January 2007

ARKANSAS STUDIES

CENTRAL HIGH VIRTUAL TOUR AVAILABLE ONLINE

http://ideas.aetn.org/productions/lrcentral

AETN has just completed the TOURING A TIME: Central High School 1957 Crisis project. The project includes a virtual tour of the facility and the times. The tour is available at http://ideas.aetn.org/productions/lrcentral. The project was made possible in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council. Please visit and give us your comments and suggestions at education@aetn.org.

ART AND MUSIC

GREAT AMERICAN VOICES

http://www.arts.gov/national/GAV/index.html

Elementary/Middle/High School

This Web site from the National Endowment of the Arts provides an introduction to opera and musical theater with samples from "Carmen" and "Barber of Seville" to "South Pacific."

SOURCE: PBS TeacherSource
http://pbs.org/teachersource/preferences/

NEW CELEBRATION FOR MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS

http://www.menc.org/guides/miosm/miosmshowcase.html

This year you will have a new way to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month. This is an opportunity to spotlight your school’s program while promoting the importance of music education in your community and throughout the nation.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

NAVIGATE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF CHILDREN'S FRIENDSHIPS

http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts

Lawrence Cohen, Ph.D., co-author of "Best Friends, Worst Enemies," is a licensed psychologist specializing in children's play and play therapy. He is taking questions about the ups and downs of children's friendships. Find out what to do when your child has an unhealthy relationship with his or her best friend. Get tips on how to deal with a preschooler who hits and kicks. Plus, get strategies on how to help kids fit in with their peers.

SOURCE: PBS Previews
The fastest way to sign up for an e-mail delivery of PBS Previews is to complete the clickable form at http://pbs.org/previews/.

GET TIPS FOR CHOOSING VIDEO GAMES

http://www.pbs.org/parents/childrenandmedia/videogames-grade.html?campaign=parentsnews_2_videogames

Are your kids asking for the latest and greatest video games? If you are like many parents, you may not know what to look for when shopping for electronic games. Check out these online tips for how to choose video games that encourage the development of a child's artistic, music and social skills.

SOURCE: PBS Parents Weekly Newsletter

http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html

LITERACY TIPS FROM TELETUBBIES

Through its use of music, language and repetition Teletubbies provides the kind of strong foundation for later learning described by Dr. Pat levitt ( Vanderbilt Kennedy Center) at a recent Ready to Lead in Literacy conference for participating public television networks. 

As Dr. levitt explained, nurturing and responsive interactions build healthy brain architecture.  By watching Teletubbies together and then sharing a book or story, a child and parent or caregiver can experience this kind of interaction. 

Exploring Books with Babies 

Birth to 6 Months: Newborns are calmed by the sounds of lullabies and nursery rhymes. These are their first stories. Babies may even begin to recognize a song or rhyme if you repeat it often. By 4 months, a baby will show interest in books and start to explore them by chewing or throwing them. 

Six to 12 Months: During this period, babies are less interested in mouthing books and more interested in the story. Promote baby’s interest by looking at the books together and talking about pictures, especially those that interest the baby. Invite 8-9 month-olds to turn the pages.

12 – 18 Months: Babies delight in reading books with adults. They will turn pages and name pictures of familiar objects. They may even begin to enjoy books that tell simple stories. Because babies are natural explorers, choose books with special fabrics and textures they can touch or sniff while listening to the story.

Reading Tips for Babies:

• Recite nursery rhymes and sing songs to newborns.

• Introduce books to babies at around 4 months old.

• Be sure to point out pictures while reading books.

• Establish a regular reading routine by baby’s first birthday.

• Visit your local library. It’s fun for you and baby.

Learning to Love Books with Toddlers

18 to 36 Months: When toddlers are introduced to the magic of books they develop a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. Even though children are still developing language, reading is very important at this age to learn about new words and concepts, to introduce letters and talk about the printed word and stories.

Reading Tips For Toddlers:

• Show toddlers that books are special. Encourage care when handling books.

• Read close together. This helps create a wonderful bond.

• Read a variety of books. Keep it interesting for you and your toddler.

• Build reading into an everyday routine. Bedtime and naptime are often favorites.

• Talk to toddler as you read. Label objects, talk about pictures and ask questions.

• Take cues from toddler. Let them explore the book at their own pace and interest level.

Weaving Worlds with Words: The Preschool Years

3 – 4 Years: At this stage, children use their ever-increasing language skills to become “big talkers” and develop an awareness of the power of the written word. To help young children develop into readers and writers, caregivers should play with letters and their sounds; promote dramatic play using characters from books, and read lots and lots of books together.

Reading Tips for Preschoolers:

• Point out important features of a book. Emphasize the title and author.

• Point out each word with your finger. This reinforces spoken/written word relationships.

• Read and reread favorite books every day. Young children delight in predictability.

• Read books with a variety of characters. This stimulates imagination.

• Ask the child questions about the story.  This helps link the child’s life with the story.

• Use stories to introduce your child to new words. This promotes the child’s vocabulary.

SOURCE: Ragdoll Productions

GRANTS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Many of the grants listed in this section are listed at http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp.

ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL GRANTS

http://www.arkansasarts.com/grants/

Be sure to visit this site for an update on the current grants from the Arkansas Arts Council.

GRANTS FOR YOUTH SERVICE PROJECTS ADDRESSING PEDIATRIC CANCER http://www.ysa.org/Awards/pdf/LionInTheHouseIntroductionAndEligibility.pdf Deadline: Feb. 1, 2007 Middle/High School Youth Service America A Lion in the House Community Service Grants are provided for youth and youth-serving organizations to design service projects addressing pediatric cancer. SOURCE: PBS Previews http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html DOLLAR GENERAL LITERACY GRANTS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

http://www.dollargeneral.com/community/dgliteracy.aspx

Since 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has improved the functional literacy of adults by providing grants to non-profit organizations dedicated to the advancement of literacy.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports non-profit organizations within Dollar General’s market area that are established for public use and have an active 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Eligible organizations within the Dollar General market area must be committed to improving the functional literacy of adults or families and must provide direct literacy services within their community.

GRANTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPLORERS

http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com/

Maximum Award: $25,000

Eligibility: Middle School Students

Deadline: Feb. 12, 2007

The Christopher Columbus Awards program challenges middle school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities. Teams of up to four students and a coach identify a community issue and use the scientific process to solve it

FFA NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE NEARS http://dwe.arkansas.gov/Agriculture/StudentInfo/Scholarships.html

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2007

The national FFA (Future Farmers of America) scholarship deadline is Feb. 15. Be sure to visit this site for more information.

STARTUP FUNDS FOR EDUCATIONAL WEB SITES

http://www.j-newvoices.org/index.php/site/story/2005rfp/

Maximum Award: $17,000.
Eligibility: 501(c) 3 organizations and education institutions, including civic groups, community organizations, public broadcasters, schools, colleges and universities.
Deadline: February 20, 2007

The Institute for Interactive Journalism and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation New Voices Community News Grants help fund the start-up of 40 micro-local news projects and support them with two educational Web sites.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS

PLAY ONLINE WITH KIDS WORLD SPORTS

http://pbskids.org/kws?campaign=parentsnews_2_sports

This Web site, designed for kids aged 6-12, includes information on sports from baseball to baton twirling to spelunking. Children can create their own sports training card to print or send to friends. This site allows them to safely experience extreme sports such as kayaking and snowboarding in the online game section of this Web site.

SOURCE: PBS Parents

http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html

WHYVILLE VIRTUAL VACCINE FOR KIDS

(http://www.ipressroom.com/cmp.asp?c=220530O716O37O685O1038)


Whyville is a leading virtual world for kids and tweens aged 8-15. In conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control, Whyville has launched a massive virtual vaccination program designed to help educate kids about the importance of influenza vaccinations and how they work.

HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

THE WAR

http://www.pbs.org/thewar

High School

"The War," the Ken Burns documentary on World War II, is scheduled to debut on PBS stations in September 2007, but you can begin whetting your appetite online.

SHOTS OF WAR: PHOTOJOURNALISM DURING THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/swphotojournalism/ Middle/High School The Spanish Civil War was one of the first conflicts to be captured by photojournalists. It was a new era of warfare and photographic technological advances allowed photographers to record the events. Visitors can browse the photos by date, by location, by people and by news agency. SOURCE: PBS Previews http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html SUBMIT YOUR TREASURE TO THE VAULT

http://pbskids.org/historydetectives/vault/index.html?campaign=parentsnews_3_history

Check out the History Detective's online vault! You and your child will find mysterious objects discovered by kids from across the country. Plus, your children can send the detectives a photo of a mystery object, secret treasure or great find. Explore this Web site with your child and get ideas on how to encourage your child's interest in history.

SOURCE: PBS Parents

http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html

LIBRARY, LITERATURE AND READING

MASTERPIECE THEATRE PRESENTS “JANE EYRE”

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/learningresources/book_janeeyre.html

Wednesday Jan. 24, 8-10 p.m.

This adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's beloved gothic novel about the passionate courtship between a governess and her tortured master stars newcomer Ruth Wilson as Jane, Toby Stephens (son of Maggie Smith; "The Queen's Sister") as Mr. Rochester and Francesca Annis as Lady Ingram. Susanna White ("Bleak House") directs.

SOLVE THE MYSTERY!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/game.html

You and your students can try to solve one or all three of the Mystery! games online. Help students develop critical thinking skills.

MATH AND SCIENCE

POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER LESSON: "SURVEYS AND GRAPHS"

http://pbskids.org/buster/parentsteachers/act-surveys-graphs.html

Preschool/Elementary School

Conduct a survey of favorite sports and graph the results.

SOURCE: PBS TeacherSource
http://pbs.org/teachersource/preferences/

GET INVOLVED IN A NOVA DOCUMENTARY

http://www.pbs.org/nova/car
High School

For the first time, NOVA is opening up its documentary filmmaking process to the public. Producers are just starting production on "Car of the Future," a program about innovations in clean and efficient vehicles, and are looking for involvement from teachers and students. Students can find a draft script and list of experts online. After reading the materials, they can e-mail questions targeted to specific experts. Students can also participate in an online discussion board and get updates as the production unfolds.

SOURCE: PBS Previews. The fastest way to sign up for an e-mail delivery of PBS Previews is to complete the clickable form at http://pbs.org/previews/.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LESSON: "WHAT'S OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET?"

http://www.pbs.org/opb/childrenshospital/classroom/index.html

High School

Create a specific hospital department budget after exploring the many components that go into this task. Plan fundraising events, write job descriptions, assign salaries and assess needs.

SOURCE: PBS TeacherSource www:http://pbs.org/teachersource/preferences/

CURIOUS GEORGE LESSON: "COUNT YOUR CHICKENS"

http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/games/count_your_chickens/count_your_chickens.html
Elementary School

Practice counting and number recognition with this online interactive game.

SOURCE: PBS Previews. The fastest way to sign up for an e-mail delivery of PBS Previews is to complete the clickable form at http://pbs.org/previews/.

JOIN SHOREBIRDS ON THEIR WAY TO

ALASKA

Free registration: http://migration.pwnet.org

Grades: 5-8

Take your class on a journey and travel more than 6,500 miles with millions of shorebirds as they migrate from Panama to Alaska. The migration began Dec. 4, 2006 in Panama and the project will follow at key stopover sites along the way. Joint the journey to learn about the mystery and science of migration.

You can use technology in your classroom to teach students about science and mystery of migration by using:

·         Live electronic field trips

·         Web casts with scientists

·         Web chats with experts

·         Short videos with researchers

·         Google Earth tours

·         Lesson plans

·         Links to live Web cams

·         Maps and more

NATURE EXAMINES SUPERSIZE CROCS

Teacher Guide at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/realmacaw/educators.html

Tall tales of giant man-eating crocodiles inhabit a world between fact and fiction. The truth is that some crocodile species have been known to exceed 20 feet. These include Nile crocs, American crocs, and the Asian-Pacific saltwater croc, which has been reported up to even 23 feet – a truly huge animal. World-renowned herpetologist Romulus Whitaker attempts to discover the last of the leviathans.

CYBERCHASE ONLINE ACTIVITY: "POINT OUT THE VIEW" http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/pointofview/pointofview.html Elementary School Examine concepts of scale, shape, symmetry and perspective to determine how different people see the same configuration of geometric figures from different points of view. SOURCE: PBS Previews http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html

POST-SECONDARY AND PRE-SERVICE

PBS READY TO LEARN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS SHOW PROMISING LITERACY RESULTS

Data from several studies indicate that Ready to Learn content can significantly move the literacy needle among the targeted demographic of children of low income families, ages 2-8. The PBS KIDS program Between the Lions has extensive research about the effectiveness of its content on teaching literacy skills for young children. The series has been shown to increase kindergarteners’ performance by nearly 4 to 1 on measures of phonemic awareness, letter-sound correspondence and concepts of print.

FREE PBS PUBLICATIONS AND SERVICES

http://www.pbs.org/

PBS has a variety of services available to parents, educators and kids. Resources include “come play” educational games and PBS KIDS GO! for older kids. PBS Parents provides valuable and relevant advice for parents, and TeacherSource allows educators to design their own profile for future news items.

LIVELYHOOD LESSON: "WORKING FAMILY VALUES" http://www.pbs.org/livelyhood/classroom/wfv/math.html High School Research, analyze and graph typical rates of pay for jobs in the U.S. and compare them to the living wage. Calculate one worker's total amount of time devoted to work and explore the current trend toward decreased standards of living. SOURCE: PBS Previews http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html

HELP SELECT NEXT NEW WEEKLY PBS SCIENCE SERIES http://www.pbs.org/science Elementary/Middle/High School PBS will broadcast three new science programs on Wednesdays in January. Only one program will become a regular series on PBS. Help select the series. Watch the programs on your PBS station or watch all three programs on pbs.org and tell PBS what you think! SOURCE: PBS Previews http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

FREE WORKSHOPS FEATURE FREE RESOURCES FOR ARKANSAS EDUCATORS

Workshop: Using Arkansas IDEAS Education Portal (Professional Development)

Description: This 3-hour workshop covers the basics of using the educational portal for professional development courses, classroom resources and other services.

Location: AETN Training Facilities, adjacent to UCA campus

Schedule: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Dates: Select one of the following workshop options

Jan. 25

Feb. 1 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 22

March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29

Register at education@aetn.org.

Workshop: Using the Central High School 1957 Crisis Virtual Tour in the Classroom (Professional Development)

Description: This 3-hour course will introduce you to the array of resources available through this tour and the events related to the Civil Rights crisis in 1957 and beyond.

Location: AETN Training Facilities, adjacent to UCA campus

Schedule: 1-4 o.m.

Dates: Select one of the following workshop options

Feb. 1 Feb. 15

March 1 March 15 March 29

Register at education@aetn.org.

SHOW ME THE MONEY: TIPS & RESOURCES FOR SUCCESSFUL GRANT WRITING

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml

Do you have a project that requires outside funding? Have you just been assigned the responsibility for writing a grant? This quick and easy guide will help you with the grant writing process, and links will guide you to additional resources.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FORECAST OF FUNDING

http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html

Find out about the U.S. Department of Educations programs currently accepting applications. This site includes previously announced programs and competitions, as well as those planned for announcement at a later date. This document is regularly updated.

TOUCH THE PAST: ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY INSTITUTE

http://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/neh.htm

Application Deadline: March 1, 2007

Institute Dates: July 9-27, 2007

Eligibility: K-12 teachers

The institute will be held on the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse campus, with field trips scheduled to archaeological sites across Wisconsin. Although the institute will be based in Wisconsin, teachers around the United States can benefit from this opportunity. Participants will explore the rich archaeological record of the Upper Mississippi Valley and the indigenous cultures as well as the process of archaeological discovery and interpretation.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY ON AETN'S SCHOLAR CHANNEL

Tune in to AETN's Scholar digital channel for online professional development courses. Series include assessments, and credit for professional development is at the discretion of the school district. Check with your local cable network for information about your local channel for Scholar. These are some of the professional development courses available:

Series Title: Assesment in Math and Science

Subject Area: Math / Science

Grade Level: K-12 Teachers

Number of Programs: 8

Run Time/Program: 60 minutes

Series Description: "Will this be on the test?" "Is this going to count?" How often do students ask these questions? This workshop examines current assessment issues and strategies in K-12 math and science classrooms. Through video segments of real classrooms interspersed with lively discussions of practicing teachers and content experts, see how teachers deal with common issues and discover ways to use assessment to improve teaching and learning.

Streamed video: http://www.ideas.aetn.org/professional_development/aetn_scholar_channel

Series Title: Critical Issues in School Reform

Subject Area: General

Grade Level: K-12 Teachers

Number of Programs: 8

Run Time/Program: 60 minutes

Series Description: Talking about school reform isn't new. What is new are the many ways that schools and communities are now turning talk into action by adapting, implementing, or even inventing tools to help them make real improvements in student achievement.

This series takes viewers to eight places around the country where teachers, parents, administrators, civic leaders, and others are collaborating on new practices in public engagement and professional development.

Streamed video:

http://www.ideas.aetn.org/professional_development/aetn_scholar_channel

Series Title: Learning Science Through Inquiry

Subject Area: Science

Grade Level: K-8 Teachers

Number of Programs: 8

Run Time/Program: 60 minutes

Series Description: Inquiry-based teaching, central to the National Science Education Standards and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy, should not be an isolated occurrence, but a comprehensive and ongoing approach. However, many teachers hesitate to teach science through inquiry because they did not learn this way themselves, when they were students or during their preparation to become teachers. This workshop shows inquiry teaching and learning in action, with real teachers and students in real classrooms. Whether you have already experimented with inquiry teaching and want to enhance your practice, or are new to the approach and want to know how to make it work, this workshop will help you understand the process and how it benefits students, and give you strategies to use in your classroom.

Streamed video: http://www.ideas.aetn.org/professional_development/aetn_scholar_channel

Series Title: Write in the Middle

Subject Area: English/Writing

Grade Level: 6-8 Teachers

Number of Programs: 8

Run Time/Program: 60 minutes

Series Description: In this eight-part workshop, classroom video and insightful discussion illustrate effective ways teachers can help their students become confident and proficient writers.

Middle school teachers from across the country share specific strategies they use with their students, and extensive video from each of their classrooms gives viewers an opportunity to see those strategies in action. The workshop explores several common themes that underlie effective writing instruction at the middle school level—providing engaging prompts, allowing student choice, modeling good writing, and using innovative approaches like multigenre writing. Some workshop videos feature aspects of the writing process, such as revision and pre-writing, while others illustrate successful strategies for teaching specific writing forms such as poetry or persuasive essays.

Streamed video: http://www.ideas.aetn.org/professional_development/aetn_scholar_channel