TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2008

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 - Teachers' Biweekly Messages

There are many innovations already going on in your schools today - and they may be the best-kept secret in North Carolina! To help change that scenario, the NC Department of Public Instruction is partnering with local school districts to hold the NC School Innovation Day Tour on Nov. 18 as part of the annual American Education Week. Local school districts have been asked to identify at least one innovative school, program or initiative that can be showcased for visitors on School Innovation Day. (Hint: think garden tours for schools.) Invitations will be sent to legislators, news media representatives and others in the coming weeks. Whether your school is selected as a stop on the Innovation Day tour or not, I encourage you to highlight the innovative ideas that you and your colleagues are implementing in your schools. Most North Carolina citizens do not have the opportunity to regularly visit schools because they do not have children enrolled in the schools. They need to hear about the good things you are doing everyday!

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meets Next Week
2. 2008- 09 Writing Assessment System Professional Development Module #1 Online
3. Middle/High School Council Update
4. Early Childhood/Elementary Council Update
5. 2008-09 National Board Certification Online Application Process
6. Geography Survey Online
7. Follow Educator's Journey to Japan
8. Personal Financial Literacy Grants
9. Biotechnology Mini-Grants Available
10. Online Learning Opportunities from LEARN NC

State Board Meets Next Week

The State Board of Education will meet next week, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, in the Education Building, Raleigh. Action items include licensing physical education and health teachers, teacher evaluation policies and appeals of the 2007-08 ABCs growth standards. Discussion items include high school exit documents, proposed revisions to the non-teaching work experience and graduate pay policies and the Board's 2009-11 Biennial Budget request. Board members also will discuss the plan for implementing the "Framework for Change: The Next Generation of Assessments and Accountability." The complete agenda and executive materials are available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings. In addition, the State Board's committee meetings and full Board meeting are audio streamed for those who can't attend. To listen to the sessions, please go online to www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings and scroll to the Live Audio Stream links.

2008- 09 Writing Assessment System Professional Development Module #1 Online

The first Professional Development Module for the new Writing Assessment System is available online. As a reminder, the online Professional Development for Writing Courses is available to all K-12 teachers. However, the completion is highly recommended for all teachers in grades 4 & 7. This first online professional development course (via Moodle) will address the pedagogy and process of instructional delivery of writing in all classrooms. Any North Carolina teacher who needs access to the online professional development courses can obtain a user name and password from their LEA test coordinator (or their school test coordinator). To log into the Writing Assessment System, teachers should go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/writing/writingpilotand read the Frequently Asked Questions section and click on the appropriate hyperlink.

Middle/High School Council Update

The NCDPI Middle/High School Council is currently working on drafting guidelines and processes for students who may need a mathematics exception (opt out) from the Future-Ready Core. In addition, staff members are drafting responses to additional questions to add to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Future-Ready Core. All materials will be formatted for inclusion on the Web. For more information, please contact Elissa F. Brown, Middle/High School Council Director, NCDPI, 919.807.3987 or ebrown@dpi.state.nc.us.

Early Childhood/Elementary Council Update

The Early Childhood/ Elementary Council is in the beginning stages of developing a plan of action for the NCDPI's collaborative efforts with the Ready Schools initiative. Major areas being considered for the plan include communication and awareness of the Ready Schools initiative, the alignment of PreK-3, leadership development of elementary principals and professional development to support different aspects of the initiative. For more information, please contact Carolyn Guthrie, PreK/Elementary Council Acting Director, NCDPI, 919.807.3762 or cguthrie@dpi.state.nc.us.

2008-09 National Board Certification Online Application Process

North Carolina teachers planning to seek National Board Certification should complete the online application available at www.nbpts.org and then complete the online application for state funding. Guidelines for applying for National Board Certification in North Carolina can be accessed at www.ncpublicschools.org/recruitment/nationalboardcertification/. 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 North Carolina eligibility criteria. The state funding application window for 2008-09 candidates pursuing National Board Certification is March 1-Oct. 31.

Geography Survey Online

NCDPI's K-12 Social Studies Section has developed a survey to collect data about geography practices and instruction in North Carolina. Please take a few moments and complete the online survey at www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB2287ER39MC6. The information will be used to improve geography education in North Carolina public schools. For more information, please contact Jolene Ethridge, K-12 Curriculum & Instruction and Technology, NCDPI, 919.807.3862, or by email, jethridge@dpi.state.nc.us.

Follow Educator's Journey to Japan

NCDPI's English Language Arts Section Chief Marilyn Palmer will be leaving for a three-week visit to Japan on Oct. 12 as part of the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program. Palmer has created a Web site for teachers and students to follow her on her journey at http://web.mac.com/marilynpalmer. Teachers and students are invited to send questions to help guide her interviews with Japanese students and educators. Please send those questions to K12-ELA-Feedback@dpi.state.nc.us and put Japan in the subject box.

Personal Financial Literacy Grants

NCDPI's Personal Financial Literacy Program is pleased to announce a second round of PFL grant opportunities to Civics and Economics high school teachers. The grants are part of the Department's statewide effort to assist educators in promoting Personal Financial Literacy among high school students. Twelve grants will be awarded ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The goal is to award grants in each of the state's eight educational regions. The application deadline is Oct. 13. Applications will be available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/pfl/application/ by Friday, Sept. 25. For more information, please contact Latega Powell at lpowell@dpi.state.nc.us or call 919.807.3932.

Biotechnology Mini-Grants Available

Applications are now being accepted for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center's 2008-09 Mini-Grant Program. The Biotechnology Education Mini-Grant Program offers awards of up to $6,000 to assist in the development and implementation of activities, programs and courses for biotechnology education and training at the K-12 level. Any North Carolina non-profit institution may apply. All proposals must be submitted electronically using the Biotechnology Center's online submission process. Proposals must be received by noon on Jan. 21, 2009. For detailed information or to apply for a Biotechnology Education Mini-Grant, please go to www.ncbiotech.org/services_and_programs/grants_and_loans/mini_grant/index.html.

Online Learning Opportunities from LEARN NC

"A Crash Course in ESL" will prepare teachers to work with ESL parents and create a welcoming environment for ESL students. This online course provides a concise overview of strategies and best practices for all teachers, administrators, and support staff working with English language learners. "A Crash Course in ESL" begins Oct. 20, lasts four weeks and is worth two CEUs. The registration fee is $150. To register, please visit www.learnnc.org/courses/current/CrashCourseESL_10_08_Hill

"Content Area Reading Comprehension (K- 8)" - Improve your students' reading comprehension in content area subjects. Throughout the course, you'll have the opportunity to practice many of these reading comprehension strategies as you learn about them. You will also learn to use a research- based instructional framework that will improve your students' comprehension of content- area materials. This online course begins October 28, is worth 3.0 CEUs, and costs $225 to register. For a full course description or to register, please visit www.learnnc.org/courses/current/CARC_10_08_Johnson

 

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