Education Newswatch October 2006

Reading and the Brain
A fascinating new documentary titled Reading and the Brain looks at how advances in neuroscience are helping researchers solve the mystery of why some children struggle to learn to read and others don't. The 30-minute documentary is part of the series from public television station WETA in Washington, D.C., called "Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers." Hosted by actor Henry Winkler, who has faced his own lifelong struggle with dyslexia, this film shows how science is pinpointing the intervention strategies that best work for children who have reading problems. Says senior producer Christian Lindstrom,"We hope Reading and the Brain will educate parents and teachers about the biological nature of dyslexia – and about the critical role good, research-based teaching plays in helping kids overcome their struggles."

Visit www.readingrockets.org/shows/watch to view the program online in its entirety, or check the schedule at www.readingrockets.org/shows/broadcast to find out when the show will be aired on your local PBS affiliate.

Spare change creates big change – Donation collection boxes are included in the free Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF kit.

Trick-or-Treat for Change
Show Your Character. Help Kids Around the World is the title of the 2006 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Teacher's Guide. This downloadable eight-page booklet includes

1. step-by-step instructions in how to participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF;
2. reproducible lessons that meet national standards in English and Math, focusing on the importance of helping others;
3. a reproducible letter to parents about the program;
4. a reproducible handout to students and parents explaining what donations will buy and
5. ideas for individual, class and school fundraising.

To download the Teacher's Guide, order a free Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF kit and to learn more about how you and your students can participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF this Halloween, visit www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/forteachers

Teachers as Authors
SRA/McGraw-Hill, a leading elementary education publisher, is launching a national contest for teachers to submit an original children's book or poem to be published in a PreK-6 reading and language arts curriculum. The "What's the Story?" contest is open to any current or former teacher in the United States. Fiction or nonfiction stories or poems in either English or Spanish for Grades PreK–6 may be submitted. Winning stories will be illustrated and published as individual books in English and Spanish; a book collection of winning poems will also be published. Winners will receive a cash prize of $1,000 for stories and $500 for poems.

Visit www.sraonline.com for a complete list of contest guidelines, as well as writing tips, ideas and exercises. All entries must be submitted by December 31, 2006, and winners will be announced by May 2007.

WaMoola for Schools®
Washington Mutual hopes to drive millions of dollars in donations to K-12 schools through a new check-card program that will provide unrestricted funding to local schools for school supplies, computers, musical instruments, playground equipment or whatever a school needs.

The program, called Wamoola for Schools®, ties support for local schools to check-card usage. Customers simply enroll by designating a local school to benefit and use their Washington Mutual check card. For each purchase, the school receives a point, which is worth approximately five cents. At the end of the year, points are converted to cash and schools are sent checks. Go to www.wamoolaforschools.com for more information.

Read-Aloud Reunion
The United Service Organizations (USO) and the Family Literacy Foundation have launched a program called United Through Reading® at select USO centers worldwide. This program helps deployed service men and women and the children in their lives stay connected through the medium of reading aloud on video.

To take part in the program, troops visit participating USO centers to be videotaped reading a children's book. A copy of the book, DVD and instructions, as well as information on United Through Reading, are mailed to the child and family back home. The USO supplies recording equipment, books and packaging materials. The caregiver at home is encouraged to photograph or videotape the child as the child is watching the DVD and following along with the book. The photograph or DVD can then be sent to the deployed family member, enhancing the feeling of connectedness.

The public can participate by contacting the USO to help with book donation drives and assist with outreach and fundraising activities. For more information on the United Through Reading program and a list of participating USO centers, visit www.uso.org/united throughreading

2007 ExploraVision Awards Competition
Students in grades K-12 are challenged to create their own vision of the future. Sponsored by Toshiba and administered by the National Science Teachers Association, ExploraVision is a competition open to all K-12 students in the U.S. and Canada.

Coach a student team for the ExploraVision Awards challenge, sponsored by Toshiba.

Entry is easy. Student teams select and research a current technology and then make their predictions about what that technology could be like in 20 years. All entries are due January 30, 2007 and regional winners will be announced March, 2007. Teams consist of two, three or four students plus a teacher who serves as the team coach. Prizes will be awarded in four categories:

• Primary Level (Grades K-3)


• Upper Elementary Level (Grades 4-6)


• Middle Level (Grades 7-9)


• High School Level (Grades 10-12)

First Place teams will receive a $10,000 U. S. Savings Bond and a trip to Washington, D.C. To learn more about this exciting opportunity for K-12 students and to get entry materials, visit www.exploravision.org/k8 Remember, entries are due by January 30, 2007.