TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2004

APRIL 22, 2004

North Carolina is the only state in the nation that asks teachers for their opinions regarding their working conditions. If you have not taken the online 2004 Teacher Working Conditions Survey, I hope you will do so. The confidential information that you and your colleagues provide can be used to help individual schools, districts and the state overall identify ways to improve and strengthen working conditions. These issues are critically important to strong schools, and your opinions will make a difference. The survey deadline has been extended to April 28 in order to provide ample time for all teachers to complete the survey. If you have lost your access code, or never received an access code, or have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Gov. Easley's Teacher Advisor Ann McArthur at 919.733.3921, or via email at ann.mcarthur@ncmail.net or you can contact the Professional Teaching Standards Commission at 919.807.3424.

Regards,
Mike Ward

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor
2. Teleconference Scheduled on Revised Mathematics SCS
3. Online Reading/Language Arts License Program
4. Summer Science Leadership Institutes Scheduled
5. Wake County Dance Teacher Receives National Honor
6. Fulbright Offers Educational Opportunity
7. Teacher SpeakUp Day
8. LEARN NC’s April Update Online
9. Article of Interest

SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor

The SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor met for the first time on April 12. Board members Kathy Taft (Chair), Jane Norwood, Michelle Howard-Vital, Maria Palmer and Edgar Murphy committed to developing a policy recommendation that defines academic rigor for all students and proposes ways that the State Board might ensure that there is sufficient rigor in the curriculum and in the instructional delivery of the curriculum. Deputy State Superintendent Janice Davis facilitated the discussion noting that any proposals regarding academic rigor should be considered in the context of other issues such as dropouts, the Standard Course of Study, the four high school courses of study, current honors coursework and the overall adequate preparation of students for college and careers. Board members agreed that students and parents also must be counseled as to the advantages of participating in rigorous coursework, in how to properly navigate the courses of study and in diploma track selection. The members expressed an interest in hearing from practitioners at future meetings regarding steps that have been taken in school systems to ensure that all students are participating in rigorous coursework. The next committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 27.

Teleconference Scheduled on Revised Mathematics SCS

In order to facilitate the understanding and implementation of the revised Mathematics Standard Course of Study, DPI’s mathematics’ staff has scheduled a 90-minute interactive teleconference for principals, supervisors and teachers. The teleconference will be on Monday, May 3, from 4-5:30 p.m. It is hoped that school personnel will attend or send representatives to learn more about the changes in the K-8 Mathematics Standard Course of Study. The locations are posted at http://www.learnnc.org/. Click on Announcements and Calendar and select K-8 Mathematics teleconference. For more information, please contact Toni Meyer, Mathematics and Science Section, NC DPI, 919.807.3839, or by email, tmeyer@dpi.state.nc.us.

Online Reading/Language Arts License Program

Beginning in fall 2004, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Education will be offering an online Reading/Language Arts License Program for teachers who live outside of a 50-mile radius of Chapel Hill. Up to 25 teachers will be admitted to this new online program on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is designed to help practicing classroom and special teachers of reading, writing, and language arts to contribute to positive change in how students are taught. Cost is $155 per credit hour. Further information is available at http://www.unc.edu/depts/ed/programs.html after April 15, or contact Dr. Dixie Lee Spiegel at dlspiege@email.unc.edu. Applications may be requested from Janet Carroll by calling 919.966.1346, or via email, jscarrol@email.unc.edu. Please request the Online Reading/Language Arts Licensure Program application packet.

Summer Science Leadership Institutes Scheduled

The 2004 Summer Science Leadership Institutes for middle and high school teachers and supervisors have been scheduled. The High School Institute takes place July 11-14 and the Middle School Institute takes place July 14-16. Both will be held at the Trinity Center, Salter Path. The focus for this year’s Institutes will be on the newly revised 2004 Standard Course of Study for Science and the new support materials. School districts are encouraged to send teams of teachers and a science supervisor who will then, in turn, provide updates for all science teachers in their district. For additional information, including registration forms and costs, please go to the NC LEARN Web site at http://www.learnnc.org/ then click on Summer Science Leadership Institutes.

Wake County Dance Teacher Receives National Honor

Congratulations to Wake County Schools’ Dance teacher Cindy Hoban, who recently was recognized as the National Dance Educator of the Year, K-12, at the National Dance Association Conference held in New Orleans. Hoban said when her name was announced she saw her entire teaching career flash before her eyes. “I saw the faces of my students and colleagues and felt so grateful. I look forward to sharing my teaching philosophy and experiences with educators throughout the country!" Hoban has 25 years teaching experience.

Fulbright Offers Educational Opportunity

The Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program is currently seeking 9th –12th grade teachers of ESL, French or Arabic to travel to Morocco for a three- or six-week job shadowing exchange in the fall 2004. In spring 2005, U.S. teachers will host their Moroccan counterparts for six weeks. The application deadline is July 1. For more information, please visit Fulbright’s Web site at http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/View/ViewOtherOpps.asp and look under Other Opportunities.

Teacher SpeakUp Day

The national NetDay organization is following up its successful Student SpeakUp Day with a Teacher SpeakUp Day on April 29. The event is being held to gather data on how teachers feel about technology in school and at home, and to show why teachers need to be consulted as major stakeholders in school technology decisions. Educators can get more details and register to participate by going online to http://www.netday.org/speakup_forteachers.htm and clicking on the appropriate link. NetDay is a national education non-profit dedicated to the study and promotion of the effective use of technology in the classroom.

LEARN NC's April Update Online

LEARN NC's April update offers teachers professional development opportunities to help meet CEU requirements, and provides a look at students' success with online reading assignments and the English Language Development Standard Course of Study. Check these articles out and more by going online to http://www.learnnc.org and clicking on the appropriate link.

Article of Interest

The following article from PEN Weekly NewsBlast may be of interest to teachers. In “Using Students as Substitute Teachers,” eighth grade math teacher Bob Brems talks about how he was unhappy with inconsistent results and lousy reports from substitutes so he came up with a new strategy that turns over the teaching reins to one of his students. In this Education World article, Brems describes his system and its benefits. Of course, there IS an adult sub in the room, but his student-volunteers do the teaching. To read more, please go to http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/voice/voice110.shtml