Associated Colleges of Illinois: Mentor Online

Knowles Science Teaching Foundation 2009 Teaching Fellowships

October 31st, 2008

 

The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) is seeking applicants for Biology, Physical Science and Mathematics Teaching Fellowships.  The fellowship supports exceptional individuals who are committed to becoming outstanding high school math and science teachers. KSTF seeks to promote excellence in science and mathematics teaching in United States high schools in order to help maintain our nation’s economic competitiveness and reverse the current national trend of high attrition rates among beginning teachers. We strive to elevate the perception of teaching as a complex, highly-skilled profession and to nurture future leaders and change agents in the field of education.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants should have at least a bachelor’s degree in science, engineering or mathematics, have received their most recent content degree within the past five years and be committed to teaching science or mathematics in U.S. high schools. Individuals who are currently enrolled in a secondary math or science teaching credential program are eligible if they are within five years of their most recent content degree and have not completed their credential before December, 2008. KSTF Teaching Fellowships are intended to support individuals early in their careers who have the potential to devote a lifetime to improving math and science education.

Award information: Fellowships will be awarded to up to 15 individuals in each of three disciplinary strands: biology, physical science, and mathematics. Benefits of the fellowship include:

 Financial and professional support for up to five years, including a maximum of $10,000 tuition assistance per year for up to two years and a monthly stipend while fellows are enrolled in a recognized teacher credential program.  Room, board, travel expenses and fees for summer professional development activities as well as a monthly stipend during the summer.  Yearly opportunities to apply for instructional materials, academic year professional development, school-site mentor support, support for National Board Certification and financial support for leadership activities. Membership in a professional organization, Room, board and travel expenses for three meetings per year with other KSTF Fellows.

Application information: Application instructions can be found online at http://www.kstf.org>www.kstf.org

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.  Only online applications will be considered.For more information, contact:

Beth DiGesare, Teaching Fellowship Program Coordinator, (856) 608-0001,

mailto:teachers@kstf.org>teachers@kstf.org

 

 

 

 

Weblogs for Literacy

October 28th, 2008

Did I ever mention to you the I LOVE the Internet and have yet to be bored in life because the Internet is so full of cool and new information. My latest find is a site call First Monday which is one of the first free, openly accessible, peer–reviewed journals on the Internet, solely devoted to the Internet. http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/

And one of my favorite articles on First Monday is a paper by David Huffaker called The educated blogger: Using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom

http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_6/huffaker/index.html

“This paper explores the role of weblogs or “blogs” in classroom settings. Blogs, which resemble personal journals or diaries and provide an online venue where self–expression and creativity is encouraged and online communities are built, provide an excellent opportunity for educators to advance literacy through storytelling and dialogue. This paper explores the importance of literacy and storytelling in learning, and then juxtaposes these concepts with the features of blogs. The paper also reviews examples of blogs in practice.”

This is the paper you print off and bring to your administration to say “Yes!” we should be blogging in our classrooms! Yes! We should embrace the internet and use it to help our student’s learn! What have you been blogging about lately??????—Donna

Parts of Speech Song

October 27th, 2008

Check this out — what a great way to get your students excited about learning! Judy Fiene

Read the rest of this entry »

Smartboard Newsletter on Grants and Funding

October 24th, 2008

For those of you with a smartboard or want a smartboard, check out http://downloads.smarttech.com/media/education/pdf/edcompass/EDCompassOctober2008.pdf?WT.mc_id=EC_Oct2008

Mary

Meet the New Nobel Laureates

October 23rd, 2008

Twelve new people join the distinguished ranks of Nobel Laureates now numbering 809. Once again the scope of awarded discoveries takes us on a journey, from international trade and the source of global epidemics at one extreme, to glowing jellyfish proteins and particle physics at the other.

Find out more about the 2008 Nobel Laureates before they come to Oslo and Stockholm in December to receive the Nobel Prize Click here

Recommended Literature

October 20th, 2008

The State of California has a really great website devoted to outstanding literature for Kindergarten through grade 12.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/index.asp

“Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve is a collection of outstanding literature for children and adolescents. The recommended titles reflect the quality and the complexity of the types of material students should be reading at school and outside of class.”

It is a robust website where you can even search by simple subjecst like “frogs, English”
And this is a partial list of what is generated.

Titles with more than one author are listed under each author’s name.
# Author Title
1

Davis, Katie
Who Hops?
2

George, Kristine O’Connell
Great Frog Race and Other Poems, The
3

Gollub, Matthew (translator)
Cool Melons Turn to Frogs: The Life and Poems of Issa
4

Heo, Yumi (reteller)
Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale, The

And you can search by category: Author, Title, Genre, culture, language, grade level span, keyword, and curriculum connections.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/litrlsearchcat.asp

In addition, there is a large section of the website devoted to the connection of literature to their state standards, which is an excellent resource for teachers. Enjoy!–Donna

Gadgets, Gratis: What’s on Your Digital Wish List?

October 19th, 2008

A nonprofit organization puts tech gear, lesson plans, and other free stuff in teachers’ hands.

Mary
 

Brain-based Learning

October 16th, 2008

Brain-based theory is based on the structure and function of the brain. As long as the brain is not prohibited from fulfilling its normal processes, learning will occur. Check out this site to learn more about this fascinating theory! http://www.funderstanding.com/brain_based_learning.cfm

 

Target Field Trip Grants

October 15th, 2008

…allows educators to choose their own field trip and use grant dollars to take learning outside the classroom.  In 2009, Target will award 5,000 field trip grants of up to $1000 each.  The program is available to educators employed by K-12 schools that have a 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) tax-exempt status.  Applications are available at www.target .com/teachers through Nov. 1.  Grants will be awarded in January 2009.

Mary

Guided Reading

October 14th, 2008

Guided Reading is a concept where Teachers guide students in small groups to think about their readings and to discover what they have learned. For a more detailed explanation and ideas you can use in your classroom may I suggest the following websites:

Teaching Ideas and Units ~ Beaut Ideas

Reading A-Z.com

Four Blocks Guided Reading

Guided Reading in the Primary Classroom ~ Scholastic.com

e-Mints Teaching Tips on Guided Reading

What ideas do you have to share on Guided Reading from your classroom? Was it successful?