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Education Newswatch February 2004
News and Grants for Teaching Professionals
In Brief
2004 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science
Do you know an outstanding K-6 mathematics or science teacher? If so, nominate them for the 2004 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching – self-nominations will not be accepted. This is the nation's highest honor for mathematics and science teachers.
For more information or for downloadable nomination forms, please visit www.nsf.gov/pa
No Name-Calling Week
No Name-Calling Week seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an ongoing dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities. A resource guide with lesson plans, a video for classroom use and other promotional materials will be available for educators to assist in facilitating the week's activities.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network or GLSEN, in conjunction with Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and a team of more than 30 partners, is pleased to announce a new initiative called, "No Name-Calling Week." During the week of March 1-5 2004, schools serving grades 5-8 across the nation will be asked to take part in a week of education activities aimed at stopping name-calling and verbal bullying of all kinds. The project was inspired by James Howe's novel, The Misfits (Atheneum, 2001), in which four outcast students come together to end name-calling in their school and end up establishing "No Name-Calling Day."
Free "Seussentennial" Posters!
Last month, Random House Children's Books kicked off the Seussentennial™ Imagination Tour – 100 days of events and celebrations honoring Ted Geisel's memory. The Imagination Tour will visit more than 40 cities, bringing the Seussentennial to life through free live performances based on the life, words and art of Dr. Seuss. Events will also include reading of Dr. Seuss books, an interactive Imagination Workshop, costumed character appearances and goody bags for the kids. If you'd like to find out if the Seussentennial Imagination Tour is coming soon to a city near you, go to www.seussentennial.com
Random House is also giving away 500 Seussentennial posters featuring a ton of fun Seuss-related classroom activities. Please note that posters will be sent out on a first come, first served basis. This offer is no longer available.
Grants
Creative Energy Challenge
Johnson Controls, the National Energy Foundation and the United States Energy Association created the Creative Energy Challenge. In this contest, K-12 students in the U.S. and Canada (except Quebec) research energy conservation techniques and benefits.
Deadline February 21, 2004
Funds Three students (one from each grade category K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) and one exemplary teacher will each win an expenses-paid trip for two to Hawaii.
Area Entries must relate to the theme "Igniting Creative Energy," and may be in the form of stories, artwork, music, video, websites and more.
Contact Igniting Creative Energy, National Energy Foundation, 3676 California Ave., Ste. A117, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, 800-616-8326; www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org
USA Today All-USA Teacher Team
National newspaper USA Today, seeks 20 excellent teachers (or teacher teams of no more than four) to make up the 2004 All-USA Teacher Team.
Deadline June 30, 2004
Funds Each of the 20 winners' schools receives $2,500 to use in instruction – $500 will go to the teacher and the remainder to the school for use as designated by the teacher(s) and will be featured in an issue of USA Today.
Eligibility Currently active, full-time, certified K-12 teachers and instructional teams with at least four years of experience at a public or private school in the U.S. or its territories. A teacher or instructional team may be nominated by anyone. An instructional team is a group of no more than four teachers assigned to collaborate, plan, teach and evaluate the same group of students.
Contact Carol Skalski, USA Today, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22108-9995, 703-854-5890; e-mail: allstars@usatoday.com; www.allstars.usatoday.com
February, 2004, Vol.34, No.5
