NEA Today November 2001

www.corning.com/inside_corning/foundation.asp

Resources

Cartoonist View
Editorial cartoonists' pens respond to terrorism with gripping insight and a biting wit. You'll find a diverse collection from a variety of artists expressing everything from sympathy to outrage, including a selection from international publications. http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/attack/main.asp

Fly the Flag
Here's a way to put a patriotic reminder on your desktop. It's free from Rhode Island Soft Systems. "We Will Not Forget'' as a free downloadable screensaver showing the American flag waving in the breeze. Go to: www.screensaver.com/wwnf.htm.

Toward Understanding
W.H. Auden's poem "September 1, 1939" may have been written in response to Germany's invasion of Poland on that date. But the many people who've passed it around the Net via E-mail find an uncanny relevance to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Here's the poet's home in cyberspace. Go to: www.poets.org/ poets/poets.cfm?prmID=121.

Help for Kids
The American Counseling Association, expressing concern about the emotional and psychological after-effects of the terrorist attacks, provides some tips on how to help children cope with traumatic situations and, if necessary, how to find professional assistance. Go to: www.counseling.org/tragedy/tragedy.htm.

Relief from Disasters
From the Federal Emergency Management Association comes this site to help kids understand how to be prepared for disasters and how disaster damage can be prevented. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories, and become a Disaster Action Kid. Go to: www.fema.gov kids/

Announcements

UniServ Internships
As part of an ongoing commitment to state and local affiliates, the NEA is seeking potential eligible candidates for the 2002 UniServ intern program. Individuals who successfully complete the 41/2-week training program and the three-month field experience will be certified by the NEA as eligible for UniServ staff work in an NEA state or local affiliate.

All individuals must be committed to moving for the three-month field experience.

Requirements:
1. Female or ethnic minority as designated by the United States census.
2. Active NEA member for at least one year.
3. Basic knowledge and understanding of the Association at the local/state level.
4. Committed to pursuing UniServ staff employment upon successful completion of the program.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills.
6. Willingness to participate in intensive training.
7. Willingness to resign all Association offices at the local, state, and national level.
8. Willingness to work in a learning environment during day and evening hours and learn new skills and attitudes.

The NEA does not guarantee employment of UniServ staff; employment is a state/local decision.
Interested persons should send a letter of interest to: Brenda Vincent, UniServ Intern Program, NEA membership and affiliates, 1201 16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036.

All letters of interest must be received at the NEA by December 7, 2001 by United States mail or FedEx. Faxed copies will not be accepted.

An application packet along with basic instructions will be sent after a letter of interest is received at the NEA office starting December 3, 2001. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2002.

For more information, call your local UniServ director.

Violence in Perspective
Educators for Social Responsibility, a national organization dedicated to making teaching social responsibility a core practice in education, has developed a free guide called "Talking to Children About Violence and Other Sensitive and Complex Issues in the World." This guide, available at www.esrnational.org, provides answers to parents' and teachers' questions about how to
discuss violent national and world events with children.

Grandparents Day Kit
Boost family involvement in your school and build closer connections across generations through the national "Something to Remember Me By" Legacy Project. There's a Grandparents Day Activity Kit that includes K-12 activities, a planning guide for a school event, curriculum connections, reproducibles, and more. There's also a new Holiday Activity Kit. And for the Holiday Essay Contest, students can write about their family history. The grand prize is a Lane cedar chest with handcrafted keepsakes made by older adult artisans from Geezer. com. Kits free online at www.somethingtoremembermeby.org, or for info call 800/772-7765.

Fulbright Scholar Program
The Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals is offering more than 70 awards in education
for lecturing and/or doing research abroad during the 2001-02 academic year. For more information, visit the Web site at www.iie.org/ cies. U.S. citizenship is required. Non-U.S. citizens should contact the Fulbright agency or U.S. embassy in their home countries. The Fulbright Scholar Program is sponsored by the United States Depart-ment of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, 3007 Tilden St., N. W., Suite 5L, Washington, DC 20008-3009, 202/686-7877; Fax 202/362-3442, www.iie.org/ cies.

Teachers Talking about Learning
Join teachers from around the globe to explore ideas, discuss issues, and take actions about their learning experiences with students. Teachers Talking About Learning is a Web site sponsored by UNICEF to support the professional development of teachers around the world. Go to www.unicef.org/teachers/.

Keeping Current
Written by a team of educators and Time editors, the Time school publishing program uses a cross-curricular guide to analyze social studies, history, government, economics, and science events covered in Time Magazine. Weekly copies of Time
are available to participating classes at a discounted rate. For more information, or to subscribe, call 800/882-0852.

Fulbright Memorial Fund
To date, 2,900 American primary and secondary school teachers and administrators have been selected to participate in a unique three-week study-visit to Japan sponsored by the Fulbright Memorial Fund Program (FMF).

This year, the program will identify another 600 teachers who are interested in integrating international experience into the classroom and send them on the 2002 trips. The FMF Teacher Program, which is fully funded by the Japanese govern-ment, aims to increase understanding between Japan and the United States by exposing American teachers to the educational system and culture of Japan. The FMF program is designed to extend far beyond the educators who participate. Participants are asked to commit themselves to sharing what they have learned with their students, colleagues and schools.

Primary and secondary school teachers and administrators are encouraged to submit applications for the 2002 FMF study visits (June, October, and November).

Interested individuals may request a 2002 application packet by calling the Institute of International Education at 888/527-2636 or by visiting www.iie.org/pgms/fmf/. The deadline for applications is December 18, 2001.

Sorting It Out
Oceans of information spill into our students' hands daily. The question is what to do with all of it. The George Lucas Educational Foundation suggests an article by NEA member Nancy Schrock that teaches students how to question, search, evaluate, and properly cite information they find both on and offline. Go to: http://glef.org/illiteracy.html.

Plays Like a Girl
The phrase "playing like a girl" has taken on a whole new meaning. Once used as an insult on the elementary school playground, it is now the driving force behind Jane Gottesman's new book Game Face, What Does a Female Athlete Look Like?

The book contains pictures of female athletes compiled by Gottesman.

It includes work by some of America's most celebrated photographers, including Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams.
Calling All Student 'Cooks' Newman's Own, the charitable foundation set up by actor Paul Newman, is giving young people a chance to change the world.

This fall, Newman's Own is launching a community-action program to encourage charitable entrepreneuership and innovative giving. The first annual "Cookin' Up a Better World'' program challenges high school students in the Northeast to develop a creative "recipe for success'' that will change their local communities.

Newman's Own is challenging students to think "outside the box" and come up with imaginative ways to either raise money or uniquely serve a charitable organization. Newman's Own will recognize the most creative ideas by either matching the funds raised or by making a contribution to the charity in the school's name. Newman's Own will award 24 grants, ranging in value from $250 to $1,000 each. These grants will fund local community action programs and will put the winning students' plans into action. All high schools in New York and New England are eligible. Deadline is December 7, 2001.

To find out more information, call the "Cookin' Up a Better World'' hotline at 888/241-3215 or log on to www.newmansown.com or www.youthmedia.com for details.

AAUW Fellowships
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation's Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships program rewards the work of outstanding women public school teachers by supporting their professional development and by funding projects designed to promote gender equity in classrooms and schools.

This year, their professional development fellowships will provide up to $5,000 to fund attendance at the five-day Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Institute and Forum on Educational Equity held in July 2002 in Washington, DC; support additional professional development activities (such as workshops, courses, conferences); and provide seed money for planning a gender-equity school-based program. Application deadline: January 10, 2002. Go to www.aauw.org/3000/fdnfelgra/ertf.html.

Grants/Awards

Free Speech
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) provides grants of up to $10,000 to support innovative school and/or community-based programs that promote education and equity for women and girls.

Women of color and women from other under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Application deadline: January 15, 2002. Go to www.aauw.org/3000/fdnfelgra/cag.html.

First Amendment Grants
The First Amendment Schools project, co-sponsored by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the First Amendment Center, will award ten grants of $12,000 each.

Project schools will use the grant funds, along with other resources the project provides, to transform how the school community models and teaches students the rights and responsibilities that flow from the First Amendment. Applications are due March 15, 2002. http://webserver2.ascd.org/web/firstamendment/abouttheproject.cfm.

Technology Grants
Information on up-to-the-minute grant programs, funding sources, and technology funding is available at www.eschoolnews.org/funding.

K-12 Funding Opportunities Here's an all-purpose source of K-12 funding opportunities with links to grant-seeking for teachers, learning technology, and more. Go to http:// fdncenter.org/pnd/ 20000328/funding.html.

Ed Department Grants
Along with a wealth of other information, the United States Depart-ment of Education Web site pro- vides comprehensive information on applying for grants and listings of current funding opportunities.
Go to www.ed. gov/funding.html.

Looking for Help?
Here's a good place to start for a collection of resources and tips for K-12 educators. You can apply for and obtain special grants for a variety of projects. Go to www.schoolgrants.org

The Foundation Center
An independent nonprofit information clearinghouse on grants available throughout the United States. With headquarters in New York, and additional libraries in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Cleveland, and San Francisco, the center offers publications, including directories of foundation and corporate grantmakers, research advice, custom research and database searching. The Web site includes online training in grantseeking, proposal writing, and funding research as well as an online librarian. www.fdncenter.org

E-mail: library@fdncenter.org
Phone: (800) 424-9836 or (212) 620-4230
The Foundation Center, 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003-3076

Government Information Services/Education Funding Research Council (GIS/EFRC)
Offers a complete listing of all GIS/EFRC publications that focus on grant and funding issues. GIS/EFRC publication subscribers have access to a special section that provides resources such as grant deadlines, highlights of funding issues and links to related Web sites.

www.grantsandfunding.com
Phone: (800) 876-0226
GIS/EFRC, P.O. Box 22782, Tampa, FL 33622

Technology & Learning Online
The online version of the print magazine contains a Grants and Contests section with a searchable database of regularly updated grant, scholarship, professional development and other funding opportunities for both educators and students. The site recently integrated with Gwen Solomon's Well Connected Educator, producing a much more extensive site that includes an interactive forum, software reviews, and other resources. Published eight times a year. www.techlearning.com
About Us

A Word From George Lucas

People

Speakers' Bureau

Press Room
WEB SITES WITH GRANT INFORMATION

www.fdncenter.org
E-mail: library@fdncenter.org
Phone: (800) 424-9836 or (212) 620-4230
The Foundation Center, 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003-3076

www.grantsandfunding.com
Phone: (800) 876-0226
GIS/EFRC, P.O. Box 22782, Tampa, FL 33622

FastWEB
The largest online scholarship search available, with 400,000 scholarships representing over one billion in scholarship dollars. Provides students with accurate, regularly updated information on scholarships, grants, and fellowships suited to their goals and qualifications, all at no cost to the student.

www.fastweb.com
E-mail: webmaster@fastweb.com
Phone: (847) 785-8000
FastWEB, 2550 Commonwealth Avenue, North Chicago, IL 60064

SchoolGrants
A collection of resources and tips to help K-12 educators apply for and obtain special grants for a variety of projects. The site offers various fundraising ideas, sample proposals, grant writing tips and scholarship information.

www.schoolgrants.org
E-mail: help@schoolgrants.org

WestEd
WestEd is a non-profit research, development and service agency dedicated to improving education and other opportunities for children, youth and adults. The Funding, Grants and Reports section of their Web site provides a listing of corporate and foundation grant sources, publications, and links to grant information on the Web, as well as "Tips on preparing a successful proposal."

www.wested.org/tie/grant.html
E-mail: dlrn@wested.org

Periodicals with Grant Information

Electronic Learning
Electronic Learning, a pull-out section of, but also distributed separately from Instructor Magazine, focuses on the use of technology in the classroom. The EL Web site will soon be expanded to include grant information.

www.teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor.htm
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc., Jefferson City, MO
E-mail: InstructorEditor@scholastic.com
Phone: (800) 541-5513
Scholastic, Inc., 2931 East McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102

MultiMedia Schools
This print magazine, published five times a year, addresses multiple technologies used in K-12 schools today. Selected full-text content is now available online. Includes a NewsWatch section, which posts technology-related funding news and links.

www.infotoday.com/MMSchools
Publisher: Information Today, Inc., Medford, NJ
Phone: (609) 654-6266

www.techlearning.com
Publisher: Miller Freeman, Inc., San Francisco, CA
Phone: (800) 607-4410
Miller Freeman, Inc., 600 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

Corporate and Foundation Grants

Corning Foundation
The Corning Foundation educational grants support community service programs for students, curriculum enrichment, student scholarships, facility improvement, and instructional technology projects for the classroom. The Foundation directs resources primarily toward initiatives that improve the quality of life near Corning Incorporated locations. Each year, the Foundation fulfills approximately 225 grants totaling some $2,250,000. Support goes to institutions that are tax-exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and which are public charities as defined in Section 509(a) of the Code.

Polaris Grants Central
Polaris specializes in organizational grant programs working with schools to get grant funding for curriculum development. They also work with non-profits and health care organizations to fund clinics or health education programs. Polaris provides step-by-step, how-to instruction and training in grants acquisition, they publish how-to books and other publications, provide technical assistance and support services to help people acquire grant funding, and they provide online advice on their Web site.

www.polarisgrantscentral.net

TVTips

The Buffalo War
PBS, November 1, 10:00 p.m., ET, check local listings
This program examines the culture clash between Native Americans, ranchers, environmentalists, and government officials, battling over the yearly slaughter of America's last wild bison. The documentary explores the controversy by joining a 500-mile spiritual march across Montana by Lakota Sioux Indians who object to the slaughter. Along the way, they meet a group of environmental activists and a family of ranchers who must find a way to coexist with buffaloes.

The Other Side of Africa
CNN, CNN Newsroom, week of November 5, 4:30 a.m., ET.
This CNN Newsroom presentation explores some less-exposed aspects of Africa. The program profiles a world of ancient cultures, economic success, and community outreach, looking at the continent's many cultures, ancient architecture and successful industries. Support materials including lesson plans, suggested classroom activities, plus links to maps and resources can be found at www. CNNfyi.com.

War Letters
PBS, November 11, 9:00 p.m., ET.
Based on Andrew Carroll's recent bestseller, War Letters, Extraordinary Correspon-dence from American Wars, this one-hour special transcends the subject of war.

It explores the love, passion, horror, and hope of men and women who fought and those who waited at home, through a collection of newly uncovered personal letters of soldiers, sweethearts, sons, brothers, fathers, wives, and friends.

The Impressionists: The Road to Impressionism
A&E, November 12-15, 7:00 a.m., ET.
This two-hour special explores the life of the Impressionist art movement and its creators, including Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Berthe Morisot, among others. Filmed in Impres-sionist locales in France and elsewhere, this documentary uses a wide array of paintings, period photographs, beautifully filmed scenes, newspaper reviews, and diary and letter excerpts from the artists themselves. Also included are in-depth interviews with art historians.

Mystery of the Alaskan Mummies
The Discovery Channel, November 18, 9:00 p.m., ET.
Hundreds of mummies have been found in the Aleutian Islands off the Alaskan coast, preserved in much the same way as Egyptian mummies, only in a harsher climate. These mummies, curled in the fetal position, bear testimony to a sophisticated, 9,000-year old Unangan culture that once thrived there. This one-hour special presents the first comprehensive look at the Alaskan mummies, their remote island home and the scientists who have charted the fate of the ancient Unangan people.

My Uncle Silas
PBS, November 26, 9:00 p.m., ET.
Based on the popular stories by H.E. Bates, this Exxon/Mobil Masterpiece Theatre presentation tells the story of ten-year-old Edward, who comes to stay with his roguish Uncle Silas for adventures in poaching, courting, drinking, fighting, and occasionally working.

Precious Cargo
PBS, November, check local listings
In conjunction with National Adoption month, this one-hour special follows a group of Vietnamese young people adopted by American families at the end of the Vietnam War who travel back to their homeland in search of their personal history. While visiting orphanages and maternity hospitals, this documentary also tells the story of Operation Babylift, which brought 2,700 children to America after the war. Viewers are introduced to many of the adoptive parents who began a movement that has grown to redefine the American family by embracing these biracial, sometimes disabled children.

Native American History
CNN, CNN Newsroom, November, 4:30 a.m., ET.
In conjunction with Native American History Month, this CNN Newsroom presentation takes a look at Native Americans past and present, looking specifically at the resurgence of Native American culture in mainstream society. A companion Web site can be found by going to www.CNNfyi.com.

Voyage of Life
CNN, CNN Newsroom, November, 4:30 a.m., ET.
This CNN Newsroom presentation explores the scientific and ethical questions surrounding current genetic research, emphasizing the anthropological debate over the implications of this research. Part One reports on the dramatic progress in mapping the human genome and implications for genetic engineering and gene enhancement. Part Two examines the growing debate over "intelligent design," a view that challenges the basis of Darwin's theories. A companion Web site can be found at www.CNNfyi.com. free or inexpensive

In from the Cold
Wondering what to do when your young students are kept in during the upcoming winter days? Winter Day Play may be the answer. The paperback book is full of activities, crafts, and games to keep kids busy learning and having fun-indoors and out. Ages 3 and up. 160 pp. from Chicago Review Press. $13.95.

Science Fair Ideas
Are your students out of original ideas for their student science fair projects? Here's a batch of 100 fresh science fair projects that students will enjoy doing even as they learn scientific principles. Included in 100 Award-Winning Science Fair Projects are ideas for building a working sundial and directions for molding a mountain range and then creating a topographic map of it. $21.95 from Sterling Publishing: www.sterling.com. $21.95.

Internet Basics
You can help your students make their way around the Internet with A Student's Guide to the Internet. Chock full of ideas, this handy guide explains the basics. Among the topics: how to conduct searches of the Net's vast resources, and simple ways to create Web sites. Net safety wraps up the 140-page resource from Twenty-First Century Books. $23.90. Go to: Millbrookpress.com.

Learning and Literacy
Award-winning educator Steven L. Layne has delighted teachers all over the United States with his poetry readings and presentations. In his book, Life's Literacy Lessons: Poems for Teachers, he has gathered 40 favorite poems about literacy teaching and learning into a collection full of honesty and wit that will touch and inspire educators at all grade levels. 72 pages from the International Reading Association, 302/731-1600. $9.95.

Nature Under A Microscope
You can discover and explore new frontiers in science by looking through the lenses of powerful microscopes to view, for instance, one grain of pollen or the delicate hairs on a blade of grass. Hidden Worlds-Looking Through a Scientist's Microscope takes you behind the scenes of a photographer's work and explains how remarkable images of microscopic life and objects are captured. $16 from any bookstore or at www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com.

Web Winners

Talking about Tough Issues
Click on www.talkingwithkids.org for excellent resources to help initiate conversations with your students, including subjects such as the recent violent attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Other topics on this site include drugs, alcohol, HIV/AIDS, and sex.

World Sites
The U.S. Department of State provides information on www.state.gov/travel.cfm that includes travel emergencies and warnings; passport and visa information; U.S. embassy and consulate Web sites; and many important related links. You can get the most recent current travel guidelines that may come in handy, especially if you plan to travel abroad.

College Savings Programs
You can learn how to save for your kids' college education now and not be caught in a financial bind later. Go to www.collegesavings.org or call the College Savings Plan Network on this Web site.

Consumer Guide
The 2001 Consumer Action Handbook is now available online. It provides advice to consumers on car repair, home improvement and financing, shopping from home, and much more. Also included is the Consumer Assistance Directory, which lists names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web sites of national consumer organizations, trade associations, state and Federal agencies, etc. Go to www.pueblo.gsa.gov/crh/ respref.htm.

Reading Rockets
This Web site provides practical guidance on teaching kids to read, using research-based methods. It also provides advice and tips for meeting the needs of struggling readers and what to do if a deeper problem is suspected. Access to some of the research on this subject is offered via links to other helpful sites. Go to www.readingrockets.org.

Strange but True
Did you know that bats always turn left when exiting a cave? Have some fun with this Web site, which is packed with factoids that it says are-strange but true! Go to www.strangefacts.com.

Antique Collecting Guides
These guides provide essential background for both new and seasoned collectors. Featured guides include Asian ceramics and furniture; clocks; prints; European ceramics and furniture; jewelry; Old Master paintings; and others. Visit www.sothebys.com/connoisseur/guides.

Kids Aid
The KIDSAID Web site is a safe place for kids to share and to help each other deal with grief about any of their losses. It is a place to share and deal with feelings, to show artwork and stories, to talk about pets, to meet with one's peers. There are also some games and contests. Go to http://kidsaid.com.

Staying Healthy
Get extensive advice on what to do when kids have health problems and what to do to help keep them healthy in the first place. There are special sections for kids, teens, and parents. This site deals with everything from asthma to hiccups. Visit http://kidshealth.org.

Online Dictionary of Difficult Words
Search the Hutchinson Dictionary of Difficult Words A to Z index of almost 14,000 difficult words to increase and improve your vocabulary or to find out exactly what those words really mean! Go to www.lineone.net/dictionaryof/difficultwords/index/html.

Someone Can Steal Your Identity!
This Web site is the U.S. Government's central Web site for information on identity theft. Learn how to minimize your risk; what to do if you're a victim; how to file a complaint; and check out other related links. Go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Learn CPR
You can learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and learn how to save someone's life at http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/index.html. CPR is a no-nonsense lifesaver, and you can get some online instruction at this site. While this book isn't a substitute for live, comprehensive training, the site does offer information about the basics in an illustrated format.

PBS Online
Visit PBS online at www.pbs.org and search this Web site full of art, history, nature, science, travel, and many other topics. There's a kids' PBS link, an adult learning service link, and a teacher source link. Visit the hourly newscast and check TV schedules. You can even reinvent your own class picture!

Kids Search Engine
Kids Click! is a Web search site for kids, designed by librarians. It contains over 600 subjects from current events, the arts, math and science, to entertainment. Go to http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/ KidsClick!

NEA Today: Learning: Reading - November 2001

Tue, 07 Dec 2004 05:00:00 GMT

QUICK
CLICKS

Learning: Reading
What Makes a Classic?

A new generation of readers discovers magic, from Harry Potter to The Wizard of Oz.

This fall, book-lovers are finding that a wave of classics have been re-released by publishers. Here's a list of some of the best, and what makes them classics.

The Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
It's the 100th anniversary for Dorothy, Toto, and their travel companions. Baum's tale has been revered by authors and illustrators alike for its imagery and imagination, and many publishers have issued versions with their interpretations. The official centennial edition has been released by HarperCollins, 267 pp. $24.95.

The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Before The Lord of the Rings was a movie blockbuster, there was, of course, Tolkien's trilogy. But before that trilogy came The Hobbit, where Tolkien set the stage with the adventures of the memorable Bilbo Baggins that continue to captivate readers. Houghton Mifflin, 320 pp., $14.40.

The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White
This beloved masterpiece, featuring gentle Louis the trumpeter swan, tells a timeless story of friendship. That's probably why a new animated TV series is coming out based on the book. But the book is better. HarperCollins, 199 pp. $5.95.

Higglety, Pigglety, Pop
by Maurice Sendak
This was Sendak's first classic, and one of many Sendak creations that have fired children's imaginations with unique characters. Even though his style goes against the tide of bright colors and flashy pictures often found in children's books, his appeal has endured. Now Sendak himself has selected which of his titles to re-release, such as In Grandpa's House (done with his father), The Happy Rain (done with his brother), and A Hole is to Dig (done with writer Ruth Kraus). HarperCollins, $10 to $25.

Good Night Moon,
My World,
Two Little Trains
by Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown broke the mold of children's books by creating more challenging text and concepts for even the youngest child. Publishers from HarperCollins to Hyperion have re-issued many of her works, some with new illustrations and interpretations. HarperCollins, 32 pp., $15.95 each.

The Moffats
by Eleanor Estes
The wacky exploits of the Moffat family have delighted readers for years and garnered Estes a number of awards. She wrote five books about the Moffats, including The Moffat Museum, Rufus M., and The Middle Moffat. Harcourt, 232 pp., $6 each.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by DeLoss McGraw.
Carroll's strange tale of Alice takes on a startling new look, thanks to McGraw's brilliant, bizarre illustrations. HarperCollins, 192 pp., $19.95.

The Harry Potter Series
by J.K. Rowling
What's a new series like Rowling's doing in a column of classics? Featuring names like Quidditch and Dumbledore, her rich world of wizards and muggles have captivated readers of all ages in a what will no doubt be an enduring saga of good and evil. Soon to come, the fifth in the series: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Scholastic, $24.95 each title.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
This coming-of-age novel set in the tenements of New York City follows young Francie as she learns about life and love in the 1920s and '30s. The new version features an introduction by Anna Quindlen. Scholastic, 159 pp. $15.95.

Eloise
by Kay Thompson
A new generation is discovering this precocious and pretentious resident of New York's Plaza Hotel. And for better or worse, she's still got appeal--kids still go to the Plaza Hotel to look for her. Simon & Schuster, 44 pp., $17.

The Book of Rhythms
by Langston Hughes
A new foreword by musician Wynton Marsalis introduces Hughes's rich description of the rhythm and music of words, and a sampling of his poetry. Oxford, 64 pp., $9.95.

The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
Keats artwork brightens this and other titles featuring the loving adventures of Peter, his family, and his dog, Willie. Penguin, 32 pp., $6.99. Also great: John Henry: An American Legend, which brings the tale alive for younger readers. Knopf, 32 pp., $5.99.

The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
It's the 25th anniversary of this book about friendship and sacrifice, and HarperCollins has re-released the book with a CD of Silverstein reading the book. HarperCollins, 32 pp., $25.99.

--Anita Merina

NEA Reading Room

With all this talk of classics, let's not forget our good friend Dr. Seuss and his tales of Seussian delight. The Random House editions of The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Yertle the Turtle continue to captivate readers.

Looking for more information to share with your students? Interested in reading tips for parents? The NEA Reading Room, a brand new feature of the NEA Read Across America Web site, offers author interviews, book lists, and reading tips.

Plus, you'll find a wide range of reading activities to celebrate NEA's Read Across America literacy effort year-round, and materials for the grand Seuss-celebration taking place March 1next year. Go to www.nea.org/readacross.

Q & A
A Cautionary Tale

A "classic" is supposed to be a book that's stood the test of time. Surprisingly, many of the books we deem "classics" haven't passed that test. They're more the beneficiaries of marketing hype. So says Leonard S. Marcus, noted children's book historian and book critic for Parenting magazine, who spoke recently with NEA Today's Anita Merina.

Why the caution on classics?
If you look at all of the books now labeled classics, you'll find that some of the attention is richly deserved--while others don't truly warrant the fuss they receive.

Most of the books listed on these pages are true classics, because they've remained fresh and fascinating through the years. But classics are often a mixed bag.

This is particularly true of award-winning books such as Newbery and Caldecott winners. Just because they've received an award doesn't mean they're classics or should become required reading, particularly in schools.

Why not? What's wrong with exposing students to such books?
It's not the book, it's the attitude. Too often, children are asked to read the Newbery winners or the classics with the message that they're supposed to like them. When a child doesn't, instead of questioning the teacher or librarian, the child begins to wonder, "What's wrong with me?"

Maurice Sendak had a wonderful reply when told of a child who didn't like Where the Wild Things Are. He said he would rather the child throw the book away than be forced to like it. At least the first reaction was an authentic one.

With so many excellent new writers, why reissue so many classics?
Many publishers like to trade on known names. That's why you see so many different publishers producing versions of E.B.

White classics or books by Margaret Wise Brown.
As I was working on my biography of Brown [Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon], I discovered more and more people were interested in marketing her work because of the popularity of Good Night Moon. It meant, to me, that you can sell a lot of things when you have an accomplished name.

There are some truly creative examples of her work, such as Hyperion's Scarecrow Boy, illustrated by David Diaz. But there have been more second-rate works of hers published than truly needed to be published.

What are some good reissues?
One good example can be found in the new Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by DeLoss McGraw. This artist used really wild illustrations to challenge the reader. Another is the reissue of the Trumpet of the Swan, this time illustrated by Fred Marcellino. Fred's illustrations are much better than the original illustrations of the book.

Anything make you cringe?
Books based on movies that have little to do with the original book. Shrek and Stuart Little are good examples. The movies are great, with real technical firepower but the follow-up books, particularly in the case of Shrek, don't have much of a connection.

Why is Harry Potter already reaching classic status?
Because you've got a great story in the hands of a gifted writer. I'm enjoying Rowling's books because she is an engaging narrator. I think of her as the host of a party introducing us to many wonderful characters. Even now, her books reach out to disenfranchised readers and hold on to them.

Leonard Marcus's forthcoming book Side by Side (Walker & Co.) describes collaborations between authors and illustrators.

Grappling with Grief

Books that help children of all ages deal with grief and loss.

Writers and publishers have discovered that an enormous number of children deal with grief and loss. Ironically, their book titles have appeared at a time in the nation's history when we need them a great deal. Some of the best:

What Have You Lost?
by Naomi Shihab Nye
A collection of poems about loss-loss of life, of love, of innocence, of things that have mattered to a person at one time-and finding something in return. Shihab Nye had spent years collecting these poems, some by veteran writers, others by teens. HarperCollins, 206 pp., $9.95.

The Color of Absence
edited by James Howe
A collection stories by well-known writers, including Walter Dean Myers, Avi, and Katherine Patterson, who know that loss is a familiar theme for adolescents. Atheneum, 238 pp., $16.

Goodbye Mousie
by Robie H. Harris
A young child deals with the death of his favorite pet and the feelings that follow. Simon & Schuster, 32 pp., $16.

Grandma's Purple Flowers
by Adjoa J. Burrowes
In this story about life, death, and renewal, a young girl mourns the death of her grandmother--and discovers that keeping her grandmother's garden is a way of keeping grandma's spirit alive. Lee and Low, 32 pp., $16.

Ghost Wings
by Barbara M. Joosse
A young girl loses her grandmother but gains an understanding of celebrating her life in Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities. Simon & Schuster, 32 pp., $16.

A Story for Hippo: A Book About Loss
by Simon Puttock
This picture book tells the story of best friends Hippo and Monkey. When Hippo dies, Monkey learns what to do about his sad feelings and how to remember his friend. Scholastic, 32 pp., $15.95.

Saying It Out Loud
by Joan Abelove
Written for young adult readers, this is the poignant story of one young woman struggling to come to grips with the loss of her mother. Penguin Putnam, 136 pp., $5.99.

When Children Grieve
by John W. James and Russell Friedman
The authors of The Grief Recovery Book offer comforting advice for adults struggling to help children deal with death, divorce, moving, and other losses. HarperCollins, 268 pp., $24.

Helping Children Cope with the Loss of a Loved One
by William C. Kroen, Ph.D., LMHC
This guide for grown-ups uses anecdotes to assist parents, teachers, counselors, and other adults in helping a child cope with the death of a parent, sibling, or friend. Free Spirit Publishing, 100 pp., $13.95.

Pique Your Imagination

New and noteworthy titles pour forth from publishers.

Looking for a few good books? You don't have to look far. These books offer a welcome respite from overhyped television and movie tie-ins and a challenge to readers young and old. Their authors provide refreshing glimpses of new and old worlds and tell stories that take readers on an enjoyable ride. Coupled with the lush, varied work of skilled illustrators, these books are worth a look.

Fiction

Where on Earth Is My Bagel?
by Frances Park and Ginger Park
A Korean boy's craving for a New York bagel sends his village on a culinary quest that leads all the way to Manhattan. Lee and Low, 32 pp., $16.

Fishing in the Air
by Sharon Creech
A young boy goes on an unusual fishing trip with his father, where the lines blow about in the wind and the illustrations stretch the imagination. HarperCollins, 32 pp., $16.

Kit's Wilderness
by David Almond
A challenging yet enjoyable book for teens, this sequel to Almond's popular book Skellig follows 13-year old Kit Watson and his friends as they grapple with the harsh realities of their lives and toy with the mysteries of death and magic. Delacorte Press, 229 pp., $4.99.

A Movie on My Pillow: Una pelicula en mi almohada
By Jorge Agueta
A young boy holds onto his Salvadoran heritage even as he carves out a new life in San Francisco, the two lands forming a patchwork of dreams. Children's Book Press, 32 pp., $15.95.

Troy
by Adele Geras
A gripping account of the Trojan War, this time seen through the eyes of Trojan women.The book follows orphan sisters Xanthe and Marpessa, who work in the household of a Trojan family. Harcourt, 352 pp., $17.

What My Mother Doesn't Know
by Sonia Sones
The poetic sequel to Sones' acclaimed first book, Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy. This time, Sones looks at love in her collection of poems. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 259 pp., $8.99.

The Master Swordsman and The Magic Doorway
Retold and illustrated by Alice Provensen.
Two legends from ancient China are retold with lush detail. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 32 pp., $16.

Non-ficition

Wounded Knee
by Neil Waldman
A fascinating look at the events and clashes of culture that led up to the tragedies of Wounded Knee. A portion of the book proceeds go to the Oglala Lakota College Endowment Fund. Atheneum Books, 54 pp., $18.

Brooklyn Bridge
by Lynn Curlee
A celebration of one of the most famous landmarks and grandest sights in New York City, this book follows the history of the Brooklyn Bridge and features a now-poignant view of the World Trade Center. Simon & Schuster, 40 pp., $18.

The Hope Tree-Kids Talk about Breast Cancer
by Laura Numeroff and Wendy S. Harpham, M.D.
Children's author Laura Numeroff and physician Wendy Harpham offer a forum for children to write and illustrate their feelings about their moms' breast cancers. Proceeds go to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Simon & Schuster, 32 pp., $12.

Anne Frank in the World
by the Anne Frank House
This poignant photo essay follows Anne Frank from 1929 to 1945, and includes more than 250 photos, many of them never before published. Knopf, 54 pp., $18.95.

Mansa Mura
By Khephra Burns
This book, lavishly illustrated by Leo
& Diane Dillon, chronicles the life of Mansa Mura, one of Africa's most celebrated kings, his escape from slave traders, and path to greatness. Harcourt, 56 pp., $18.

Storm Maker's Tipi
by Paul Goble
In this beautifully illustrated book, a detailed description on pitching a tipi accompanies Goble's retelling of the American Indian legend of the Storm Maker, who granted the first tipi to the Blackfoot people to protect them from bad weather. Simon & Schuster, 40 pp. $18.

Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People
by Bonnie Christensen
This picture-book biography follows the life of this unassuming man who championed the poor with his music. The book is illustrated with hand-tinted woodcut-like illustrations and includes the lyrics to Guthrie's songs. Random House, 32 pp., $15.95.

Bad Boy
by Walter Dean Myers
The acclaimed children's author talks about his own childhood and how he turned to books and writing for answers. HarperCollins, 224 pp., $8.99.

Out of This World Yet Part of It, Too
John Scieszka and Lane Smith have created the ultimate alien. In telling Henry P. Baloney's story, Scieszka uses real words from Swahili to Italian, teaching kids that reading new words can be great fun. Penguin Putnam, 32 pp., $18.

Sudden Impact

This poem, nestled in Shihab Nye's What Have You Lost? captures a moment of loss, and the realization that in a single moment, one's world has changed.

Sudden

If it had been a heart attack, the newspaper might have used the word massive,
as if a mountain range
had opened inside her, but instead
it used the word suddenly, a light coming on
in an empty room. The telephone

fell from my shoulder, a black parrot repeating
something happened, something awful
a Sunday, dusky. If it had been
terminal, we could have cradled her
as she grew smaller, wiped her mouth,
said goodbye. But it was sudden,

how overnight we could be orphaned
& the world become a bell we'd crawl inside
& the ringing all we'd eat.

Nick Flynn

NEA Today: Learning: Problems and Solutions - November 2001

Tue, 07 Dec 2004 05:00:00 GMT

QUICK
CLICKS

Learning
Scheduled for Success

A year-round school calendar helps low-income Denver students achieve.

In 1995, the faculty of Colfax Elementary School in Denver, Colorado launched an intensive campaign to enlist parent support. They weren't talking about coming to parent-teacher conferences or monitoring homework, important as those are. What they wanted was approval for a new school calendar that they believed could boost student achievement.

School calendars generally have a lot to do with tradition and very little to do with the learning needs of students, note these educators. But the calendar that Colfax finally adopted is specifically designed for the school's children.

It's a year-round calendar with nine- or ten-week periods of school, alternating with two- or three-week breaks. Summer vacation is only six weeks.

Colfax is in a low-income neighborhood. Studies have long documented that student achievement falls back during long summer vacations for many low-income students, and Colfax was no exception. Teachers had to spend the first month of school reteaching many concepts.

Because the breaks are shorter now, students retain more. And when students return to school, "they actually still remember how to behave," says Becky Wissink, who was a Title I teacher when the change took place. She now leads the Denver Class-room Teachers Association.

Colfax in the past also faced a special problem: many of its families are from Mexico, and many parents took their children out of school around Christmas to visit relatives in Mexico. The new longer mid-winter break has resulted in lower absenteeism.

With creative use of grant money, Colfax is able to run special programs during the breaks to give many students extra help and keep them connected to academics. In one recent program, third grade teacher Diane Palmer helped students learn about the United States. Reading, music, and dance were all incorporated in her lesson plans. Then she had her students paint a huge map of the United States on the blacktop outside of the school.

"These programs add about 20 extra days to our calendar," says Palmer. "Any student is welcome to join. The focus is both learning and having fun."

Of course, the calendar can't solve all of the school's problems. For one, students are constantly moving in and out. With parents forced to move because their jobs end or housing becomes unaffordable, Colfax has a 160 percent annual turnover. Wissink says about 70 percent of the students who start the year are still in class at the end, but the other 30 percent turn over several times.

The school has made other improvements besides the new calendar, such as starting full-day kindergarten. But Wissink believes the new schedule deserves much of the credit for keeping Colfax off the Colorado list of schools with low achievement scores.

The idea of switching to a year-round calendar came from a teacher at an informal after school get-together at a restaurant where Colfax staff members were discussing some of the problems they were facing.

It was an idea that took off. There were, however, concerns from parents. Many were not sure what they would do with their children during the breaks. Wissink maintained that the school was not a child-care institution, and parents were encouraged to send their children to the intersession programs, which partially solved the problem.

Eighty-five percent approval
The superintendent told the staff that 85 percent of the families with children at the school had to agree before the schedule change could take effect.

That was a tall order. "You can't get 85 percent to agree on a flavor of ice cream, let alone changing the school calendar," Wissink notes.

On the first try, 70 percent of the families gave their approval-not enough. Then teachers got on the phone, and the principal went door-to-door in the community, until finally they got the number they needed.

Wissink says the new schedule has been good for teachers as well as students. "You give it your all for nine weeks. Then you have two or three weeks off to get revitalized," she says.

"Sometimes, people don't want to lose the long summer vacation, but you have to live through the whole cycle to see what it's like-including the long breaks in the fall, winter, and spring.

"Most schools come back in the winter on January 2. But with the year-round schedule, you have another week after all the festivities to pull yourself together."

Wissink and Palmer have visited other schools to tell teachers and parents about the benefits of the revised calendar. In 1995, Colfax was the only Denver school with a year-round schedule. Today, there are 13.

"I think these schools saw how much Colfax benefited and decided to try it themselves," says Palmer.

"This is the best thing we have done, for both students and teachers."

-Urmila Subramanyam

For More:
E-mail Wissink: bwissink@ nea.org.

Idea Exchange

Vertical Forest
To teach my third and fourth graders about the layers of the rainforest, I chose four students of varying heights. The tallest stood behind the rest with his arms reaching up, representing the emergent level. I had the next tallest stand in front of the emergent level with hands spread horizontally: the canopy. A shorter child knelt in front with hands down at the side: the understory. The shortest child sat with crossed legs in front of the understory: the forest floor. After this modeling, students acted out the layers in groups of four.

Alexis Schoen
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

Book Source
My students and I devised a way to increase our library at no cost.

At the beginning of the year, I send home a letter asking families to search for children's chapter books that are no longer used and donate them to the library. As each book arrives, the student's name is placed on the inside cover, along with a note on how well they liked the book. I find students are more likely to read books that their friends have read.

Not only has our library grown, but students have formed voluntary discussion groups.

Jennie Eddy
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Seating Charts
After many instances of students switching seats (with a substitute teacher), I finally developed a foolproof plan.

Our office has a computer CD with a photograph record for all students (supplied by the yearbook company).

Using cut-out pictures printed from the CD and a glue stick, I now have a seating chart that includes names and pictures.

When I need to change it, I just peel up the photos and relocate the students to their new seats. No more switching-seats tricks, and fewer problems for my substitute.

Laura Smith
Reedsport, Oregon

Spelling Test Bingo
My class plays Spelling Test Bingo. I create a blank Bingo board and make copies. Students number the boxes and pick where to write their spelling words.

We exchange papers and correct them. If a word is misspelled, it's rewritten correctly. Then the papers are returned.

I write the spelling words on small pieces of paper, place them in a hat, and pull them out. When a student gets Bingo, he or she must stand up and spell out all the words correctly in order to win a prize.

The class loves this game, and it's great for test review.

Vickie Hugo
Buttonwillow, California

Military Cheer
Just before the holidays, I had students collect and mail generic "Happy Holiday" cards to soldiers. Students signed and wrote a note in the cards but provided no personal information, and we used the school's return address. We then sent a package of cards to "Any Soldier" for the soldier to share with his or her friends. We found the mailing addresses for the Naval fleet on its Web site (www.navy.mil).

Students also took cards to the local VA hospital. It's a great feeling to pass on good cheer to those who protect our freedom.

Christy Goodney
Vancouver, Washington

Updating History
I bypass the argument that specific historical data isn't needed in the everyday workplace by focusing on writing.

I emphasize to students that the knowledge they gain in American history is not simply factual, but broad to help them understand human nature.

I remind students that we are a communication-oriented society. E-mail and faxes need to be written clearly and concisely.

Students report research by using a Power Point presentation or by building a Web page. Through this they learn the information and valuable technological skills.

Mar Van Over
Phoenix, Arizona

Works4ForMe

Have a great idea?
You can pass along your tip to NEA Today's 2.6 million readers in one of five ways:

By mail:
NEA Today, 1201 16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036

By phone: 202/822-7201

By fax: 202/822-7206

By E-mail: Ideas@list.nea.org

Through the Web: www.nea.org/neatoday

How do you cut a student from a sports team, or any team?

If you have just cause, it should be simple. Talk to the student when other students are not around, but I would have an adult witness there. Tell them the reasons they are being removed, specifically.
Then you must be the adult and hold your ground. If your students are like mine, they will "one more chance and I'll do better" you to death, but rarely change significantly.

If you don't have just cause, don't do it.

Jason Vandergrift
Middle school science teacher
Cumming, Georgia

First, speak with the team about expectations and standards. Then, speak privately with the student and explain how you view the shortcomings. Ask him or her for input, and then state clearly what must be changed or achieved to stay a team member. You might both need to sign a contract stating standard, time frame, and consequence.
I have used this approach with students being excluded from cooperative learning groups in the regular education classroom.

With one third grader who was totally mainstreamed but quite obstinate, I went to her classroom at the beginning of each day and before and after each recess to review our agreement with her.

After we started this, she no longer created a disruption when excluded from some group activities.

Joyce Lorenzen
Special education teacher
Corvallis, Oregon

I coach middle school girls soccer and boys baseball. Each year, I must turn down half of the students who want to participate.
So I "lay it on the line" at the first tryout. I let the students know exactly what they're up against--how many slots are open, how many students are trying out.

I tell them they may be good, but they need to be better than the other students.

At the start of the last day of tryouts, I ask if anyone feels they haven't gotten a fair chance. At the end, I announce the team(s).

I tell the students how impressed I was at their effort and say I am sorry I can keep only a certain number.

Lastly, I say I will not answer any questions today, but they should go home, think about how they did, talk to their parents and their friends, and then the next day I will answer any questions. I also offer them the opportunity to be team manager.

I do not post a list. Not making a team is hard enough. They don't need other students seeing the names.

With this procedure, the entire process seems to be easier for everyone.

Rob Solomon
Seventh grade math teacher
East Windsor, New Jersey

In the first round of girls basketball tryouts, I post the students who have made it to the second round. I invite all students who did not to talk with me about the skills they need to work on to get on the team in the future.
For those who played junior varsity the past year and do not have the skills to play at the varsity level, I try to find positions in which they can still be involved.

Statisticians, managers, and videographers are important to our program, and these roles let the student-athlete stay involved with a sport they love.

Michele Mathis
Special education teacher
Enterprise, Alabama

I give each girl who tries out for my junior high basketball team a sealed letter. One is the "Congratulations" letter. The other is the "I'm sorry" letter, in which I point out that there are many other activities they can involve themselves in, and I say, good luck.
The privacy of the letter allows them some dignity and avoids the public embarrassment of posting lists. I suggest they wait until they go home to open them.

Cutting a player is a coach's most difficult job.

Ed Martin
School counselor
Hawley, Pennsylvania

Got an Answer?

How do you stop kids from teasing?

E-mail your answer to dilemma2@ list.nea.org. Or send by regular mail, or fax to 202/822-7206. Please include your name, city, state, and job title. Published respondents will receive an NEA Today mug!

NEA Today: President's Viewpoint - November 2001

Tue, 07 Dec 2004 05:00:00 GMT

QUICK
CLICKS