Kid Reporters are Organized

Apply now to be a Kid Reporter.

As a Kid Reporter, I have learned that organization comes before everything else. Before you actually get started on the job, you have to do a lot of planning and research to make sure you know all about your interview subject.

I remember the time I interviewed Carly Rose Soneclar, the young actress who played Carrie Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie: The Musical. I researched Carly’s history in show business and her role in the new musical. I made sure I went on official websites to find my information, which is really important. If you wind up on the wrong sites, you can easily get wrong information.

I eventually filled up four whole pages with notes about Little House on the Prairie: The Musical and Soneclar. Because of my previous extensive research, when I was finally interviewing her, I understood her answers and was able to ask further questions based on her answers. A more indepth interview leads to a better, more interesting story.

I also learned about deadlines. When I’m working on a Scholastic assignment, I’m constantly reminded that the clock is ticking. Trying to get everything done before the deadline can seem like hard work, but it won’t be as difficult if you pace yourself.

Don’t wait until the last day and cram the night before—that never works. Do a little bit each day so your story won’t look rushed and messy.

If you enjoy writing and meeting new people, the Scholastic Kids Press Corps is the right place for you! Send in your application by October 12, and you can become a kid reporter too! Trust me; this is something you wouldn’t want to miss!

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi covering a back-to-school event with President Barack Obama in 2009. (Photo by Suzanne Freeman)

Loving The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord

Author: Cornelia Funke

Publisher/Date: Scholastic/ 2001

Length: 345 pages

Recommended reading age: 7-11

In Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord, the author introduces readers to the spectacular city of Venice, Italy, where magical things happen before your very eyes. This is where two young runaway brothers, Prosper and Bo, embark on an adventure they—and you—will never forget.

The two young orphans run away to Venice when their heinous aunt and uncle limit their freedom to about the size of a dust particle. There, they join a group of other orphaned street kids: Riccio, Mosca, and Hornet.

The street children are led by a mysterious and cunning boy, Scipio, who names himself “The Thief Lord.” However, Scipio hides a shocking truth from his friends, which leds Prosper and Bo through a series of twists and turns, changing their lives forever.

This story is more than an exciting plot. It includes a message hidden between the lines.

Funke focuses on family. Scipio, or the Thief Lord, resembles a father figure in most of this story. He manages to find a home for all his friends and he makes enough money for them to live comfortably.

Additionally, the five other street kids act like siblings to one another. This family love between all six of them makes their bond much stronger.

You’ll also meet other characters that strengthen this bond as well as characters who will try to loosen it. Funke’s message to her readers is that friends and family will always be there for you, no matter how far away they may seem.

The Thief Lord is definitely a novel worth reading and I promise you that you will never regret picking it up.

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO:

NOTE: What are you reading this summer? Use the blue comment link below to let us know!

Welcome Back, Babysitters Club!

Babysitters Club the Prequel on bookshelves now.

Most young girls—and even some young boys—have had experience babysitting. And probably all of you reading this have been under the care of a babysitter at least once!

That common experience is one of many reasons author Ann Martin’s book series of The Babysitter's Club has been so popular over the years. Today, April 1, after 10 years, a new Babysitters Club book is being released!

This is no April Fool’s joke either. The prequel, called The Babysitter’s Club: The Summer Before, will join the 213 other volumes of Babysitter adventures today.

I am a big fan of Ann Martin’s work. I loved The Babysitter’s Club series, as well as her other series, California Diaries.

When I first got the news that I was about to interview one of my favorite authors, I was really excited. Almost as excited as I was about the new book coming out.

The interview at Scholastic’s headquarters in New York City was a lot of fun. Ms. Martin and I talked about the motifs hidden between the lines of her new book and the messages she wants to spread to her audience.

I had the most fun talking about that because I could see beyond the outer cover of the book and into the deeper depths of the novel. It was a thrill to get to read the book as a reviewer. I got a first look at what fans have been waiting years for.

I think whether you’re already a fan of the series or not, you’ll enjoy the prequel. And then, you’ll be a fan for sure!

I loved The Babysitters Club: The Summer Before, as you can see in my review of the book. And check out the video of my interview with Ms. Martin. Just click play! You can also send you comments about Martin’s work in the comment section below. Tell us what you think!

—Gopa Praturi

Last Weekend to Apply!

The deadline to apply to be a Kid Reporter is Monday, October 5.

My editor asked me to write a short piece about some things I learned as a Kid Reporter and to give some advice on how to write a winning application.

One of the most important things I have learned as a Kid Reporter is to manage my priorities and stay focused on my goals. Even when I have other plans, I have to make sure I get to my Scholastic work, too.

Being a Kid Reporter taught me how to multitask and juggle responsibilities. There are times when I have to manage multiple projects to meet my deadlines. One evening, I had to work on my environmental elementary project, study for an exam, perform at a violin concert, AND write a story for Scholastic that was due that evening!

I scheduled my time carefully and was able to get a good score on my test, play well at my concert, and finish my Scholastic assignment just in time. I got through that without stumbling by concentrating on one task at a time and keeping focused.

I also learned how to be flexible and work quickly. I received an email from my editor one morning asking if I wanted to interview Maggie Rodriguez, a leading reporter with CBS. The interview was set for the very next day!

Honestly, I did not have enough information to come-up with 16 questions for the interview. I had to do a little research first, and then write my interview questions. I had to do all this in a matter of a few hours. The next day, after the interview, it was the report preparation time. I had to turn the story in the next day. By the time I got back from New York City to my home in New Jersey, the afternoon was almost over. Despite that, I was able to complete all parts of the report and send it in before the deadline.

Anyone with an interest and love of news and writing can apply to be a Scholastic Kid Reporter. The details are on the SKPC Web site, and they are fairly easy.

First, you have to send in some basic information about yourself including your name, address, phone number, and your parents’ names and email addresses. Next, you must write a short autobiography explaining why you are interested in being a Kid Reporter. It must also include details about yourself and your favorite subjects, music, books, and hobbies.

Finally, you must write a 400-word article about what makes your community special. The story should include a few quotes from an interview you conduct. It should also be detailed and specific.

My advice is to pick one thing about your community that distinguishes it from other communities. Be very specific. Don’t just list tourist attractions and say the people are friendly. Tell your readers something they don’t already know about where you live.

Make sure you attach a picture of yourself so that Scholastic can identify you.

And as a final piece of advice, be sure your writing is not dull and boring. Make your writing fun to read so everyone can enjoy it.

Working in Scholastic can be challenging, sometimes, but I think it is really worth while. What about you? Want to be a Kid Reporter? You have until October 5 to send in an application.

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: Actress/singer Miranda Cosgrove with Scholastic Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi at Bridgewater Commons Mall in New Jersey on Saturday, September 12. (Photo Courtesy Brian Killan/Wire Image.com/Getty Images)

President Obama' Speech on Twitter

Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi covered President Barack Obama’s Back to School speech in Arlington, Virginia, today. She wrote updates on twitter throughout the entire event. A twitter entry can only be 140 characters long. Every break you see in the copy below, indicates a different "tweet." You can follow her play-by-play below:

Hi. Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi here. I'm at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, for the President's Back to School speech.

By the way, the students here aren't allowed to talk to the press yet, but by their expressions, I'm pretty sure they're really excited!

The Secretary of Education is right here in front of us and he's going to do some interviews with the press.

I just interviewed Sec. of Ed. Arne Duncan. He said the President worked hard through school for his success. If you work hard, you can succeed, too.

Secretary Duncan also said to work hard at your goals, and you just might fulfill them.

We're in the high school gym. Football players are here in their uniforms today. The school colors are green and white.

The press has filled up one entire end of the gym. The podium is on the basketball court.

The hoop has been raised up to make room for the backdrop. It says "My Education, My Future" with the White House seal underneath.

We're sitting right behind the press riser, where the press is ready to broadcast this live on TV and on the White House Web site.

Lots of students are really excited that the President is here. Some are wearing purple ambassador T-Shirts. Today is first day of school.

We still have a whole hour until the speech, but we're already completely prepared.

The Wakefield High Principal is introducing herself and the school, just before President Obama's speech.

They are starting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem lead by students.

The principal is continuing to talk to the students about why President Obama probably chose Wakefield instead of any other school.

Wakefield's principal is talking about the teachers and encouraging them, saying that they are the best staff ever.

She is also asking the students to "live and feel" the moment because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

By the way, “Obama is in the house,” she said. We are all waiting for him right now.

All the kids are chattering about the fact that Obama is actually coming to their school, and the principal's inspiring talk.

President Obama still hasn't come out, but we are pretty much ready. Everyone is waiting.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is going to speak with the students now. He's introducing the speech, too.

Sec. Duncan is talking about a student named Timothy Spicer. He's the President of the senior class. He is introducing him.

Timothy is talking to the students. He's introducing the President right now, just like Sec. Duncan introduced HIM.

President Obama is on stage at the moment, starting his speech. Kids are cheering like crazy. Stay tuned in for more info.

President Obama is talking about a student's responsibility for his/her education. He's starting with “responsibility to yourself.”

He said everybody is good at something, but you might not know that until you try it in school.

Obama is comparing the knowledge in science and math to real life, and how it relates to the nation as a whole.

The country needs every child to succeed. He's now talking about how kids have challenges in their lives and how it’s not that easy to do well in school without hard work and help.

"There is no excuse for not trying," Obama says.

Obama is talking about Jazmin Perez, and how she has been through so much. But she is very successful.

He is also talking about Shantell Steve, and how she succeeded too. He is giving examples of other kids around the nation who have overcome hardship.

Obama is saying that no matter how small your goals are, you must accomplish them.

Obama is saying how some people have failed so many times, and they finally they succeeded—such as JK Rowling (Harry Potter author) and Michael Jordan (star basketball player).

Mr. Obama is telling kids to ask for help – it’s okay.

Obama is giving examples about Americans who were sitting right where our students sit today, and founded great things. These kids will go on to do great things, too.

Obama has just ended the speech. Everyone is applauding Music is playing in the backround. That’s all for now!

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi "tweets" from President Barack Obama's Back to School speech in Arlington, Virginia,September 8, 2009. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

Behind the Scenes Info on President Obama's Big Speech

Behind the Scenes Info on President Obama's Big Speech

Hey there!

I'm Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi! We're here at Wakefield High School getting ready for President Obama's big speech today. There's a lot going on, even though the speech hasn't started yet.

We're in the High School Gym right now, and there are students all over the risers along two walls. We're right behind the Press Risers, where the press is ready to broadcast this speech live on www.whitehouse.gov/live/. The High School Gym is green and white and the podium is where the basketball hoop is supposed to be. The hoop was raised to the ceiling to make room for the President to talk. The students here are mega-excited about the President coming to their school - in fact, they're applauding right now just because the lights were switched off for a second!

I was able to talk to the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who said that President Obama had been through lots of problems as a kid. His father wasn't around much,  and his mother had a lot of trouble raising him. But he worked hard, and because of his hard work, he's now the President.

Sec. Duncan said that if all kids work their hardest, everyone will be able to succeed. Duncan also mentioned that the purpose of Mr. Obama's speech is to teach kids to go after their goals, and if they try their best, they will succeed.

Some press reporters have very creative ideas on reporting. Susan Bainbridge, a freelance photographer, brought her dog, Lightning, with her. Its amazing how well Susan and her dog can communicate and get along. I'll write more about her and Lightning later. I interviewed them for a story.

Everyone's excited and eager to hear from Mr. Obama -- and I'm apparently one of those excited kids! Remember President Obama's slogan for today: "My Education, My Future." So everyone out there who's listening to this speech, work your hardest to accomplish your goals!

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Gopa Praturi interviews Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, on September 8, 2009. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

President Obama Goes Back to School

Kid Reporter twitters, blogs, covers Obama speech to students today!

President Barack Obama is speaking to America’s students today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. In his speech, the President is expected to encourage and challenge students to set and accomplish their educational goals in the years ahead.

My Editor Suzanne Freeman and I will be covering the event live. In fact, we will probably be on the train to Union Station in Washington, D.C., as you read this!

You can follow our "tweets" on twitter.com/kidspress. Or check back to this blog or the Scholastic Kids Press Corps Web site for full coverage. You can also watch it live online at www.WhiteHouse.gov.

The speech is set for 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.

Covering this speech is a great opportunity and I have worked hard to prepare for it. It will be a full and exciting day. My family and I will catch a 6 a.m. train from New Jersey to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station. I will have to wake up at 5 a.m. to get ready!

Once I board the train, I will meet my editor, who is coming on the same train from New York. We will then have a chance to review our plans for the day. On our return-trip, we will be back on the train, writing the news story and updating this blog. Be sure to follow the coverage and send in your comments!

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: President Barack Obama speaking at a town hall meeting. Photo: White House photo 2/9/09 by Pete Souza

Fireflies Count!

You can participate in the National Firefly Count and help save a really cool bug!

I am participating in the National Firefly Count. I find fireflies as the most interesting type of bug. I have registered for the Firefly Count and have already started counting the fireflies.

Fortunately, I can still see a decent number of fireflies in my backyard.  However, I notice that their numbers are dwindling year by year. I did not make a formal count like the one that I am doing currently, but I recall witnessing a greater population of these insects last year in my very own backyard. 

In my neighborhood, we are currently witnessing a new building development. That probably explains one of the reasons for fewer fireflies.

Fireflies are the most interesting creatures. They represent a totally unique form of life, that can naturally generate light emissions using their own biological tools. It is also very strange that fireflies cannot see certain shades of light.

Counting Fireflies

The first challenge that I had to encounter before participating in this project, was to figure-out an ideal location to perform a firefly count on a consistent basis.  Given the fact, that our lawn needs regular fertilizers, weekly lawn mowing, and sometimes pesticides, I chose an area in my backyard a little away from the lawn. I designated this  as my “count-point.”  It is a point where I can stand-still and make a count of all visible fireflies.

The second challenge that I had to face was to make sure that the area at the time of count is devoid of any uncontrolled light. For example, car-lights on the street, building-lights, and the street lights.

After I took care of these little issues, the firefly count has become a great fun activity. Me and my sister get ready with our blue acetate covered lights and jars to go out and do the weekly count.  (Sometimes, she surpasses me in the count-game, but nevertheless it is a lot of fun).

On my first week of counting, I saw 18 of them in 10 seconds.  My sister saw 20.  However, I estimate that there were probably about a hundred blinking lights from the fireflies in my one-acre backyard at that moment.

Read more about the count and how to participate on Scholastic News Online.

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: A firefly up close! CREDIT: istockphoto.com

Summer Goals

Isn’t summer great?

I’ve been waiting for summer all year long. My summer is especially fun because I’m doing lots of awesome thing like a trip to Niagara Falls and two new books to read. I’m also learning quick ways to solve a Rubik’s© Cube.

Niagara Falls is probably the most beautiful sight in the world. Watching the amazing roar of falling waters is an exhilarating experience. I wanted to know what makes this water fall from such a great height and how it all got started. I did some research and this is what I found out:

    * Niagara Falls was probably created by glaciers about 10,000 years ago. When the ice melted, the water flowed into the nearby river. The Niagara River cuts a gorge and overflows through the Cliff creating the beautiful falls we see today.
    * And to answer why the cliff formed in the first place, one has to turn to geologists.Three types of soil formations interacted to create three major rock formations.These different layers did not erode evenly, so you see how each different kind of soil and rock settled to form the cliff.

I am reading two new books this summer: The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau and The Alchemyst by Michael Scott. City of Ember starts off with an interesting twist about things going wrong with city-threatening disaster-recovery plans. Things tend to slow down as the book progresses, though. I think the ending of The Alchemyst is much more satisfying and interesting

And about the mind-boggling Rubik’s© cube! To solve the puzzle, remember one important cardinal rule. Instead of trying to solve the cube side by side, try doing it in layers. Just keep organizing the layers and it will be done in no time.

Now I can do it pretty fast and once I did it in four minutes, which is not anywhere near the world-record, but that beats our best-ever Family record!

I hope everyone has a great summer!! Enjoy the break, but most important, stay indoors when it’s really hot outside. That’s when activities like summer reading and studying how to solve a puzzle come in handy!

—Gopa Praturi

PHOTO: A collage of summer fun by Gopa Praturi

Environmental Elementary

How one New Jersey school thinks green.

Brunswick Acres Elementary School is one of the most environment-friendly schools in my community New Jersey community. Brunswick Acres believes that when it comes to the environment, there is always room for improvement.

“I think we can always find new opportunities and new ways to care for our environment,” said Joseph Anzek, the Principal of Brunswick Acres. He and, and 5th grade teacher Kenneth Kowalski talked to me recently about the importance of preserving the environment.

Brunswick Acres aspires to stand out as a role-model for other schools and institutions in the neighborhood, they told me.

“For example, if we got really good at recycling, the school could write all this down and send it to other schools to show them what we have accomplished,” Anzek said. “It will be like challenging them—and we'll be expecting that they will challenge us back!” He wants to create a healthy competition amongst local schools that is bound to make a major change in the community.

The Tulip Garden

Tulip Garden is a pilot project that Brunswick Acres started this academic year to nurture and cultivate pro-environment habits amongst young children.

“This project is making kids really look out for the environment,” Kowalski said.

Staff Members at the school encourage all students to get involved in environmental issues. They encourage kids to walk to school instead of riding in cars. For those who live too far away to walk, they encourage using the school’s buses for transportation.

Staff members also encourage students to use the same water bottle over and over again instead of throwing one out each day.

Using less paper, decreasing waste, and keeping school-grounds clean, are just a few of the essential things that every Brunswick Acres student follows in true spirit of Earth Day philosophy.

Brunswick Acres also has big environmental dreams and goals, ranging from doubling recycling efforts to installing energy-friendly solar panels on school roof-tops. At Brunswick Acres, students, teachers, PTO members, and parents team up to accomplish those goals.

What does your school do to help the environment. Click on the comment link below this blog post and tell us your thoughts!

—Gopa Praturi