Latest in NJEA Teaching and Learning

Can WE talk Tech?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:58:08 -0500

The West Essex Regional School District is hosting a one-day Technology Symposium for teachers (K-12), administrators, media specialists, school boards, and interested community members on the innovative use of technology in education on March 17, 2012.

Don’t miss keynote addresses by these leaders in the field:

Eric Sheninger, Principal of New Milford High School, will speak on educational leadership in this ever-changing digital world.

Lisa Thumann, a Google Certified Teacher and Trainer, and Director of Innovative Learning Technology at the School for Global Education and Innovation at Kean University, will explain how students, educators, and administrators are using digital tools to communicate, collaborate, and create in New Jersey classrooms.

Workshops on a variety of “hot” topics will be offered, including Prezi, Edmodo, Moodle, Flip Cameras, Web 2.0 applications for Math, Smart Boards, Podcasts, Wikis, Digital Stories, and many more. Learn how educators are applying these tools in the classroom and across all grade levels and disciplines to increase student learning.

Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012
Location: West Essex Regional High School, 65 W. Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, NJ
Time: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
Cost: FREE
Professional Development Credits will be given for hours attended.
Follow on Twitter: #wetech12

For more information and to register for the Tech Symposium, visit www.westex.org/wetech. Space is limited, so sign up today!

email contact: rwilliam@westex.org, rrich@westex.org or cspinell@westex.org

New Jersey Hall of Fame: More than a celebration

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:59:52 -0500

Queen Latifah, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi … the New Jersey Hall of Fame has star power that you will find exciting and engaging. But since the inception of the Hall of Fame a few years ago, teachers have found that it provides more than just a celebration of great New Jerseyans. It also provides effective opportunities to teach young people about our State’s history, to introduce them to the voting process, to build leadership skills, and to boost pride in themselves and their community. As New Jersey teachers prepare young people to pursue their dreams and strive to accomplish great things, a new curriculum developed with the New Jersey Hall of Fame, provides some creative lesson plans to do just that.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame curriculum offers a unique opportunity for teachers to capitalize on the accomplishments of some remarkable New Jersey citizens and to inspire students to reach for the stars. The fun, yet thoughtful, activities help students to identify with others who not only share their Jersey roots, but share similar experiences and challenges. By learning about New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees, students can better recognize and develop the skills they need to reach their goals while strengthening their pride in their community.

The curriculum is divided into three units. The first unit, “Achievements of New Jersey Citizens: The New Jersey Hall of Fame,” helps students identify leadership qualities in Hall of Fame members, as well as in themselves. Students learn more about the role of New Jersey and its citizens in the larger context of United States and world history. Even more, they will develop an understanding between character and achievement. By presenting positive role models, this unit seeks to help young people make informed decisions about their lives.

Unit Two, “Voting for Hall of Fame Nominees,” introduces students to the voting process. The unit focuses on the rights and responsibilities of United States citizens. Because students can actually vote in an election, the voting process comes alive for them through an interdisciplinary approach that can be modified for grades six through 12. The lessons challenge students to develop critical thinking skills, communicate ideas, and reflect to understand themselves and their community better. They learn firsthand how they can affect decisions on major issues and they develop practical skills through the collaborative and independent activities.

In Unit Three, “Future New Jersey Hall of Fame Nominees,” students take charge in a project that will allow them to enhance academic skills while making an impact on their school and community. Essential questions are raised, such as “What makes a person an effective leader?” or “How can I become a leader?” This unit helps young people understand the leadership qualities in notable New Jersey figures and helps them to look at their own world and its leaders. Most importantly, it seeks to develop leadership skills in your students.

The units are designed to be introduced into the classroom in ways that fit your overall lesson plans. Whether the activities serve to complement your current instructional path or you utilize all three units, you will find a new way to excite, inspire, and motivate your students.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame Curriculum Guide will be available at njea.org and on the New Jersey Hall of Fame website www.NJHallofFame.org at the end of January. From Thomas Edison to Toni Morrison, you will find many reasons to bring the New Jersey Hall of Fame into your classroom and inspire your students to chase their dreams.

2012 Exceptional Children Conference

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:07:57 -0500

Mark your calendar to attend the NJEA Exceptional Children Conference on Saturday, March 10 at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal. The theme of this year’s conference is “Creating Learning Environments for All Students.”

The program includes a keynote address from renowned educator Ian Jukes and six workshop offerings. A continental breakfast and lunch are included in the $60 registration fee.

Ian Jukes has been a teacher, administrator, writer, and university instructor. He is the director of the InfoSavvy Group, an educational consulting organization. He has written 12 books and had more than 100 articles published in various journals. He is the publisher of an online electronic newsletter, the Committed Sardine Blog.

His most recent book was Teaching the Digital Generation, co-authored with Ted McCain and Frank Kelly.

In addition to the keynote, registrants will choose two workshops from the six listed below to attend.

Teaching in the New Digital Landscape: New Visions for the 21^st Century: presented by Ian Jukes.
Infusing Technology into Your Classroom/Curriculum: presented by Heidi Hayes-Jacobs, executive director, Curriculum Mapping Institute and president, Curriculum Designers, Inc.
Positive Behavior Supports: presented by Sharon Lohrmann, director, N.J. Positive Behavior Support in Schools.
Universal Design for Learning: presented by Patti Ralabate, director of the National Center on UDL/CAST.
Response to Intervention: presented by Rich Wilson, NJEA associate director for Professional Development and Instructional Issues.
Effective Teaching Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: presented by Elizabeth Neumann, professional services coordinator, Autism New Jersey.

Register

Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Grant Opportunity

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:27:47 -0500

Applications will be available February 14 for the Elmer's Teacher Tool Kit grants. Sponsored by Elmer's Products, Inc., the Tool Kit grants are awarded to K-12 certified teachers in the U.S. who want to replicate already proven projects in their own classrooms during the 2012-2013 school year.

Projects available for replication can be viewed on the Kids In Need website. These grant awards are based on financial need, number of children who will benefit, and the teacher's commitment to complete the project. Special consideration is given to first year teachers. Find out more at www.kinf.org.

Celebration of Teaching and Learning to be held in NYC this March

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:19:48 -0500

NJEA will once again be a major sponsor of the Celebration of Teaching & Learning presented by THIRTEEN and WLIW21. This premier professional development conference brings together the world’s best thinkers, practitioners, and more than 10,000 educators to share their passion for teaching and learning. This two-day experience for educators happens March 16-17 at the Hilton New York in New York City.

The celebration will bring experts and content from the areas of the arts, English language arts, global awareness, health and wellness, instructional technology, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), social studies, special education and whole school issues.

Throughout the two days, attendees will experience four distinct learning environments through six plenary sessions, over 40 featured speaker sessions, over 100 hands-on “In the Classroom” workshops, and two filled exhibitor halls featuring the latest in educational tools, interactive events and book signings.

For details on this year’s event, visit http://thirteencelebration.org.

NJEA will have a limited number of one-day tickets to this year’s celebration. Visit njea.org starting Feb. 8 to request a ticket. Tickets cannot be ordered by phone.

NJ-ALPHA offers China study tour

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:17:35 -0500

The “New Jersey Alliance for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia” (NJ-ALPHA) will sponsor several secondary school/college teachers/educators on a two-week immersion learning experience on the history of WWII in Asia July 6-21, 2012. The 2012 Tour is tentatively scheduled for Shanghai, Nanjing, Harbin, Seoul, and Hong Kong.

The China Study Tour includes discussion of the history of Sino-Japan relations, meeting with survivors of wartime atrocities, participation in briefing sessions and lectures by Chinese scholars, professors, and visits to museums and historical sites.

For teachers/educators, NJ-ALPHA will provide scholarships to pay for all the in-China and Korea expenses, totaling approximately $3,000 per participant. The participants will be responsible for their travel expenses from the U.S. to Shanghai, Harbin to Seoul, Seoul to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong back to the U.S. (plus miscellaneous expenses), with the expected total to be around $2,500. The application deadline is March 1, 2012. For more information and an application visit http://www.nj-alpha.org/study_tour.html.

Conference to explore strategies for a positive school climate

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:45:26 -0500

The NJ Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development (NJASECD) will hold its annual conference, Positive School Climate: The Antidote to Bullying, on March 14, 2012 at Rider College. The conference runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes key expert speakers on evidence-based strategies and solutions for bullying and the development of a positive school climate where children feel safe.

In addition, the 2012 New Jersey Schools of Character will be recognized at a ceremony at the conference. For more information and to register online visit www.njasecd.org.

Conference looks at great battles and how they shaped American history

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:40:15 -0500

A history institute for teachers, “Great Battles and How They Have Shaped American History,” will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL.

The event is sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s (FPRI) Wachman Center, the First Division Museum at Cantigny, a division of the McCormick Foundation.

Topics include:

Saratoga, 1777.
Plattsburgh, 1814.
Gettysburg, 1863.
Manila Bay, 1898.
Meuse-Argonne, 1918.
Midway, 1942.
Normandy, 1944.
Tet, 1968.

Social studies and history teachers, curriculum supervisors, and junior college faculty are invited to apply for participation.

Forty participants will be selected to receive:

Free room and board.
Assistance in designing curriculum and special projects based on the institute.
Stipends of $200 for well-developed lesson plans for posting on the FPRI website that effectively utilize the experience of the weekend conference, or documentation of inservice presentations based on the weekend.
Partial travel reimbursements (up to $250) for participants outside the vicinity of the conference center.
Subscription to Footnotes, FPRI's bulletin for high school teachers.
A certificate of participation in a program offering 12 hours of instruction.

In addition, for those interested, college credit is available for a small fee through our cooperating institution, Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

How to apply for the conference

To apply, email to history@fpri.org a resume and a short statement describing your current teaching or professional assignments, your reasons for wanting to attend, and how your students or school district will benefit from your participation. NOTE: At the time of application, you are asked to make a commitment either to prepare a curriculum unit based on the weekend or to do inservice activities based on the weekend.

The application deadline is Jan. 31.

For additional information and updates go to www.fpri.org/education/1204greatbattles/.

To learn more about FPRI, contact Director Alan H. Luxenberg at 215-732-3774 or lux@fpri.org and follow FPRI on Facebook.

California Casualty offers athletic grants

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:43:04 -0500

California Casualty has expanded its one-year-old Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program. This year, $75,000 is available in grants to public high schools across the nation. During the 2010-11 school year, the program awarded $25,000 to ten high schools in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon.

Who can apply?

Employees of public high schools in most states (except Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin), who hold current membership in the National Education Association (NEA) or other education associations listed in the grant guidelines.

The minimum grant award is $1,000. Applications should be completed and submitted by an active employee of the school by Feb. 15, 2012. Complete guidelines and an application form can be found at https://www.CalCasAthleticsGrant.com.

Award notifications will be made by April 30, 2012.

Science Fellowship application deadline fast approaching

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:18:41 -0500

The deadline to enter one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowships for new teachers is approaching. Completed applications for the 2012 Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Fellowships must be received by 5pm EST, Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Applications are posted online at www.kstf.org, along with the eligibility and selection criteria. Only online submissions will be considered.

Renewable for up to five years and valued at up to $150,000, the KSTF Teaching Fellowships are awarded to exceptional young men and women dedicated to teaching science and mathematics in United States high schools. Fellowship benefits encompass comprehensive financial resources including tuition assistance, monthly stipends, and teaching materials and leadership grants; extensive summer and academic year professional development; and regular meetings and online discussions that provide each Fellow with a strong peer support network.

KSTF designed its Teaching Fellowships to meet the needs of beginning teachers from the time they begin working on a teaching credential through the early years of their career. KSTF awarded its first four Teaching Fellowships in 2002. To date, there are 188 Teaching Fellows and alumni nationwide across 40 states. Highly accomplished, KSTF Fellows hail from top universities such as Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkeley. Among the Teaching Fellows are individuals who are Nationally Board Certified, have been named Teacher of the Year, serve as department chairs, are the first to introduce AP courses at their schools, and lead workshops and conferences for other teachers.

About KSTF

The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) was established by Janet H. and C. Harry Knowles in 1999 to increase the number of high quality high school science and mathematics teachers and ultimately improve math and science education in the United States. The KSTF Teaching Fellowship, the Foundation’s signature program, awards exceptional young men and women with a five-year early-career fellowship, empowering them to become master teachers and leaders in education. For more information, visit www.kstf.org.

Conference to provide resources and strategies for students with autism

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:52:29 -0500

Educators are invited to discover the latest technology and evidence-based solutions for students with Autism at a conference offered by EAP Connections on Feb. 9-10 in Voorhees, NJ.

The conference is being held at the Mansion on Main Street and will provide interactive, innovative and practical technology-based solutions for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Participants will engage in activities to further expand their understanding of applications, Web 2.0 solutions, and general technology tools applicable to challenges in the areas of academic, functional, and social growth and development. The presentation will cover numerous technology solutions and a specific training device is not required by participants.

For more information and to register visit www.aepconnections.com or see this registration form.

SmileMakers discount offer

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:31:30 -0500

SmileMakers has a great special offer that runs through December 31, 2011. SmileMaker's huge inventory includes decor, gift items and other products appropriate for the holidays. Use the special promotional code NEABTS when ordering and save up to 50% off plus get Free Shipping (no minimum). Visit SmileMakers.com or call 1-888-800-SMILE to order. Read More

West Orange teacher receives national teaching award

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:23:19 -0400

Frank Iannucci, West Orange Education Association member and teacher of math and computer science, has received the $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.

In a surprise ceremony at West Orange High School on Nov. 4, Milken Foundation co-founder Michael Milken presented the award to Iannucci along with students, teachers and officials who gathered for celebration. The event is part of the Milken Family Foundation's 25th Annual National Notifications tour honoring outstanding educators across the nation.

The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards provide public recognition and financial rewards to outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and other education professionals.

Iannucci has nine years experience in education. He has taught in the West Orange School District for five years, and previously taught in Bloomfield and Ridgefield Park. He holds a BS and MA from Montclair State University.

Dubbed the 'Oscars of teaching' by Teacher Magazine, the Milken Educator Awards program recognizes the importance of outstanding educators and encourages talented people to enter the teaching profession. Unlike most teaching awards, the Milken Educator Awards have no formal nomination or application process. Each year, exceptional teachers, principals, and specialists - recommended without their knowledge by a blue-ribbon panel appointed by each state's department of education - are surprised with the news of their awards.

New Jersey joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 2002 and there have been 20 NJ recipients since program began in New Jersey. So far, $500,000 has been awarded in New Jersey.

Additional information about the award can be found at Milken Family Foundation.

Celebrate Teachers on May 3

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:22:08 -0400

May 3, 2011 is National Teacher Day, a time for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives. That week, May 2 - 8, is designated Teacher Appreciation Week by the National PTA. It's a time to strengthen support and respect for teachers and the teaching profession.

NEA is urging parents, students, community leaders, and caring individuals to celebrate this year’s National Teacher day taking action. Specifically, NEA is asking that everyone go to the Association’s Education Votes website - and sign the national petition for educators and workers rights.

NEA is also urging supporters of public education to visit the NEA Priority Schools website and make the Priority Schools Pledge.

And finally, NEA is asking everyone to visit the Teacher Day web pages at - www.nea.org/teacherday - to find out how to join NEA in saying “thanks” to teachers nationwide.

A teacher appreciation story that inspires
What I learned at school - NY Times Op-Ed, March 30, 2011
International Dyslexia Association Celebrates National Teacher’s Day With “Unsung Heroes” Campaign To Honor Teachers Nationwide

High Tech Hall: Bigger and Better Every Year

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:23:33 -0400

Every year, High Tech Hall, grows bigger and more technologically advanced, but it never diverts from its basic mission: to help members use technology to improve student learning. Whether you have a quick question, need a complete tutorial, or just want to get acquainted to with professional development opportunities available on njea.org, drop in to see how the latest applications are being used in today's classrooms and among today's professionals.

Look for Verizon's Thinkfinity Classroom featuring presentation on the hour that spotlight the tens of thousands of free, easy-to-use resources found on Thinkfinty.org. In the DELL Connected Classroom, NJEA members and other technology experts provide hands-on practice showing how they’re using technology to enhance instruction in New Jersey’s public schools.

The New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning and NJEA are proud to once again offer the Technology Integration Showcase. There members will present one-on-one and small group demonstrations of technology activities tested in their own classrooms.

And there's more.

This year NJCTL has expanded its participation in High Tech Hall to include the Teacher-to-Teacher Learning Lab. Here NJEA members will present hour-long planned presentations.

Professional development credit available

This year, for the first time, NJEA members can record their time spent in High Tech Hall for professional development credit.

NJEA encourages members to document their professional learning experiences as they work to meet and exceed the 100-hours of professional development required of certified teaching staff. For the more traditional two-hour programs listed on pages 40-61 of the Convention Program, members who are present at an entire session receive a professional development certificate upon exiting the classroom. However, such documentation is more challenging to capture and record in the differently structured programs available to members in High Tech Hall.

This year, to help members document their professional development experiences in High Tech Hall, NJEA has established the following procedures:

Members who attend a scheduled classroom session in either the DELL Connected Classroom or the Verizon Thinkfinity classroom will scan their convention badge upon arrival and will receive a link to their certificate via an email following the Convention. No paper certificates will be distributed for these activities.

Members who spend time in the Technology Integration Showcase and the Teacher-to-Teacher Learning Lab may document their learning using a log sheet that they can pick up in High Tech Hall. No certificates will be available for these activities. The log will detail the titles, presenters and a brief description of each activity with a place to identify the amount of time spent at each demonstration area. Members may present this log to their supervisor/principal following their visit to Atlantic City to document the amount of time spent in learning in these areas of High Tech Hall.

NJEA recommends that members speak with their supervisor/principal prior to the NJEA Convention to discuss how much time they intend to spend in the Technology Integration Showcase and Teacher-to-Teacher Learning Lab areas. This procedure is consistent with practices supported by the N.J. Department of Education. Members are reminded that all professional learning activities must be aligned with their individual professional development plan to be eligible for accrual toward the 100-hour requirement.

High Tech Hall can be found in Hall B.

Symposium offers tools and resources for financial literacy

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:51:29 -0400

The New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education in partnership with the New Jersey Credit Unions, New Jersey Department of Education, and several premier New Jersey banks and financial institutions is proud to announce NJCFE's 5th Annual Financial Literacy Symposium and awards presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness.

The Community Financial Survival Kit: A Symposium for Everything YOU Need to Know to Succeed in the 21st Century will feature professional financial institutions and financial literacy teachers who will jointly present information about adaptive resources, tools of the trade, and strategies to equip members of the community with personal financial literacy skills.

If you are you a teacher, community leader, non-profit or faith-based organization leader, parent, adult educator, or someone that desires valuable information in the study of financial literacy from experts around the state, then this symposium is for you.

Visit www.njcfe.org for more information and to register. Registration is limited.

Register in advance for selected convention workshops

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:13:40 -0400

Has this happened to you? You select a workshop at the NJEA Convention you really don’t want to miss, only to arrive at the door and find out it’s filled up. It’s frustrating.

Help is on the way.

NJEA is offering advance registration for the workshops that will take place in Rooms 311 and 313.

How do you sign up?

It’s easy. Sign in and follow the link to sign up for some or all of the sessions listed. You’ll want to act fast. The sessions will be closed to walk-ins when all seats have been reserved. If you pre-register, make every effort to be at the workshop on time. Walk-in seats will be available on a first-come basis at the starting time of the session.

Nominate a teacher who engages students in study of African-American history

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:30:21 -0400

The N.J. Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for its 2012 Mildred Barry Garvin Prize. This is an award of $1,500 that is given for exceptional efforts to engage New Jersey students in the study of African-American history. Nominees should be a K-12 teacher, counselor, or school librarian who has helped students learn about the African-American historical experience.

Recent recipients of the Mildred Barry Garvin Prize include Rosemary Flowers-Jackson, who teaches black studies and African-American history at Hackensack High School, Steffany A. Baptiste, special education teacher at the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, and Brenda C. Brooks, social studies teacher at the Eastern Intermediate High School, Voorhees, New Jersey.

Nominations must be postmarked by Oct. 6. For detailed instructions and a nomination form, visit the website of the New Jersey Historical Commission at www.newjerseyhistory.org and follow the link to “Grant Opportunities.”

Mildred Barry Garvin (1926-1993) was a member of the State General Assembly and the Historical Commission. Her legislation established the Commission's Afro-American History Program in 1984.

Reach non-traditional students through an equestrian program

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:26:01 -0400

School districts are invited to apply for students to participate in the Gleneayre Equestrian Program (GEP), located in Lumberton, N.J. This program offers a curriculum-based, non-riding equine program known as Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL). The EFL curriculum utilizes experiential teaching strategies designed for reaching children and adolescents who might otherwise be shut down by normal classroom settings. Through the EFL curriculum, people from the age of 10 and up can learn life skills that foster healthy person-to-person contact such as clear communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, team building and changes in negative behaviors that could lead to unhealthy choices.

The EFL program is unique because it provides an alternative to the traditional educational setting. Its Cowboy Poetry curriculum is fully aligned to the N.J. Core Curriculum Content Standards and is aligned with the 40 Assets Students Need to Succeed. The EFL program is located on a beautiful 73-acre campus, where there is a covered ring and an attached warm and inviting classroom.

GEP is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information, contact Paige Schwartzman, program coordinator, at 609-267-4104, ext. 123, or paige@gepnj.org.