TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2006
TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2006SEPTEMBER. 14, 2006
State Board of Education members sent a clear message last week that the ABCs incentive awards will be awarded in time for teachers to receive them before the winter holiday break. This will be accomplished even though results of the ABCs will be delayed until November. The ABCs results will be delayed because the necessary contracts to begin this work were not finalized until August. The work of the contractors is only the first step in the process of generating the ABCs results. In light of these delays and contract difficulties, we are reviewing contract procedures at the Department to ensure that this type of delay does not happen again.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:
- State Board Meeting Highlights
- NASPE Offers Teacher Toolbox to Get Students Moving
- National Board Update
- State Assistance Teams Applications
- “Words to the Wise” Newsletter Online
- Register Now for Elementary School Conference
- NC Middle School Association Sponsors Fall Institutes
- New Teacher Guide to LEARN NC
- Workshops Support Stock Market Game
- LEARN NC Media Library Available
- Teachers Encouraged to Submit Project Proposals to DonorsChoose
- Germ City Coming to a Town Near You
- World View Symposium Scheduled for October
State Board Meeting Highlights
At last week’s State Board meeting, members approved corrections/additions to the 2005-06 AYP results, LEA Improvement and Title I School Improvement lists, and the list of high schools with performance composites less than 70 percent for two years in a row. Currently 60 districts are in LEA District Improvement. The Board also approved the state’s 100th charter school - Charlotte Secondary School in Mecklenburg County. In addition, Board members discussed the ABCs reporting delay and committed to ensuring that the results would be approved in time for certified staff to receive their bonuses prior to the winter holiday break. Complete Board highlights will be posted online by tomorrow morning at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.
NASPE Offers Teacher Toolbox to Get Students Moving
Need classroom activities to get kids moving? The National Association for Sport and Physical Education Teacher's Toolbox for September is now posted. Included are the popular fitness calendars in English and Spanish, upcoming observances, Back to School Night Ideas and a new feature called “Classroom Energizers.” The classroom teacher is a very important component in the creation of a positive attitude toward physical activity. Through the use of classroom activities, teachers not only instill the value of physical activity, but also allow students to refocus their attention to classroom tasks. A three-five minute energizer break at least once a day helps improve student performance and reduces potential boredom. Visit http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/template.cfm?template=teachers_toolbox_sep06.html for more information or contact Kymm Ballard, Physical Education, Athletics, Sports Medicine consultant, NCDPI, 919.807.3858, or by email, kballard@dpi.state.nc.us.
National Board Update
NBC Online Application Process for 2006-07 Candidates - North Carolina teachers planning to seek National Board Certification should complete the online application at www.nbpts.org and then complete the online application for North Carolina funding. Guidelines for applying for National Board Certification in North Carolina can be accessed at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts/apply.html. Initial NBC candidates will pay a $65 processing charge to NBPTS before they submit their application. North Carolina pays the assessment fee of $2,500 for all candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. The NC funding application window for 2006-07 candidates pursuing National Board Certification is March 1-Oct. 31. NBC Renewal Information - National Board Certified teachers who achieved certification in 1997 or 1998 may pursue renewal of their National Board certificate this year. For NBCTs who achieved in 1997, this is your second and final opportunity to pursue renewal. For NBCTs who achieved in 1998, this is your first opportunity to pursue renewal. The application window for renewal is open Nov. 13-Dec. 31. Deadline for payment of the application fee is Jan. 31, 2007. Your Profile of Professional Growth must be submitted by April 30, 2007. Scores for renewal candidates will be released in October 2007. For more information about renewal, visit the NBPTS Web site at www.nbpts.org and view the NBC Renewal Presentation on the NCDPI Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts/resource.html.
State Assistance Teams Applications
Applications are now being accepted for participation on the 2007-08 State Assistance Teams. NCDPI’s Curriculum and School Reform Services Department will be accepting applications through Nov. 30. Assistance team information and application can be found online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/assistanceteams. If you need further information, please contact Sylvia Moore, Curriculum and School Reform Services, 919.807.4009, or by email, smoore@dpi.state.nc.us.
“Words to the Wise” Newsletter Online
The “Words to the Wise” newsletter is back with all the latest information on NC WISE. In this issue:
- Read the latest news for the Wave 2 deployment.
- Learn what is being done to improve NC WISE in the Project Update report.
- Find out what's new for SIMS users.
- Meet some of the newest members of the NC WISE team.
- Check out the photos from the Coordinators’ Summer Conference.
- Register to become a member of the North Carolina Student Information Association (NCSIA).
Register Now for Elementary School Conference
Space is still available for the Third Annual Elementary School Conference, “Leading the Way,” to be held Oct. 9-10 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center, Research Triangle Park. Registration forms are available online at www.ncelementary.org. For more information, please contact Michelle Palmer Weaver at mweaver@dpi.state.nc.us.
NC Middle School Association Sponsors Fall Institutes
The North Carolina Middle School Association will be conducting its annual Fall Institutes to inform teachers, administrators and counselors about the latest strategies in areas important to those who work with young adolescents. NCDPI’s Middle Grades Division will be partnering with the North Carolina Middle School Association to conduct sessions on Bullying and on Balanced Curriculum. In addition, well-known author and consultant Melba Johnson will be conducting a workshop on reading that will focus on reading and problem-solving strategies to meet literacy goals, and the Schools to Watch State Team will conduct a session on the Schools to Watch criteria. Dates and locations are as follows: Sept. 18, Asheville; Sept. 25, Hickory; and Oct. 2, Rocky Mount. Space is limited, and participants are encouraged to register early to avoid being closed out of a session. Please visit www.ncmsa.net or call the North Carolina Middle School Association at 800.424.9177 for more information.
New Teacher Guide to LEARN NC
How do I support the NC Standard Course of Study as I plan for instruction? Where can I get ideas for engaging activities to relate my subject matter to the outside world? Where can my students find quality educational resources for research projects? These questions and more are easily addressed with a New Teacher Guide to LEARN NC. This quick-reference guide highlights resources and strategies for locating what you need as a new teacher or a teacher who is new to North Carolina. To download a copy, see "New Teacher Guide" under the header "How-to Guides" available online at http://www.learnnc.org/support/workshoptools.
Workshops Support Stock Market Game
The North Carolina Council on Economic Education (NCCEE) is once again conducting free workshops for teachers interested in utilizing the Stock Market Game as a learning tool. These two-hour workshops are being held in various locations throughout the state. To register for the workshop nearest you, visit go online to www.nccee.org. Additionally, the NCCEE will tailor a workshop for your school’s or LEA’s needs free of charge on subjects relating to economics and financial literacy. For more information, please contact Sandy Wheat, Programs Director, NCCEE, 866.606.2233.
LEARN NC Media Library Available
LEARN NC has launched a new collection of images-and soon, audio and video-for educational use. High-quality photographs will take you from Bear Island, North Carolina, to Bangkok, Thailand Photgraphs are accompanied by thorough descriptions and are integrated into slideshows and other longer works, so teachers can quickly find an educational context for them. Keyword tagging and a "tag cloud" make browsing easy and enjoyable, and links from image records help you find related media on similar topics. Follow the new link under "Teaching&Learning" in the LEARN NC navigation column, or go directly to http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia.
Teachers Encouraged to Submit Project Proposals to DonorsChoose
Have you ever found the perfect project to engage your students, only to be told your school doesn’t have the resources to put it into action? Have you found the ideal field trip to bring a classroom topic to life, only to discover there just isn’t enough funding? DonorsChoose is a simple way to turn your best ideas into reality. By going to DonorsChoose.org and submitting a proposal, you are offering interested citizens the chance to directly fund books, supplies, technology, or field trips for your students. To draw attention to this program, DonorsChoose is kicking off a back-to-school campaign to get public school students in North Carolina classrooms off to a great start. This campaign will bring thousands of donors to the site looking for projects to fund. So take a few minutes in the coming weeks and post a proposal at www.DonorsChoose.org.
Germ City Coming to a Town Near You
How can you prevent your students from becoming sick and decrease absenteeism? How can you teach children about an invisible enemy - bacteria? Germ City is a fun and interactive way to literally show children how well they are washing their hands. Germ City is scheduled for the following locations: Sept. 22, Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh; Sept. 27, Museum of Life and Science, Durham; Sept. 28, State Farmers Market, Raleigh; and Oct. 13, 16-20, Jim Graham Building, NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Germ City also can visit your school. Contact Sherry Batot at 919.280.7584 or sherry.batot@ncmail.net for more information. Additional information on teaching children about food safety can be found online at www.ncagr.com/fooddrug/foodsafety. At this site, you will find food safety quizzes, a coloring book and links to other Web sites.
World View Symposium Scheduled for October
The World View Symposium, cosponsored by NC in the World at the Center for International Understanding and the Public School Forum, will be held October 24-25. At the Friday Center, Chapel Hill. Join World View, North Carolina in the World, and the FORUM to look beyond the borders of the United States and examine the educational successes of countries from around the world. Small group sessions will highlight educational systems from abroad and ways to include global content into curriculum. Action team meetings will allow school-based teams to integrate what they learn and to develop their own global initiative plan. A better understanding of international approaches to education will add a new perspective to your teaching and a global element to your school. The symposium is appropriate for K-12 educators of all subjects and grade levels as well as administrators. Participants can receive 11Ž2 CEUs are available. The registration fee is $135 per person, $425 for a team of four educators from the same school or district and $75 for each additional team member. Please call the World View office at 919.962.9264 or visit www.unc.edu/world for more information.