Education

Teacher Resources

April 01, 1996 19 min read
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DEADLINES

Following is a list of application deadlines for grants, fellowships, and honors available to individuals. Asterisks (

  • ) denote new entries.

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

  • Open. Graphic Arts.

The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation invites graphic art educators to submit “minigrant’’ proposals for educational projects in the graphic communications field, such as programs designed to teach students about graphic arts technology and management. Grants of up to $2,500 each will be awarded. For proposal guidelines, contact: Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation, 1899 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 22091-4367; (703) 264-7200; fax (703) 620-0994.

  • May 1. Biology.

The National Association of Biology Teachers seeks applications from high school biology teachers who wish to work with an industrial partner to field-test their biotechnology activities. The individual selected will receive a stipend, software, on-line computer access, and material allowance. For more information, contact: National Association of Biology Teachers, Attn: Kathy Frame, 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, #19, Reston, VA 22090-5202; (703) 471-1134.

  • May 30. Creative Classroom.

Creative Classroom, the Children’s Television Workshop’s publication for K-6 teachers, Crayola, and MCI announce the CTW’s Plan a Dream Award. Three grants of $2,500 each will be given to support model programs designed to motivate students and inspire teachers in any of the following areas: science, technology, math, language arts, social studies, and the arts. Eligible are full-time, certified K-6 teachers. For more information, contact: Creative Classroom/Plan a Dream Award, CTW, 1 Lincoln Plaza, New York, NY 10023.

  • June 1. Social Studies.

The Fund for the Advancement of Social Studies, in conjunction with the National Council for the Social Studies, invites social studies teachers and teacher educators who have created projects that emphasize innovative teaching in social studies to apply for its “general grant.’' The 1996 theme is “Social Studies Education: Setting the Standards--Making the Difference.’' Two grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded in each of the following categories: grades K-5, 6-9, 10-12, and teacher education. NCSS membership is required. Contact: National Council for the Social Studies, 3501 Newark St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016; (202) 966-7840, ext. 106.

  • June 15. Reading And Literacy.

The International Reading Association invites IRA members in a doctoral program to apply for its Helen M. Robinson Award, a $500 grant earmarked for a student in the early stage of his or her dissertation research in any area of reading or literacy. Contact: International Reading Association, Helen M. Robinson Award, Division of Research, 800 Barksdale Road, P.O. Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139; (302) 731-1600, ext. 226.

HONORS

April 1. PTA.

The National PTA, in conjunction with the Hearst Foundation, invites nominations for the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Educator Award. Educators currently employed in preschool through senior high school who have demonstrated professional excellence and commitment to the objectives of the PTA are eligible. A local PTA unit nominates one individual for the competition. The winner will be awarded an expense-paid trip to the 1996 National PTA Convention in Washington, D.C., and a cash award of $2,000. The local PTA that prepared the application will receive $2,000 for a project of special interest to the winner. Three honorable-mention winners will receive plaques of recognition. Contact: National PTA, 330 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60611-3690; (312) 670-6782.

April 1. Theater.

Tekgod Publications invites high school theater teachers in communities of less than 10,000 residents to apply for the Rural Theater Teacher of the Year Award. One $500 cash award will be given for outstanding and selfless service in isolated, financially limited, and culturally unsupportive environments. For applications, contact: Tekgod Publications, 10400 Connecticut Ave., Suite 100-222, Kensington, MD 20895; (800) 293-TEKI.

  • April 1. Unsung Heroes.

Northern Life Insurance Co. announces its Unsung Heroes Awards Program, which recognizes creative educators who have had a positive impact on children. Eighty winners--at least one from each state--will receive either a $2,000 cash prize for further innovation in the classroom or a $2,000 scholarship to continue their own education. In addition, three top prizes of $25,000, $10,000, and $5,000 will be awarded to educators who have developed projects that could benefit an entire school or district. Eligible are full-time K-12 educational professionals. Contact: Northern Life’s Unsung Heroes Awards Program, c/o Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America, 1505 Riverview Road, P.O. Box 297, St. Peter, MN 56082; (507) 931-1682; fax (507) 931-9168.

April 19. Principals.

MetLife and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, in association with the U. S. Department of Education, invite applications for the 1997 Principal of the Year Award. Outstanding private and public school principals of grades 6-12 who involve their teachers, students, and communities in educational improvement are eligible. One Principal of the Year will be chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, New York City, and the Department of Defense schools. Four national finalists will then be selected and will each receive $2,500. The National Principal of the Year will be selected from among the finalists at a ban-quet in January 1997. He or she will be honored at the association’s annual convention in Orlando, Fla., in March 1997 and will receive an additional $7,500. Contact: National Association of Secondary School Principals, 1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 22091; (703) 860-0200.

May 15. Computers.

Proxima Corp., a desktop projection company, announces the Win With Proxima Contest for Educators. Applicants must submit their ideas for combining desktop projection with other state-of-the-art technologies to enhance classroom instruction. The first-prize winner will receive a Mobile Media Center featuring a Proxima 5100 Desktop Projector, laptop computer, and media cart, plus an expense-paid trip to the National Educational Computing Conference in June. Second prize is a Proxima 2400 Desktop Projector, and third prize is a Proxima Ovation LCD panel and overhead projector. Eligible are classroom teachers, media center directors, principals, and administrators. To receive a contest kit, call: (800) 447-7692, ext. 672.

  • June 1. Writing.

The National Council for the Social Studies announces the James Michener Prize in Writing. One $5,000 award will be given to an individual who has, through his or her writing, enhanced social studies education and the profession. For more information, contact: NCSS Information Services, 3501 Newark St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016; (202) 966-7840, ext. 106.

  • June 14. Ambition.

The National Council for the Social Studies invites teachers to apply for the Christa McAuliffe Award. A $1,000 award will be given to the applicant whose proposal best exemplifies a unique ambition or dream that under ordinary circumstances would be unfulfilled. Applicants must be NCSS members and full-time K-12 social studies teachers or teacher educators. Contact: NCSS Information Services, 3501 Newark St. N.W., Washington, DC 20016; (202) 966-7840, ext. 106.

TEACHING TOOLS

Following is a list of free or inexpensive resources that teachers can order.

Crafts.

Prime Publishing Inc. offers a catalog, Free Stuff for People Who Enjoy Crafting, Sewing, and More. Included are more than 400 free or inexpensive crafts items, such as patterns, kits, samples, project sheets, home decor ideas, and newsletters. Cost: $3. Contact: Prime Publishing Inc., 1954 First St., P.O. Box 663, Department FSR128, Highland Park, IL 60035.

Educational Technology.

Sharp Electronics Corp. offers a free brochure, Projecting Success in Education, which explains how a variety of multimedia products can be useful classroom tools. Contact: Sharp Electronics Corp., Professional LCD Products Division, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2135; (201) 529-8731; fax (201) 529-9636.

School Bus Safety.

Coregis Insurance Co. is offering a free brochure, Your School Bus at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, that provides information on proper railroad crossing procedures for school bus drivers. Contact: Coregis Insurance Co., 181 W. Madison, Suite 2400, Chicago, Il 60602; (800) 879-4428.

English/Social Studies.

The Thomas S. Klise Co., producers of education materials for middle and secondary schools, has released two new resource books: English Fun Factivities and Social Studies Fun Factivities. The former provides projects, activities, and discussion topics on Greek and Roman Mythology, Parts of Speech, and the Short Story, among others; the latter on the Monroe Doctrine, the Trail of Tears, and the Middle Ages. Cost: $18 each. Contact: Thomas S. Klise Co., P.O. Box 317, Waterford, CT 06385; (800) 937-0092.

Almanac.

World Almanac Books, an imprint of Funk & Wagnalls Corp., has published The World Almanac for Kids 1996, 320 pages of facts and information on animals, religion, language, computers, and much more. Designed for children ages 8-12, this reference also includes 32 pages of color maps, flags, and puzzles and more than 600 illustrations. Cost: $7.95. Contact: The World Almanac, 1 International Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07495-0017; (201) 529-6900; fax (201) 529-6901.

Environment.

McGraw-Hill Inc. has released Kids Can Make a Difference! Environmental Science Activities, by H. Steven Dashefsky. The 150-page book, targeted at middle school students, includes activities to help children understand how our planet works, the problems it faces, and the need for solutions. Among the topics addressed are pollution, erosion, and marine life. Cost: $12.95. To order, contact: McGraw-Hill, 12211 Monterey Ave., Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850; (717) 794-2191; fax (717) 794-2080.

Earth Education.

The Institute for Earth Education, an environmental organization, is offering free copies of its expanded 1995-96 Earth Education Sourcebook. The 40-page catalog includes programs, materials, and tools designed to teach environmental awareness. For more information, contact: The Institute for Earth Education, Cedar Cove, Greenville, WV 24945; (304) 832-6404; fax (304) 832-6077; e-mail IEE1@aol.com.

Presidential Election.

Apolitical Press has published The Political Truth: A Voter’s Guide to the 1996 Presidential Candidates and Elections. The 288-page book provides in-depth information on each of the original candidates, including biographical information and their stated positions on important issues. It also contains the dates of the primaries and caucuses and the different ways to register to vote. Cost: $12.95, plus $4 for shipping and handling. Contact: Apolitical Press, 16902 Millikan Ave., Irvine, CA 92714; (800) 96-TRUTH.

Taxes.

Triple Check Income Tax Services, a tax-preparation company, offers work sheets and other information on legitimate tax deductions for educators. Potential deductions that often go unclaimed, according to the service, include expenses for calculators, books, typewriters, cameras, plants, photocopying, and professional seminars. Educators interested in receiving more information or talking with a Triple Check representative in their area can call (800) 283-1040.

Health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a free kit designed to keep teenagers from using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. The kit, titled The Performance Edge, includes a 9-minute video; copies of Jam!, a 14-page magazine; a teachers’ guide; and a poster. For more information, contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop K-50, 4770 Buford Highway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30341-3724; (770) 488-5705.

Mr. Wizard.

Mr. Wizard, the award-winning television series for elementary school children, offers teachers a free bimonthly newsletter with program descriptions and telecast schedules. The series appears on Nickelodeon. For more information, contact: Mr. Wizard Foundation, 44800 Helm St., Plymouth, MI 48170; (800) 258-2344.

Arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation offers a free brochure titled When Your Student Has Arthritis: A Teacher’s Guide. The brochure offers an overview of arthritis, highlighting its symptoms, treatments, and available resources. Also included are activities and tips to help children with arthritis keep up in school. Contact: Arthritis Foundation, 4455 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20008-2302; (202) 537-6800; fax (202) 537-6859.

Freebies.

Lowell House offers Freebies for Teachers, a 77-page book featuring more than 150 cheap or free items for teachers of all grade levels. Among the materials included are a newsletter, lesson plans, health and safety booklets, and brochures with math and reading tips. Cost: $5.95 for shipping and handling. Contact: Freebies Magazine, Teacher Offer, 1135 Eugenia Place, Carpinteria, CA 93013; (805) 566-1225.

Math And Music Videos.

GPN, producers and distributors of instructional videotapes, is offering two new catalogs. The GPN Art and Music Video Catalog and the GPN Math and Science Video Catalog provide summaries and other information, including each tape’s length, price, and target age group. GPN also lets educators preview its tapes for two weeks; the only cost is the return postage. Contact: GPN, P.O. Box 80669, Lincoln, NE 68501-0669; (800) 228-4630; fax (402) 472-4076; e-mail gpn@unl.edu.

School Safety.

The National School Safety Center has released School’s Safety Check Book, a 219-page book aimed at preventing crime and violence in schools. The book includes sections on school climate and discipline, attendance, and security. Cost: $15. Contact: National School Safety Center, 4165 Thousands Oaks Blvd., Suite 290, Westlake Village, CA 91362; (805) 373-9977; fax (805) 373-9277.

Leadership.

The Lutheran Brotherhood is distributing a free curriculum guide titled Speak for Yourself. The program is designed to help young people examine issues that affect them and learn how they can make a difference and influence government decisionmaking. Contact: Youth Update, c/o Search Institute, Thresher Square West, 700 S. Third St., Suite 210, Minneapolis, MN 55415; (800) 888-3820.

Gardening.

The National Gardening Association has published a newsletter titled Growing Ideas to help educators wanting to raise plants and gardens as part of their classroom program. The newsletter, which the association is distributing free of charge, outlines a number of classroom projects (such as planting a wildflower garden) and offers strategies for using a garden as a science laboratory. Contact: National Gardening Association, Dept. TM, 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT 05401; (800) 538-7476; e-mail nga@together.org.

C-SPAN.

C-SPAN in the Classroom offers educators free memberships. Membership includes a number of services, among them lesson plans, programming alerts, grant programs, seminars, a toll-free educators’ hot line, on-line services, and liberal copyright policies. For information on how to become a member, call: (202) 737-3220.

FOR YOUR STUDENTS

Following is a list of contests, scholarships, and internships for students organized by application deadline. Asterisks (

  • ) denote new entries.

Open. AIDS Pen Pals.

The Whitney Project, named for an 11-year-old Chicago girl with AIDS, invites K-12 classrooms to exchange letters, phone calls, artwork, or videos with children with HIV/AIDS. For more information, contact: Stella Reed, Whitney Project, P.O. Box 2511, Santa Fe, NM 87504; (505) 473-7721.

  • April 1. Music School.

The National Federation of Music Clubs invites students who play a string instrument to apply for its Summer Music Scholarship. The $500 scholarship is for tuition to a summer session at the Aspen (Colo.) Music School from June 12-Aug. 18. Students must be U.S. citizens under the age of 26. For an application, contact: Office of Student Services, Aspen Music School, 2 Music School Road, Aspen, CO 81611; (970) 925-3254, ext. 400.

  • April 1. Music Camp.

The National Federation of Music Clubs invites young musicians who play either a string instrument or the piano to apply for a $750 scholarship to the summer music program at Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, Maine. The program, to be held June 23-Aug. 11, focuses on ensemble playing. Applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 15 and 30. Contact: Tonu Kalam, Director, Kneisel Hall, 21 Vauxhall Place, Chapel Hill, NC 27514; (919) 408-0193.

  • April 15. Video.

Videonics, a manufacturer of video-editing equipment, invites students in grades 7-12 to enter the Thoughts and Dreams Video Contest, the purpose of which is to get teachers and students to see video as an educational tool. Entries must be less than five minutes long and produced by students. Faculty advisers overseeing the project must enclose a letter describing the video’s objectives. The winning school receives a $2,000 award and a complete Videonics Editing Studio; nine runner-up schools receive an assortment of prizes that includes video equipment. For more information, contact: Videonics, 1370 Dell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008-6604; (800) 338-EDIT.

  • April 15. Internet.

Advanced Network & Services, a nonprofit organization, invites student teams in grades 7-12 to enter its ThinkQuest competition. The contest recognizes outstanding student-created World Wide Web pages that have a subject-area focus and employ images, video, audio, and text. Eligible are teams of students from a school, group of schools, or organization like the Girl Scouts working with a teacher or some other adult adviser. Five winners will be named in each of five categories: science and math, arts and literature, social sciences, sports, and interdisciplinary studies. One team will be named the grand winner. Each member of that team will receive a $25,000 scholarship; the teacher/adviser and the teacher’s school will each receive a $5,000 cash award. For more information, contact: ThinkQuest; (800) 61-THINK; World Wide Web http://www.advanced.org/thinkquest.

April 15. Young Playwrights.

Very Special Arts, an educational program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, invites students ages 12-18 to enter the 1996 Young Playwrights Award contest. Entrants must submit an original script that focuses on some aspect of a disability. Up to two winning playwrights will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the final rehearsals of their plays and to attend the premiere production at the Kennedy Center. Students with or without disabilities are eligible to enter. Contact: Young Playwrights Program, Very Special Arts Education Office, JFK Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC 20566; (800) 933-8721.

April 15. Essay.

The Ayn Rand Institute invites high school juniors and seniors to enter an essay contest on Rand’s novel The Fountainhead. First prize is a $5,000 cash award. Five second-prize winners receive $1,000 each, and 10 third-prize winners receive $500 each. The essays, on one of three topics specified by the institute, must be between 800 and 1,600 words. Contact: Fountainhead Essay Contest, Ayn Rand Institute, P.O. Box 6004, Inglewood, CA 90312; (310) 306-9232.

  • May 1. Vegetarian.

The Vegetarian Resource Group, a nonprofit organization, invites students ages 18 and under to submit essays on the aspects of a diet that does not include fish, meat, or poultry. Each essay should be between two and three pages in length and can be based on research, interviews, and/or personal beliefs and experiences. A $50 U.S. Savings Bond will be awarded to one winner in each of the following categories: ages 8 and under; 9-13; and 14-18. For more information, contact: The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203; (410) 366-VEGE.

  • May 1. Mathematics.

The Children’s Television Workshop, in conjunction with Nike Inc., invites students in grades 3-7 to enter the Math Talk Shoe-In Sweepstakes. Students must work in teams to estimate the number of shoes it would take to fill their classroom from floor to ceiling; the answers must include an explanation of how students reached their results. Winners will be chosen by a random drawing. The winning class will receive a pair of Nike shoes for every class member, as well as for the teacher. Contact: Children’s Television Workshop, 1 Lincoln Plaza, New York, NY 10023.

May 1. Publishing.

Landmark Editions Inc. announces the 1996 National Written and Illustrated by . . . Awards Contest for Students. Youngsters may enter their original books in one of three age categories: 6-9; 10-13; or 14-19. Students must both write and illustrate their entries. One winner chosen from each age category will be awarded a publishing contract; winners receive an expense-paid trip to the offices of Landmark in Kansas City, Mo., where professional editors and art directors will assist them in the final preparation of the text and illustrations. The authors will be paid royalties on sales. For guidelines, send a self-addressed, business-size envelope with 64 cents postage to: 1996 NWIB Awards Contest, c/o Landmark Editions Inc., 1402 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, MO 64127.

  • May 27. Multiple Sclerosis.

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America invites high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to participate in the MS Scholarship Essay Competition, also known as PROJ-ECT: LEARN MS. Students must write an essay between 500 and 1,000 words that answers three questions about multiple sclerosis and issues affecting people with disabilities. One Golden Scholarship winner receives a $7,000 award; nine Silver Scholarship winners receive $1,000 each. For more information, contact: PROJECT: LEARN MS, 706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002; (800) LEARN-MS; (609) 488-4500.

  • June 1. Stock Market.

The Nasdaq Stock Market invites students ages 5-18 to submit an essay on the topic, “What Stock Markets Mean to America.’' Nasdaq will choose 25 essays from five age groups: 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18; winners will each get $1,000 to invest. In addition, the writer of the first-place essay in each category will win a trip to Washington, D.C., to observe the electronic market in action. Contact: The Office of Investor Relations, Nasdaq Stock Market, 1735 K St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006; (301) 590-6500.

  • June 3. Peace.

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation announces its 1996 Swackhammer Peace Essay Contest. High school students should submit essays between 500 and 1,000 words in length that address this question: “The first resolution of the U.N. General Assembly in 1946 called for the elimination of atomic weapons from national armament. Building upon the efforts of the past 50 years, what do you propose should be done during the next five years to realize the goal of nuclear weapon abolition?’' The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $1,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively. Contact: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 1187 Coast Village Road, Suite 123, Santa Barbara, CA 93108; (805) 965-3443.

  • June 30. Literary Magazine.

Merlyn’s Pen, a national magazine for student writing, announces its fourth annual Literary Magazine Contest and Critique. Student editors are invited to enter their schools’ literary magazines in the national competition. Golden Pen Awards go to the best overall high school entry and the best overall middle school entry. Prizes will also be awarded in special categories: Best Design, Best Writing, and Best Art and Photography. Merlyn charges a $60 entry fee per category. Each entry will receive a written critique. Contact: Merlyn’s Pen Contest and Critique, P.O. Box 910, East Greenwich, RI 02818; (401) 885-5175.

--Arohi Pathak

A version of this article appeared in the April 01, 1996 edition of Teacher Magazine as Teacher Resources

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