The Stock Market Game
InvestWrite Spring 2011
Teachers judged nearly 10,000 essays at the classroom level, submitting up to 6 essays per class for national judging. Nationally, 3,111 student essays were judged by national judges for the spring 2011 competition.
Over 900 professionals from the business and education community volunteered to judge the anonymous entries.
Learn more about InvestWrite at www.investwrite.info
National Winners
Illinois students won First Place, Fifth Place and Seventh Place in the national competition for grades 4 - 5. At the national level, 767 essays of students in grades 4 - 5 were judged. To see what the students and their teachers received for national awards, visit the InvestWrite web site and click "Awards."
Grades 4 - 5 First Place
During the end-of-year award assembly at Isaac Fox Elementary School, Lake Zurich District 95, Alex Rasmussen was surprised by the announcement of his First Place National Award! Alex received a mini laptop computer. Laura Raineri, Alex's teacher, received a $750 professional development scholarship, a gift card and a 1-year subscription to the Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition for the coming school year.
Alex received a trophy to be displayed in the school; Alex's class received a certificate for a classroom pizza party which was immediately scheduled for the following Monday!
Read Alex's essay and the essay prompt he addressed.
Helping recognize Alex were his parents; Isaac Fox principal Jill Brooks; Professor Daniel Condon, Dominican University; Joanne Dempsey and Marty Paul, Econ Illinois.
In her remarks, teacher Laura Raineri commended Alex for an excellent writing style. She suggested that she and Alex found two components of essay writing that, when implemented, made a good essay great!
Ms. Raineri also had a First Place National Award student in 2008 - the school now has two trophies!
Grades 4 - 5 Fifth Place
During an all-school assembly to recognize students for their achievements during the school year, Lake Zurich District 95's Sarah Adams Elementary School student Nathan Holbrook was surprised by the announcement of his Fifth Place National Award!
Nathan and teacher Cheryl Eastham each received certificates and gift cards; Nathan's parents received a certificate of appreciation for their part in their child's growth and learning; and Nathan's class received a pizza party, which was to be held at noon that day!
Nathan and Ms. Eastham were joined in the celebration by Nathan's parents; Dominican University Professor Daniel Condon; Sarah Adams Elementary School principal Claudia Mall and Marty Paul, Econ Illinois. Two of Nathan's sisters were also in attendance to help in the recognition.
Read Nathan's essay and the essay prompt he addressed.
Although put on the spot, Nathan expertly read select excerpts from his essay to demonstrate to his fellow students, teachers and parents in attendance how he successfully responded to the Spring 2011 InvestWrite grades 4-5 essay prompt.
Grades 4 - 5 Seventh Place
Dylan Lunceford, a fourth grade student at Heather Hill Elementary School, Flossmoor School District 161, received the Seventh Place National Award for grades 4-5. Dylan's teacher, Kate Raddatz, encouraged the students who participated in The Stock Market Game to compose essays for the InvestWrite competition.
Dylan's essay about why he would like to buy stock in the Hershey Company earned him a certificate, gift card and a pizza party for his class.
Sheryl Szot Gallaher, Director of the Governors State University Office of Economic Education presented Dylan's awards at the end-of-year assembly at Heather Hill School. Mr. and Mrs. Lunceford, Dylan, Principal Venus Smith and Kate Raddatz are pictured presenting Dylan with his certificate. Ms Raddatz also received a certificate of award and gift card for her integration of the InvestWrite program into her Stock Market Game unit. Dylan's parents received a certificate of appreciation for their part in Dylan's learning.
Read Dylan's essay and the essay prompt he addressed.