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Best Buy Teach Award Program
Best Buy is proud to support K-12 schools who have integrated interactive technology into the curriculum to engage students and make learning fun. As a company, Best Buy believes that when technology is used effectively it can inspire children and have a positive impact on their ability to learn. The Best Buy Teach Award program recognizes creative uses of interactive technology in K-12 classrooms. The purpose of the Best Buy Teach Award program is to reward schools for the successful interactive programs they have launched using available technology. Please do not be discouraged from applying if your school does not have the most current equipment. Applications must be completed and submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern DST on October 12th, 2008.
For more information or to apply please visit http://www.bestbuy.com/teach.
Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation grants support programs that encourage literacy and creativity in children and may be used for activities such as: bringing in guest authors, illustrators,
or storytellers; puppet making, book making, or other projects; book writing contests, etc.
Program Areas: Arts, Library, Reading, All Other.
Eligibility: Public Schools. Award Amounts: $100-$500.
Deadline: September 15th, 2008. For more information or to apply online please visit http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/programs/minigrant.html.
SchoolsMovingUp Online Webinar
| September 3, 2008 | ||
| 1:30 pm | to | 3:00 pm |
WestEd’s SchoolsMovingUp website features another free online event, “Early Childhood Education Initiatives for Raising Program Quality”. Research has shown that early childhood education offered by qualified early care educators produces better child outcomes — improved long-term intellectual, emotional, and physical health. Research has also shown that many early childhood education professionals leave the field because they lack financial incentives, a livable salary, and recognition for their work. Yolanda Garcia, Director of the E3 Institute of WestEd’s Center for Child and Family Studies, will provide an overview of an exceptional demonstration project in Santa Clara County, California.
Early Childhood Education Initiatives for Raising Program Quality
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 from 1:30-3pm
See the Online Events page on SchoolsMovingUp for further information, including specific topics to be addressed by this event, at http://www.schoolsmovingup.net/cs/wested/print/htdocs/online_events.htm.
Kids In Need Foundation: Teacher Grants
Kids In Need Foundation (formerly SHOPA) Teacher Grants provide funds for classroom teachers who have innovative ideas but lack the budget to bring them to life. Projects may qualify for funding if they make creative use of common teaching aids, approach the curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities. Innovation and merit account for 40 percent of the evaluation.
Maximum award: $500.
Eligibility: K-12 teachers.
Deadline: September 30th, 2008. For more information: or to apply visit http://www.kidsinneed.net/grants/grant_applications.php.
Increase Your Green Competition
Do Something is calling on you to green your school. Reduce the carbon footprint of your school this fall and you could win up to $1500 to further your efforts.
For more information please visit http://www.dosomething.org/increase_your_green.
DonorsChoose.org: A Better Way to Give — and to Receive
DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website that allows teachers to post requests for projects or supplies that potential patrons can then select to fund. Benefactors donate by check or major credit card to DonorsChoose, which then buys the goodies and sends them to the teachers. About half of the proposals get funded within sixty days, and overall, 75 percent are backed.
To read an article about DonorsChoose visit http://www.edutopia.org/better-way-give-and-receive.
For more information about this program or to use it please visit http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html.
Uninsured/Underinsured United Healthcare Deadline Open
The United Healthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) has announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical healthcare treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents’ health benefit plans. The foundation provides grants to families to help pay for child healthcare services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheel chairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses. Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for child medical services and equipment by completing an online application at the UHCCF website http://www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html.
New Department of Education Website – Doing What Works
Doing What Works is an exciting new site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is dedicated to helping educators identify and make use of effective teaching practices specifically for students in elementary grades in math and reading. The Doing What Works website contains Practice Guides from which the workshop material is drawn. These Practice Guides reflect teaching practices that the Institute for Educational Services have found to be effective for teaching English Language Learners. The Teacher-to-Teacher digital workshop on teaching reading to English Language Learners is designed as a visual complement to the much more extensive materials presented in the subject’s Practice Guide.
For more information please visit http://www.dww.ed.gov/disclaimer.cfm?[/index.cfm?].
Space Science Is for Everyone: Creating and Using Accessible Resources in Educational Settings
Over the past seven years, the Southeast Regional Clearinghouse, or SERCH, convened seven highly successful “Exceptional Space Science Materials for Exceptional Students” workshops. The workshops offered professional development training and resources for the teachers of students with disabilities, science educators (both formal and informal), and product developers who are working to make Earth and space science concepts more accessible for persons with disabilities.
This collection of helpful hints and resources is based on the seven workshops, the expertise of the participants and product testing in classrooms around the United States following these workshops. The brochure is offered as a tool for science, technology, engineering and mathematics educators who are working with students and/or audiences with disabilities. Some activity descriptions are supplemented with case study examples addressing a particular disability. In addition, contributing educator-authors have provided a variety of lessons learned from formal education (Pre-K-12), home school education and informal or “free-choice” education learning venues, such as science centers, museums and planetariums.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Science_Is_for_Everyone.html.
New Resource for Parents of Children with Autism
The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit was created specifically for families to make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis of autism. The kit contains information and advice collected from trusted and respected experts on autism as well as from parents of children with autism. The 100 Day Kit includes a week by week plan for the next 100 days, as well organizational suggestions and forms that parents/caregivers can use to help with the paperwork and phone calls, as they begin to find services for their child. The kit is available on line in pdf format for all to view and download. Users also have the ability to personalize their own kit with local resources in their area.
Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/family_services/100_day_kit.php for information about any of these options.
