TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007

SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 - Teachers' Biweekly Message

The list of teacher duties in the North Carolina public school law includes a broad array of responsibilities - maintaining order and discipline, providing for the general well-being of students and teaching students. I would like to add one to that list - serving as a "graduation coach" for every student. Last week, the 2007 four-year cohort graduation rate was released showing an improvement over 2006, but still indicating that 30 percent of all ninth graders do not graduate in four years. I am concerned about the students who do not graduate. They are not prepared for the opportunities of the 21st century. In that light, I hope that all of us can begin to consider ourselves as "graduation coaches" who will prepare and inspire students to graduate from high school. That role is important for all teachers at every grade level and in every subject. In the end, graduation still serves as a powerful indicator of public school success.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. NC DECA Shines at National Conference
3. Secondary and Elementary Administrators of Physical Education Summit: 21st Century Learning Skills
4. Elementary School Conference Scheduled for October
5. Stock Market Game Workshops Offered
6. Annual Litter Sweep Scheduled for Mid-September
7. LEARN NC Carolina Online Teacher Program
8. Instructify
9. North Carolina Museum of History Offers Elementary Schools Virtual Field Trips
10. Energize Your Classrooms With the Help of Progress Energy
11. Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers
12. 2007-08 NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship Applications Being Accepted
13. September is National Food Safety Month

State Board Meeting Highlights

At last week's Board meeting, members approved the 2006-07 ABCs/AYP Report and 2007-08 Assistance Program, the K-2 Literacy Assessment, and the job descriptions and salary upgrades for occupational therapist assistants and physical therapist assistants. Board members also discussed field testing and special studies for the 2007-08 school year, and received a briefing on literacy coaches and the Learn and Earn Early College High School initiative. Complete Board highlights will be posted next week at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.

NC DECA Shines at National Conference

North Carolina DECA (the official Career Technical Student Organization for students enrolled in Marketing Education) had an outstanding performance at the recent International Career Development Conference held in Orlando, Fla. DECA members from C. B. Aycock High School (Wayne County) and North Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte-Mecklenburg) were first place winners in the events of Learn and & Earn and International Business Plan Event respectively. North Carolina also had two second place winners, eleven top ten finishers, and the Quiz Bowl team finished in the top five in the nation. Sixty-three percent of their competitors were Gold Seal Award of Excellence recipients. Proving not only tops in the competitive arena, but in academics and community service, eight students were awarded scholarships to further their education and Hopewell High School (Charlotte Mecklenburg) was recognized as the top four fundraising school in the country for the Muscular Dystrophy Organization. The North Carolina Association of DECA was presented with a Membership Increase Award and the State Advisor for the organization, Pamela O'Brien, was bestowed the Outstanding Service Award for her visionary faith in DECA, understanding of their goals and untiring efforts on behalf of the youth in this "Association of Marketing Students."

Secondary and Elementary Administrators of Physical Education Summit: 21st Century Learning Skills

The 2007 Fall Physical Education Leadership Training will be held Sept. 20-22 at the Trinity Conference Center, Pine Knoll Shores. The conference will focus on the State Board of Education's mission to prepare all students to be successful in the work place or continuing education in the 21st century. Session topics include "Visionary Physical Education," "Why We Need Quality Physical Education," "Healthy Habits: Live Them to Teach Them," "Is Physical Education Ready for the Global Economy?" and "Accountability: What's Missing in Physical Education?" More information, including registration, is available online at https://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Register/IdentityConfirmation.aspx?e=547d9eae -9c09-4324-9f3e-371547e5eac7.

Elementary School Conference Scheduled for October

Registration is now being accepted for the Fourth Annual NC Elementary School Conference to be held Oct. 8-9 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center, Research Triangle Park. Information on conference topics, presenters, and registration can be found online at www.ncelementary.org. Registration is limited to 800 participants. Hotel rates are good until Sept. 10. For more information, please contact Michelle Palmer Weaver at michellepweaver@gmail.com.

Stock Market Game Workshops Offered

The North Carolina Council on Economic Education (NCCEE) is offering free two-hour workshops to teachers new to the Stock Market Game (SMG). The SMG is an online, interactive, real time stock market simulation that utilizes a true portfolio trading system. Students compete in teams against their peers across the state for portfolio growth. The program includes lesson plans that are correlated to standards in the areas of social studies, business, language arts, math, technology, family and consumer sciences and economics for grades 4-12. All workshops are conducted by teachers currently using the program as a supplement with their students. For more information on the SMG or to register for a workshop, please visit www.nccee.org and click on the Stock Market Game or call the NCCEE offices toll free at 866.606.2233.

Annual Litter Sweep Scheduled for Mid-September

The N.C. Department of Transportation is sponsoring its annual Litter Sweep cleanup Sept. 15-29. In support of this event, Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed Sept. 15-29 as "Litter Sweep" in North Carolina and encourages all citizens to take an active role in making their communities cleaner and more beautiful. Educators may want to use this event to highlight the importance of recycling and environmental responsibility with students. For more information, please contact Helen Landi, Office of Beautification Programs, 919.715.3188.

LEARN NC Carolina Online Teacher Program

Teachers can earn their stripes as an online instructor through the Carolina Online Teacher program (COLT). Teachers prepared for the online classroom have a career advantage over those who aren't. In five core courses and two electives, totaling a minimum of 17 CEUs, teachers can master the component skills of online teaching: effective collaboration and facilitation, creating learning communities, navigating the virtual classroom, and developing student-centered instruction. For more information, visit www.learnnc.org/courses or contact Bill Ferris at bferris@learnnc.org.

Instructify

Teach smarter, not harder. Instructify is a new blog from LEARN NC where teachers can discover fun, free technology they can use in their classrooms. It's a place to learn about cutting edge methods of instruction, and offer words of wisdom to fellow teachers. Log on to www.instructify.com and don't just teach. Instructify.

North Carolina Museum of History Offers Elementary Schools Virtual Field Trips

The North Carolina Museum of History invites third-fifth grade elementary school students to take a virtual field trip to the North Carolina Museum of History via two-way videoconferencing. Interesting and interactive programs allow students to see, hear, and talk with an expert at the museum, examine reproduction artifacts, and participate in group activities. All classes meet specific goals of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study Curriculum, and are appropriate for grades 3-5. Pre- and post-program classroom activities are provided. The following one-hour virtual field trips for elementary schools are currently being offered: "American Indians in North Carolina;" "Behind the Scenes at the Museum: Who Works Here?" four different "History Mystery" classes; "Moccasins to Motorcars;" and Gallery Cart Classes, which explore actual exhibits at the museum. These materials and other information are available on the North Carolina Museum of History's Web site at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/edu/outreach.html by clicking on "Virtual Field Trips." Connecting to the museum is easy, using the North Carolina Information Highway. For more information contact Jerry Taylor at jerry.taylor@ncmail.net or 919.807-7972. The museum's classes are free-of-charge.

Energize Your Classrooms With the Help of Progress Energy

This school year, Progress Energy will fund $50,000 in creative energy education projects in the North Carolina communities it serves. Funded projects will help students understand where the energy they use every day comes from - and how they can use it wisely. Educators can submit their project ideas through DonorsChoose.org to take advantage of this funding opportunity. For more details, please go online to http://www.donorschoose.org/docs/DonorsChoose-Energy-Flyer.pdf or email Energize@DonorsChoose.org.

Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals is sponsoring its 13th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This Award's program recognizes outstanding community service by students in grades 5 though 12. The top middle and high school candidates in each state win $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Program information has been sent to all middle and high school principals and guidance counselors but also is available online at www.prudential.com/spirit or by calling 877.525.8491. This year, students can obtain an application online at www.prudential.com/spirit. Students must submit completed applications to his or her principal by Oct. 31. Schools will then select the top recipients and submit those names for state-level judging. The middle and high school recipients for each state will be named in February 2008. State honorees will travel with a parent to Washington, D.C., May 3-6 for national recognition events. Ten national honorees will be named and among other things, will receive an additional $5,000 in awards.

2007-08 NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship Applications Being Accepted

Teachers...do you know any seniors who are planning on pursuing teaching as a career? Please let them know that the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission has announced that the 2007-08 application for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship Program is now available online at www.teachingfellows.org. Each Teaching Fellow receives a $26,000 scholarship from the state, payable in $6,500 annual increments. The full scholarship is forgiven after the Fellow has completed four years of teaching in North Carolina's public schools. The deadline for students to return completed applications and reference forms to the Fellows Liaison Counselor is Oct 9 by the end of the school day.

September is National Food Safety Month

How can you prevent your students from becoming sick and decrease absenteeism? How can you educate your students about an invisible enemy - bacteria? The answer is by celebrating National Food Safety Month with the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services! Teachers are encouraged to visit www.ncfoodsafety.com for many educational tools - a lesson plan, games, coloring sheets, quizzes, and food safety information for all ages. Educating students on food safety can make foodborne illness history.

 

If you'd like to review past Teachers' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/teachersarchive/ .