Great American Stories Contest

The Great American Stories Contest - Olympic Edition is open to anyone from anywhere (not just Americans).  You must use your real name, and you must agree to let PNN publish your stories on its site as well as on its sponsor's sites.

Your story can be as long as you like, just try to keep your audience engaged.  If you include photos in the story make sure you give details about who took the shot, and if someone else is shown, you should get their name and permission from that person to have it published. 

Stories must be original and unpublished up to the time the winners are declared in August, 2008.  All rights remain with the author.

Applicants should submit their stories on PNN sites.  It is perfectly acceptible to have a family member or teacher start the site for you.  If, however, you don't have access to a computer or the internet, or are unable for any reason to start a PNN site we are ready to do it for you and help you with any accommodations or modifications necessary to make sure that you are successful working with our websites and contest rules.

Teaching and Learning with PNN

What is PNN in relation to education?

PNN is a hands-on tool for facilitating classroom learning. Teachers can use PNN's features in a myriad of ways to enhance classroom instruction and learning. One of the most valuable features of PNN is that it allows you, the teacher, to tailor your needs specifically to your own classroom reality.

What does PNN allow me to do?

With PNN, you can easily integrate technology into your classroom without worrying about the specifics of web page design and web content uploading. PNN's user-friendly toolbar allows you to easily post text articles, graphics, and even photos from your cell phone directly to your user page.As each section of your page is linked directly to an email address of your own choosing, updating your page is as easy as sending an email.

PNN's versatile program functions allow you to do one or all of the following: provide your students with the opportunity to become amateur reporters, post projects and homework assignments, highlight student successes, create school newsletters, update parents on student progress, and instantly publish school, student, or field trip photos.

What other benefits are involved with using PNN?

PNN fosters online learning and teaching communities, providing you with ample opportunities to communicate and collaborate with teachers and students all around the globe.Additionally, PNN is available to teachers free of charge.Finally, it is easy to use, with instantpublishing results.

About Me...

I have twelve years of secondary education experience and have dedicated my professional career not only to teaching, but also to mentoring, educational consulting, curriculum writing, editing, and publishing. I am a credentialed teacher in both California and New Hampshire and have taught high school English/Language Arts on both coasts during my eight years as a high school teacher.  Originally from New England, I received my bachelor's degree (dual major in English and Communication) from the University of New Hampshire. I obtained my master's degree from Mills College in the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently am pursuing a doctorate in Learning and Instruction at the University of San Francisco.  In addition to my work with PNN,currently I work for Envision Schools, a non-profit consortium of public charter high schools in the Bay Area, where I mentor and support teachers new to the profession.

La Puente Highights

Calling All Educators!

• a photo of yourself that we can post on our Advisory Board page
• a brief bio of your educational background and experience
• subscribe to Advisory Board group (see below)