BI-COUNTY BRIEF - OCTOBER 2008
Volume 6, Issue No. 3 |
October 2008 |
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ELECTION AND CAMPAIGNING
With the upcoming presidential elections it is an opportune time to have your students participating in mock elections and activities related to the election process. At www.nationalmockelection.org, schools may participate in a nationwide mock election and be able to share and analyze national results. The website includes a "Road to the Capital" simulation game where students run a campaign funded by answering social science trivia questions. Other mock election and voting sites and resources include www.youthleadership.net, www.illinoisstudentvote.org, www.elections.il.gov, and www.civiced.org.
NEW ADDITIONS TO ROE RESOURCE LIBRARY
The Monroe-Randolph Regional Office of Education Resource Library is available to all schools who participate in the Resource Library program. Teachers may check out videos, DVDs, CDs, Reading and MASH kits by going to the website: www.roe45.org and clicking on the Resource Library. Items will be delivered to the Monroe County schools on Monday and to the Randolph County schools on Friday. New additions include:
VIDEOS:
ART-The Frescoes of Diego Rivera; Alexandra Nechita; The Legacy of Generations; Art Smart Videos,.
SOCIAL SCIENCE-Peru–A Golden Treasure; Northern Spain; Evita–The Woman Behind the Myth; The Power of Money; Netherlands Cultural Overview #11; Netherlands Cultural Overview #13.
DRIVER'S EDUCATION-Be Sensible: Don't Drive Yourself to Distraction; Ride Safe, Ride Smart.
HEALTH & SAFETY-Rabies; Considering Your Options.
VOCATIONAL-Dedicated to Service: A Career in Veterinary Medicine; Mr. Jelly Belly's Factory Tour.
LIFE SKILLS-Next Generation–Inspiring Your Future; The World Needs You–Volunteer; Developing Self-Discipline.
SCIENCE-Understanding Volcanoes; Earth Science; Volcanoes Video Quiz (& DVD); Rock and Minerals: The Hard Facts; Living Lands and Waters.
TEACHING & LEARNING-ADHD & LD Powerful Teaching Strategies and Accommodations.
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS-Think-Alongs: Comprehending As You Read; Shakespeare in American Communities (& DVD, CD).
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT-Report Card Grading: Strategies and Solutions; Student-Involved Performance Assessment; Common Sense–Paper and Pencil Assessments; Student-Involved Conferences; Imagine! Assessments That Energize Students; Fish!–Catch the Energy, Release the Potential; Jukebox Journey with Heart.
DVDs:
SOCIAL SCIENCE-The Nobel Prize: 100 Years of Creativity and Innovation; Mexico–Mexico City, Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca; Mexico–Merida, Cancun and Belize; The Incas Remembered; Argentina; Images of Switzerland Now; Our Constitution: A Conversation; Key Constitutional Concepts, A Conversation on the Constitution: Judicial Independence;
FOREIGN LANGUAGE-Spanish Parts 1–Learning Spanish; The Basics, Spanish Parts 2–Learning Spanish; Beyond the Basics, Una Familia Espanola; PePe Preposicion.
MUSIC/SOCIAL SCIENCE-Jazz in the Schools (& CD)
HEALTH & SAFETY-My Pyramid–Simple Steps to Healthy Living–Part of the Balance First Multimedia Kit.
SCIENCE-Reinventing the Wheel: The Continuing Evolution of the Bicycle.
READING KIT:
ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS-To Kill a Mockingbird.
LOWE'S OFFERS SCHOOL TOOLBOX GRANTS
Home improvement superstore Lowe's is offering $5000 grants to schools. Increase parent involvement? Build stronger community spirit? Create a new school tradition? The ideas are endless. Whatever goals and dreams you have for your school, Lowe's can help you fulfill them. The Fall 2008 cycle is now open. The deadline for submitting applications for this grant cycle is October 17, 2008. To apply, visit www.toolboxforeducation.com.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BOOK DONATION PROGRAM
The Book Donation Campaign is a multi-year project of the U.S. Department of Education, First Book—a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their own first new books, and a host of major U.S. book publishing companies. The campaign aims to improve the literacy skills of disadvantaged students by providing free books and reading materials to schools, libraries and literacy organizations serving low-income youth. Learn more about supporting and accessing these programs at www.bookbank.firstbook.org and www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/bookcampaign.
MATH & MONEY CURRICULUM
In an effort to encourage financial literacy among Americans, the President's Advisory Council has recommended two initiatives. The first initiative is called Money Math. It is a four-lesson, 86-page curriculum that is written to national math standards and is the second edition of a curriculum that has been used by teachers across the country for years. The second edition improves upon the first by incorporating feedback from teachers who have used it in the classroom. Money Math uses real-life personal finance examples to teach middle school mathematics concepts. The curriculum is free of charge via mail and available on the Internet to download. The goal of Money Math is to improve the personal financial literacy of middle school students through the integration of personal finance topics into the core subject of mathematics. To find out more information about Money Math please visit www.treasury.gov/offices/domestic-finance/financial-institution/fin-education/council/lessonsforlife.shtml. The second initiative is called the National Financial Literacy Challenge. The Challenge is a contest for high school students. Based on national personal finance education standards, this 35-question online test is designed to build excitement among students and teachers and widen the base of support for financial education in U.S. high schools. Students with scores in the top 25th percentile of all scores will be recognized with Certificates of Recognition. Students who score exceptionally well will also qualify for an additional award. To find out more information about the Challenge please visit www.flc.treas.gov.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
| October 21, 2008 | Best Reading Practices - Grades 4-6 | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| October 21, 2008 | Beginning Teacher - Communication | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| October 21, 2008 | How to Run for School Board | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
| October 22, 2008 | Beginning Teacher - Communication | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| October 24 - 28, 2008 | Dauphin Island Sea Lab Expedition | Dauphin Island, Alabama | |
| October 29, 2008 | Mentor Training-Coaching Cycle | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| November 1, 2008 | Explore Test for 6th Grade Gifted Program | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
| November 3, 2008 | Principals' Leadership Webinars | SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 152 | 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. |
| November 5, 2008 | Beginning Teacher - Lesson Planning | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| November 5, 2008 | Superintendents Council | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
| November 5, 2008 | RtI, SIP and DIP Plans Data Analysis | St. Patrick's Center - Ruma | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| November 6, 2008 | Beginning Teacher - Lesson Planning | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| November 7, 2008 | ACT Workshop | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
| November 8, 2008 | Explore Test for 6th Grade Gifted Program | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
| November 12, 2008 | Mentor Training-Coaching Cycle | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| November 14, 2008 | Principal Leadership Training | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
| November 14, 2008 | Technology Recycling Day | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
| November 17, 2008 | Principals' Leadership Webinars | SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 152 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. |
| November 18, 2008 | Best Reading Practices - Content Area | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| November 24, 2008 | RtI, SIP and DIP Plans Data Analysis | St. Patrick's Center - Ruma | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| November 26, 2008 | Mentor Training-Formative Assessment | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| December 9, 2008 | Best Reading Practices - Vocabulary Instr. | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| December 10, 2008 | Mentor Training-Using Student Work | SWIC, Red Bud Campus | 8:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| December 11, 2008 | Principals' Leadership Webinars | SWIC, Red Bud - Rm. 152 | 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. |
| December 12, 2008 | RtI, SIP and DIP Plans Data Analysis | St. Patrick's Center - Ruma | 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |