where they discover that they possess magical powers and that their destinies are intertwined.
(Suggested for ages 13– 18)

City of Bones
by Cassandra Clare
Suddenly able to see demons, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.
(Suggested for ages 13 – 18)

Faerie Wars
by Herbie Brennan
Troubled by family problems, Henry finds his life taking a whole new dimension when he and his friend, old Mr. Fogarty, become involved with Prince Pyrgus Malvae who has been sent from the faerie world in order to
escape the treacherous Faeries of the Night.
(Suggested for ages 13 – 18)

***
Recommended video games:

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
Genre: Real-time Strategy
The next game in the completely over-the-top Red Alert fast-paced real-time strategy series requires the use of lots of brain cells.
(Anticipated release date: TBA for the following platforms: PC, PS3, X360)

Tomb Raider Underworld
Genre: Action Adventure
Watch out for Lara Croft’s next adventure, equipped with slick motion-captured animations and new acrobatic maneuvers to help video gaming’s most famous female character solve all-new puzzles.
(Anticipated release date: November 2008 for the following platforms: PC, PS2, PS3, X360, DS, WII)

Spore
Genre: Strategy
This unusual strategy game let’s players take a player created race of sentient beings from the primordial soup through the vast reaches of space exploration.
(Anticipated release date: September 2008) for the following platforms: PC, DS, WII, MAC)

Fable 2
Genre: Action Role Play Game
Explore a new world and make it your own as a do-gooder or an evil villain and experience the natural consequences that come with your behavior.
(Anticipated release date: Fourth Quarter 2008 for the Xbox 360).

Madden NFL 09
Genre: Sports Simulation
The biggest sports-game franchise on the planet returns with an all-new edition. A perfect score for sports fans of all ages.
(Anticipated release date: August 2008 for the following platforms: PS2, PS3, PSP, XBOX, X360, DS, WII)

Jayel Gibson is an award-winning fantasy author of “The Ancient Mirrors Tales” series, a mother, grandmother, educator and video gaming advocate. She lives in Port Orford, Ore., with her husband, a pet
cockatoo and five sugar gliders—a small type of marsupial. For more information, visit www.ancientmirrors.com.


Find more videos like this on Tales Touched by Magick

Win it!

The Prize: A copy of Quondam, the final book in the Ancient Mirrors Tale series.

How You Can Win:

Go to Jayel's website and look around then come back and tell me what you liked best there. That's it!

Would like to up the odds of winning?

To earn more entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

  • Subscribe to my feed.
  • Add me to your Technorati Favorites and I will do the same in return.
  • Mention this giveaway and Book Week on your blog with a link back here.
  • Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses only. Good luck!

Who is eligible:

You must have a US mailing address. You don't have to be a blogger to win, just supply a valid e-mail address. Make sure to leave me that email address though because if I cannot get a hold of you, you cannot win!

When the giveaway ends:

The giveaway will run now through October 21st at Noon CST. I'll pick the winner using Random.org as soon as possible after that. You may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a cool site that compiles winners in one convenient place:



Winners will have 3 days to reply before another winner is selected.

Bonne Chance!!


Photobucket

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!

4 comments:

windycindy said...

Hello, I have a nephew that is really into Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. Her site is wonderful. It is attractive and her entry lines makes one feel very welcome! I also like the ferret in her hood. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the review section of her website the most. I thought the earthy feel of the color scheme lent itself well to the website theme also.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

I am subscribed too.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Deb said...

I tried! Her site's undergoing maintenance... I'll try again later - but I can tell from reading about the book and series elsewhere that I would really enjoy reading this. :)