October 2006

Early Morning Blockfeed

ARKANSAS STUDIES

AETN HOPING TO PRODUCE HISTORY OF ARKANSAS

The production department at AETN is currently in development on a series called Arkansas: A History. The proposed project is an historical documentary series that will encompass the entire history of Arkansas from the earliest residents of Asiatic hunters around the 10th century BC, to contemporary issues being confronted at the turn of the 21st century.

ART AND MUSIC

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER
http://www.pbs.org/lflc

Join the Lincoln Center audience for an evening of delightful entertainment Thursday, Oct. 12 for American Songbook with
Audra McDonald & Friends. 

AMERICAN MASTERS "LEONARD BERNSTEIN: REACHING FOR THE NOTE"
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/bernstein_l.html
Elementary/Middle/High School

Leonard Bernstein was all of 25 when he filled in for an ailing guest conductor for the New York Philharmonic. Young, flamboyant and emotionally charged, he became an instant celebrity. A major force in 20th-century music, Bernstein mastered Broadway, Hollywood and Carnegie Hall, leading the New York Philharmonic for 11 seasons. Learn more about Bernstein's career at the companion Web site.

ARKANSAS ART COUNCIL'S ARTS IN EDUCATION MINI-GRANT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
http://www.arkansasarts.com 

The Arkansas Arts Council is offering K-12 schools and community organizations an opportunity to participate in the Arts in Education (AIE) Mini-Grant program.  The grant program will provide funding to bring artists listed on the Arts in Education Artist Roster into the classroom or into an after school or summer program to present a one- to five-day hands-on, curriculum-based or character-centered artist residency.

The Arts in Education Mini-Grant program also allows schools and organizations the opportunity to present a teacher's professional development workshop in curriculum-based arts activities either in conjunction with, or instead of, an artist residency. 

Applicants may receive a maximum of $1500 using established AIE program rates for artist fees, travel, meals, lodging and supplies.  Applicants must show a 1:1 match of cash and/or in-kind contributions.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

LEARN HOW TO RAISE A TOLERANT CHILD
http://www.pbs.org/parents/issuesadvice/

When children respect themselves and others, they feel good about who they are.  In honor of Deaf Awareness Week, Sept. 24-30, Bobbie Beth Scoggins, president of the National Association of the Deaf, is taking your questions about raising deaf children and helping all children understand and accept differences. 

TEACH YOUR CHILD TO RESPECT DIFFERENCES
http://www.pbs.org/parents/inclusivecommunities/differences.html

Now more than ever, people are aware of the importance of teaching children to respect people of various sizes, abilities, ethnicities and ages.  When children learn to value people who are different from themselves, they are better prepared to live peacefully in a diverse world. Use the PBS online guide to learn how to choose words carefully, the power of the media and how reading with a child can open the door to learning about the world and ourselves.

HOW TO DEAL WITH A BULLY
http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/bradley-relationships.html

How can you develop the kind of relationship with your child that will put him or her on the road to success? Read psychologist Michael Bradley's answers to questions. He gives advice on such topics as:

• What to do if your son is being bullied at school
• How to deal with an angry teenager
• How to keep your cool around a first grader

More answers are coming soon.

SOURCE: PBS Parents, http://pbsparents.org

HOW TO HELP YOUR SON SUCCEED IN SCHOOL
http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisingboys/school.html

Some boys thrive in school. But many boys don't fare as well — and for the majority of them, school may not be as good a fit as it is for girls.  The problems for boys in school may seem insurmountable, but there are some simple, practical strategies that you can use to help your son succeed in school.

SOURCE: PBS Parents, http://pbsparents.org

MAKE YOUR TRIP TO THE PEDIATRICIAN EASIER
http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/health/doctor.html

Do your kids run away when you say, "It's time to go to the doctor"?  The PBS online guide offers such tips as:

• Don't negotiate over going to the doctor
• Plan something fun for after the doctor's visit
• Don't promise your child that it won't hurt.

SOURCE:  PBS Parents, http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html

KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE ONLINE
http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/carvin-newweb.html

Internet activist Andy Carvin answered questions about kids and blogs, online social networks and technology in the classroom.  Find out how safe MySpace is for your child; the role of Wikipedia in schools; and how concerned you should be about what you find when you "google" your child.

SOURCE:  PBS Parents, http://pbs.org/parents/preferences/index.html

MEET PBS KIDS' NEWEST STARS
http://www.pbs.org/parents/preschool/

Mornings on PBS KIDS are sprinkled with fun-filled learning adventures hosted by Miss Lori and her animated companion, Hooper. Miss Lori and Hooper tackle topics and situations that are particularly relevant to preschool life. You can use the PBS online resources to continue the fun.

SAGWA ONLINE GAME: "STORYMAKER"
http://pbskids.org/sagwa/stories/storymaker  
Preschool/Elementary School

Create a picture, then write a story to go along with it in this interactive activity.

SOURCE: PBS Teacher Previews. Sign up to receive PBS Previews, the PBS weekly online newsletter, via e-mail at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html.

FETCH! ACTIVITY: "THROW YOUR WEIGHT AROUND"
http://pbskids.org/fetch/parentsteachers/activities/act-throwweight.html
Elementary School

Investigate the movement of the human body when balancing by attempting several balance challenges. Identify the body's ability to balance without conscious thought.

SOURCE: PBS Teacher Previews. Sign up to receive PBS Previews, the PBS weekly online newsletter, via e-mail at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html.

GRANTS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

$500 ACSS MARY LANDRETH-DIANNE BLAIR MEMORIAL GRANT
http://www.arkansassocialstudies.com
Deadline: Oct. 5, 2006

Each year ACSS offers a $500 grant to underwrite teacher expenses for classroom and academic use.  This grant is to be used to purchase materials or to underwrite activities which promote social studies education. 

Visit http://www.arkansassocialstudies.com, click on GRANT to find the format to use for your grant proposal and examples of successfully written grant applications.

UPS FOUNDATION EDUCATION GRANTS
http://www.community.ups.com/philanthropy/grant.html
Elementary/Middle/High School

UPS Foundation Education Grants fund high impact philanthropic programs that raise the level of educational instruction, family learning opportunities and school involvement projects.

CAPTAIN PLANET FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HANDS-ON K-12 ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/grants.html
Grant range: $260-$2,500

The Foundation’s objective is to encourage innovative activities that empower K-12 students to work individually and collectively as environmental stewards.

2006 GILDER LEHRMAN PRIZE IN AMERICAN HISTORY
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/student6.html

Each year, the Institute joins with The Concord Review to co-sponsor the Gilder Lehrman Prize in American History. The prize recognizes exceptional American history essays written by high school students.

THE METLIFE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS
http://www.metlife.com/Applications/Corporate/WPS/CDA/PageGenerator/0,4132,P296,00.html

In deciding the amount of support, the facts considered include availability of funds, relative priorities and funding patterns. Requests must be made in writing and follow provided guidelines.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS

IN THE MIX LESSON: "MANAGING ANGER"
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/schoolviol3
High School

Reflect on what makes people angry and how they respond to anger. Practice anger management and conflict resolution through the "I-Message" communication technique and other group activities.

AMERICA THE BOUNTIFUL
http://old.lib.ucdavis.edu/exhibits/food/index.html
Middle/High School

Food is a major facet of civilization and food in America reflects the many cultures that have met and blended in the Great Melting Pot. Furthermore, food in America is a reflection of the great bounty that is seen as a byword for America. Check out this online exhibit that chronicles the use of 10 classic American food groups including: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, potatoes, corn, greens, wheat, beans and apples.

SOURCE: PBS Teacher Previews. Sign up to receive PBS Previews, the PBS weekly online newsletter, via e-mail at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html.

IT'S MY LIFE DISCUSSION GUIDE "EATING DISORDERS"
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/parents/resources/eatingdisorders_discussion_qs.html
Elementary/Middle School

Understand the basic facts about eating disorders and differentiate between anorexia and bulimia. Investigate the health problems caused by eating disorders and identify how to get help.

HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL FOR THE 2007 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE!  DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 2006.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographicbee   

The Bee is open to schools and homeschool associations with students in grades four through eight.  Registration is not open to individual students. 

Schools that register by October 15 will receive a contest packet in mid-November that includes all material needed to conduct a school bee.  School Bees may be held anytime between Nov. 13, 2006, and Jan. 12, 2007.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “EYES ON THE PRIZE” RETURNS IN OCTOBER
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/index.html
The first six hours of Eyes on the Prize will air three consecutive Mondays, October 2, 9, and 16, at 9 pm

This landmark 14-hour series explores America’s Civil Rights years.  Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985.

Web site features:

• The Story of the Movement, an in-depth exploration of civil rights events like the Montgomery bus boycott, the March on Washington and Operation PUSH,
• Historic video clips of important civil rights events,
• Newspaper articles of the era,
• Music, memories, a place to share your thoughts, and more...

THE AMERICAN BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF TEACHER EXCELLENCE SEEKS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
http://www.abcte.org   

The American Board For Certification Of Teacher Excellence is seeking subject matter experts to participate in the development of a world history and geography teacher certification exams for grades 6-12.

The American Board offers the Passport to Teaching certification – a respected and efficient way for knowledgeable and motivated individuals to become teachers. One element of this premiere teacher certification program is a rigorous content area exam for potential teachers.

The development of the American Board’s world history and geography certification exams will continue through the fall of 2007. If you are interested in participating in this development process as a subject matter expert, please forward your CV to Ryan Wilkes at rwilkes@abcte.org.

FREE ELECTRONIC LESSONS FROM THE BILL OF RIGHTS INSTITUTE 
Subscribe online at http://www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/eLesson  

Topical eLessons help teachers demonstrate the connection between America's founding principles and students' lives.  Delivered directly to your inbox, each eLesson includes historical content, discussion questions and suggestions for further activities.  Sign up for all three and receive up-to-date content and resources every week.

Bill of Rights in the News
Highlights issues making headlines that directly relate to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.  Online articles, discussion questions and related links and resources help your students understand why our Founding documents matter to them.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Spotlights prominent and often controversial United States Supreme Court decisions, past and present.  Historical background, decision summary and analysis and related resources show students how the judicial branch interprets the Constitution.

First Amendment in History
Features famous and lesser-known Americans from the 18th through the 21st centuries who exercised First Amendment rights as a means of preserving freedom and securing other political and civil rights.  Readings and extension activities demonstrate the Amendment's endless significance.

LIBRARY, LITERATURE AND READING

BETWEEN THE LIONS ACTIVITY "WHAT'S YOUR NAME"
http://pbskids.org/lions/parentsteachers/resources/handbook/
(Activities, page 22)
Preschool/Elementary School

Discuss "The Day of Ahmed's Secret" by Florence Parry Heide, make name tags and write names using alphabet blocks, magnetic letters, alphabet cereal or pasta.

LIFE AT EAGLE POND: THE POETRY OF JANE KENYON AND DONALD HALL
http://www.izaak.unh.edu/exhibits/kenhall/index.htm
Middle/High School

Our new national Poet Laureate is Donald Hall. Many readers first knew of Hall from the poem he wrote titled "Ox-Cart Man" which won the 1980 Caldecott Award as a book illustrated by Barbara Cooney. This site from the University of New Hampshire includes 19 drafts of the poem, showing the poet's writing process and editing.

DIALECT SURVEY
http://cfprod01.imt.uwm.edu/Dept/FLL/linguistics/dialect/index.html
Middle/High School

The Dialect Survey uses a series of questions, including rhyming word pairs and vocabulary words, to explore words and sounds in the English language. There are no right or wrong answers; by answering each question with what you really say and not what you think is "right," you can help contribute to an accurate picture of how English is used in your community.

INTERVIEW WITH MYSTERY! AUTHOR
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/lynley
High School

If you are a fan of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, you will want to read the online interview with author Elizabeth George.

NATIONAL VOCABULARY CHAMPIONSHIP
http://www.gsn.com/nvc/nvc_guidelines.php
High School

The National Vocabulary Championship (NVC) is an initiative sponsored by GSN, The Network for Games, that uses competition and wordplay to engage and reward high school students, educators and parents, teaching them the value of a strong vocabulary.

SOURCE: PBS Teacher Previews. Sign up to receive PBS Previews, the PBS weekly online newsletter, via e-mail at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html.
 

 MATH AND SCIENCE

BOOHBAH ACTIVITY "SNACKS TO SHARE"
http://pbskids.org/boohbah/parentsteachers/activity147.html
Preschool/Elementary School

Divide a snack into two equal parts to develop a basic understanding of fractions. Identify snacks that are healthy.

GET A SNEAK PEEK AT THE “DESIGN SQUAD”
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/

Premiering on PBS KIDS GO! in February 2007, "Design Squad" features eight teenagers competing to design and build fantastic, whimsical and fully operational machines. In the final episode, the top two scorers will battle for the Grand Prize — a $10,000 college scholarship provided by the Intel Foundation. A rich, interactive Web site will bring a mind-boggling array of cool stuff for kids and adults.

SOURCE: PBS Parents, http://pbsparents.org

"ALASKA WEATHER"
http://kakm.org/weather
Middle/High School

As the largest and most geographically complex state in the nation, Alaska contains widely variable regional and local climates that ordinary weather programs simply can't cover. Check out this cooperative effort of the National Weather Service, PBS affiliate KAKM and public broadcasters in Alaska that offers weather information unavailable from any other source.

CYBERCHASE ONLINE GAME: "SEND IN THE TROLLS"
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/dataclusters/dataclusters.html
Elementary/Middle School

Understand the concept of "middle" and averages, arrange several trolls of different heights and identify the troll who has the middle height.

IT'S A BIG, BIG WORLD ONLINE GAME: "SNOOK DREAMING"
http://pbskids.org/bigbigworld
Preschool/Elementary School

Identify and describe simple geometric shapes while playing an online, interactive matching game.

SOURCE: PBS Teacher Previews. Sign up to receive PBS Previews, the PBS weekly online newsletter, via e-mail at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/previews/subscribe.html.

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM LAUNCHES EDUCATION INITIATIVES THAT CROSS SUBJECT AREAS  
http://www.nbm.org   

The National Building Museum is launching its first design education program to national audiences, offering a curriculum that provides math, science, and engineering curricula connections – disciplines that decidedly support America's economic competitive edge in the changing international marketplace. 

The project will make design and art education relevant to math and science subject areas and education in general.  In addition to meeting math and science standards, the curricula meet standards in visual arts, social studies, technology and language arts.

POST-SECONDARY AND PRE-SERVICE

USING PBS TEACHER RESOURCES FOR THE CLASSROOM
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/  

If you are looking for free research-based teaching materials, PBS Teacher Source may be the answer.  Information is organized by categories:

• Arts & Literature
• Health & Fitness
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Pre K-2
• Library Media

Visit this Web site and personalize an e-newsletter to meet your needs.

JACOB K. JAVITS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2006-3/082506b.html
Awards: $42,652
Deadline: Oct. 6, 2006

This program awards fellowships to eligible students of superior ability, selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need and exceptional promise.

GRADUATE ASSISTANCE IN AREAS OF NATIONAL NEED
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2006-3/091106a.html
Range of Awards: $126,672-$750,000
Estimated Average Award: $216,111
Deadline: Nov. 20, 2006

This program provides fellowships in areas of national need to assist graduate students with excellent academic records who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

VIDEOSTREAMING TRAINING AVAILABLE

AETN offers ongoing videostreaming training at the AETN training facilities.  Sessions can also be arranged for presentations to schools and districts. To schedule training, contact education@aetn.org.

ARKANSAS WATERSHED CAN PROVIDE UP TO 18 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDIT
http://www.awag.org/2006_Conference_Announcement.html

Arkansas educators can earn up to 18 hours of professional development credit by attending the Arkansas Watershed Advisory Group’s 2006 Watershed Conference: “Clean Water – Stronger Communities.”

The conference will be at the University of Arkansas Continuing Education Center, Fayetteville, Ark., November 2-4, 2006. The conference will include workshops and a session specifically to assist educators that are new to the watershed concept.

86TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES CONFERENCE DEC. 1-3, 2006
http:// www.socialstudies.org/conference

The 86th Annual National Council for the Social Studies conference will be held at the new Washington, DC, Convention Center, Dec. 1-3, 2006.  Over 300 sessions, clinics and workshops will be available during this 3-day event. As a conference attendee, you will be close to many of Washington's museums, great restaurants and other attractions. The Convention Center is close to the Metro – Mt. Vernon Square 7th Street-Convention Center - so you can travel around the city in just minutes.

DELTA INSTITUTE FOR MATH AND SCIENCE WORKSHOPS
http://clt.astate.edu/neapartnership/Workshops.htm

The Delta Institute for Math & Science Education has Fall 2006 Professional Development Workshops available.  Some of the classes include:

• Using Unifix Cubes, Attribute Hoops & Color Tiles in the Grade 4-8 Math Classroom
• Using Newspapers in the Classroom
• Science Safety CD
• Science Benchmark Preparation
• Using a Smartboard (in Math & Science Classrooms)
• Graphic Organizers
• Internet Science Resources
• TI 73 & TI 84 Calculator Training
• 7th Grade Science

MATH AND SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Henderson State University
http://www.hsu.edu/samsc     

For information and applications contact:

South Arkansas Mathematics and Science Center (SAMSC)
Henderson State University
Phone (870) 230-5417
Fax (870) 230-5099        
cooleym@hsu.edu