NEA Resources

Classroom Management Training
Since its development in California in 1997, NEA's I Can Do It training has helped thousands of new and almost-new teachers become more comfortable and skilled at classroom management.

I Can Do It is a crash course that walks teachers through establishing effective rules and procedures, choosing strategies to deal appropriately with student behavior, and cultivating positive relationships with students and parents. Several thousand teachers in 26 states have taken the training since 1997.

For more information on I Can Do It or other classroom management workshops in your area, contact your local or state NEA affiliate.

Get help from the following NEA Professional Library resources. (For more information, including prices, contact the NEA Professional Library at 800-229-4200 or www.nea.org/books.)

Classroom Management (VHS Video and CD-ROM)
Whether you're new to the profession or a seasoned veteran, maintaining a safe and orderly classroom can be a daunting task. This multi-media kit (VHS video and CD-ROM) has tips on how to create a good classroom floor plan, establish and reinforce rules, communicate with parents, write behavior contracts, and create effective time-out strategies.

The Discipline Checklist: Advice from 60 Successful Teachers, Revised Edition
by Ken Kosier
How would you like to consult with dozens of your colleagues without leaving your desk? Sixty teachers--each recognized for highly successful efforts at maintaining discipline--share their secrets for managing the classroom and motivating today's students.

But High School Teaching Is Different: Success Strategies for New Secondary Teachers
by Mary C. Clement
Many classroom management books are geared toward the elementary grades, but this book addresses the specific needs of secondary teachers, with useful strategies and practical advice on classroom management, effective communication, and professional growth.

Other Resources

Elementary Teacher's Discipline Problem Solver: A Practical A-Z Guide for Managing Classroom Behavior Problems
by Kenneth Shore
This handy A-Z guide offers proven strategies for addressing a variety of behavioral problems that surface in the elementary school years, from aggressive behavior to whining. $29.95, Jossey-Bass, www.josseybass.com.

Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Problem-by-Problem Survival Guide
by Randall S. Sprick
This combination tool kit and guidebook offers proven solutions to 42 common student behavior problems and practical techniques for managing teens, including how to control talking back or swearing, incomplete assignments, fighting, cheating, smoking, drug use, and more. $32.95, Jossey-Bass, www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/.

Tools for Teaching
by Fred Jones
The classroom management columnist for the Education World Web site offers numerous tips for establishing smooth-running classrooms and handling disruptions. $29.95, Fredric Jones Institute, www.fredjones.com.

The Key Elements of Classroom Management
by Joyce McLeod, Jan Fisher, and Ginny Hoover
All teachers know that classroom management is important, but many are uncertain where, and how, to focus their energies. Three veterans give step-by-step instructions for managing classroom time and space, student behavior, and instructional strategies. $25.95, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, www.ascd.org.

Reluctant Disciplinarian: Advice on Classroom Management from a Softy Who Became (Eventually) A Successful Teacher
by Gary Rubinstein and illustrated by Larry Nolte
In this humorous and insightful book, Rubinstein describes his transformation from incompetent to successful teacher, sharing what works and, even more critical, what doesn't work, when managing a classroom. $12.95, Cottonwood Press, www.cottonwoodpress.com.

Grants, Awards, and Competitions

The NEA Foundation Announces February Grant Application Dates

NEA members just like you have applied for and received hundreds of grants from your foundation, The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education. All members who are practicing U.S. public school teachers in grades K-12, education support professionals, or higher education faculty and staff at public colleges and universities are encouraged to apply this month for the next round of grants. We now offer bigger and better grants--up to $5,000 per project--to fund your BIG ideas.

Apply by February 1 for Innovation and Learning & Leadership Grants, and you will be notified by June 15. Innovation Grants fund break-the-mold innovations that significantly improve achievement for underserved learners. Learning & Leadership Grants provide opportunities to engage in high-quality professional development and lead colleagues in professional growth. These grants are available for all subjects, including the arts, literacy, science, and technology.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing, year-round basis, but proposals received after February 1 will be included in the next grant review cycle beginning June 1. Grants fund activities for 12 months from the award date.

Apply by February 2 for Fine Arts Grants, awarded through NEA local affiliates, to enable fine arts teachers to create and implement fine arts programs that promote learning among students at risk of school failure.

Visit www.nfie.org for complete program details, guidelines, examples of funded projects, and an application. Or call us at 202-822-7840.

Tech Grants for ESPs

NEA offers ESP Technology Grants in the amounts of $250 to $3,500 to local education support professional Associations. These grants provide an opportunity for ESP locals to involve members in the application of technology in projects that could help their locals, schools, and/or communities.

The application process is open to all NEA local Associations that have not been awarded an ESP Technology Grant in the past three years. (Individuals are ineligible for awards).

Grants are awarded, in part, based on the integration of the ESPIS--the ESP Information System created to provide ESP members and staff immediate and widespread opportunities to share data and information throughout all levels of the organization. The ESPIS includes, for example, the ESP Web site, the ESP Listserv, the ESP Data Book, and a variety of publications.

Other considerations when awarding grants include:

• the level of involvement of ESP members
• the merits of the proposed goals and projected outcomes
• the proposed project's contribution to achieving the NEA Strategic Focus of restoring public confidence in public education
• n the completeness of the application form.

ESPIS and the Technology Grant Program are overseen by a User Advisory Group comprising governance and staff who are available to provide training on the use of ESPIS.

To learn about the kinds of projects that have received technology grants in the past, or for information about how to apply for ESP Technology Grants, go to www.nea.org/esphome/members/howtoapp.html or contact the ESP program assistant at NEA's ESP Quality Department (202-822-7131, 1201 16th Street, N.W., Room 410, Washington, DC 20036). Grant proposals for 2004 must be postmarked by April 15, 2004.

NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Award

The NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Award recognizes NEA locals and their school districts that work together as partners in pursuit of quality education. The 2004 Partnership Award seeks "best practices" mentoring programs that are created and sustained through the joint efforts of both the school district and the union and have resulted in substantially assisting new teachers in their education careers.

Six winners will be recognized at the NEA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., and in their home districts. The winners will also be invited to visit the Saturn Plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, during American Education Week in November.

The deadline for the 2004 NEA-Saturn/UAW Partnership Award application is February 20, 2004. For more information, go to http://web.inetba.com/saturnuaw/filecabinet/Satfile/partnership.html or contact the Saturn and UAW Union Partnership Team at 800-738-1817.

Albert Einstein Fellowship Program

Public K-12 mathematics, science, and technology teachers may apply for the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship for 2004-05. Fellows will spend 10 months with the federal government and may be assigned to congressional offices or a federal agency, where they are involved in education-related activities. Fellows are paid $5,250 per month and receive relocation and professional travel allowances. Established by Congress, the program is administered by the U.S. Department of Energy with the assistance of the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education. For more information, visit www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/Einstein/about.htm. The application deadline is February 1.

Freida J. Riley Award

Know someone who teaches with an illness or disability, teaches in a low socioeconomic environment, or did something heroic for students, despite facing adverse circumstances? Then nominate them for the $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award. Freida J. Riley taught in the 50s despite her Hodgkinson's disease and encouraged students to achieve their potential. The award is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. For a nomination packet, call 330-376-8300 or visit www.pafinc.com. All materials must be received by March 3, 2003.

Discovering the U.S. Student Contest

K-9 students can celebrate the bicentennial commemoration of Lewis and Clark's adventures by researching U.S. geography and presenting a minimum of 52 spectacular sights (one from each state, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) in a story, poem, travel journal, game, or video--whichever inspires them--for the Capstone Press Contest, "What's Great About Our 50 States?" A free packet includes an entry-form, step-by-step activities, a U.S. map poster, temporary tattoos, and bookmarks--great for an individual or a small group of contestants. Over $23,500 will be awarded in book prizes. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 10, 2004. To order a packet, call 800-747-4992 or e-mail customer.service@capstone-press.com, For more information, visit www.capstonepress.com.

Technology for Teaching Grants

HP Technology will award grants to K-16 public schools using a collaborative, team-based approach to implementing technology integration projects. The project must focus on using technology to teach, rather than teaching students to use technology.

Potential applicants are encouraged to register online. Applications will be accepted from January 15 to March 1, 2004.

Each of 150 available awards will go to a team of five teachers from K-12 public schools. The award package includes five Tablet PCs, five multimedia projectors, free help desk support for one year, a $500 stipend per teacher, and customized professional development. HP also will give 40 awards to two- and four-year colleges and universities. The award package, valued at $50,000 each, includes an HP product package and a faculty stipend of $7,500.

U.S. public schools and two- or four-year colleges or universities are eligible. Preference will be given to low-income schools and to projects that also integrate mathematics and/or science into the curriculum. For more, go to www.hp.com/go/hpteach.

School-Business Partnership Awards

Created by the Council for Corporate & School Partnerships, the National School and Business Partnerships Award recognizes exemplary partnerships between schools and businesses in the U.S. Partnerships involving K-12 public schools and/or school districts and businesses are eligible to apply. Up to six schools or districts will receive $10,000 to support partnership efforts.

Members of the Council for Corporate & School Partnerships will judge applicants on a number of criteria, including:

• the strength of the partnership's foundation, as evidenced by shared values, and the partners' ability to define mutually beneficial goals
• the success of the partnership's implementation, demonstrated by the management process and determination of specific, measurable outcomes
• the partnership's sustainability, based on support by school and business leaders and by teachers, employees, students, and other constituents
• the partners' ability to present a clear evaluation of the partnership's impact.

A PDF version of the application packet may be downloaded at www.corpschoolpartners.org/award.shtml. Applications sent via mail must be postmarked by January 29, 2004. Winners will be announced on April 21, 2004.

Baldrige National Quality Award

Can your school serve as a leader and role model to others? If so, you might want to apply for the Baldrige Award. This prestigious award is given by the President of the United States to education organizations and schools that apply and are judged to show achievement and improvement in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; student, stakeholder, and market focus; information and analysis; faculty and staff focus; process management; and organizational performance results. Baldrige Award winners receive national recognition and the opportunity to share their best practices with colleagues at the annual Quest for Excellence Conference.

Potential applicants need a copy of the Baldrige Criteria and the Baldrige Award Application Forms booklet. Once you receive the booklet, you must certify eligibility in the education award category and submit the eligibility forms. After certifying eligibility, the second step is to submit an application form and your application report responding to the Criteria questions.

Applications are assessed by a panel of volunteer experts. The panel's 50-page report contains an applicant-specific listing of strengths and opportunities for improvement and will be given to the applicant upon completion of the review process.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) manages the Baldrige National Quality Program. Any public organization that provides educational services in the United States or its territories is eligible to apply for the award, including elementary and secondary schools and school districts; colleges, universities, and university systems; schools or colleges within a university; professional schools; community colleges; and technical schools.

For more information, including a free copy of the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence and the Baldrige Award Application Forms booklet, visit www.baldrige.nist.gov, e-mail nqp@nist.gov, or call 301-975-2036. Eligibility forms are due April 13, 2004. Applications are due May 27.

On TV

DreamKeeper
ABC/Hallmark Entertainment, December 28 and 29, 9 p.m., ET, check local listings.

Shane, a troubled Native American teenager who is only interested in money and girls, is forced to accompany his grandfather to the All Nations ceremony. Grandpa is a Lakota storyteller who bores Shane with mystical tales about birth, death, and renewal. Shane is a boy on the run, in trouble with his gang, and in need of direction. His trip is really a journey toward manhood, and is mirrored in the story Grandpa tells about Eagle Boy, also on a quest. Shane finally comes to peace with his heritage, and learns to honor the importance of Indian wisdom and legend in this four-hour miniseries. A Dreamkeeper Educator's Guide for use in middle/ junior high schools is available online and includes activities and discussion questions, program ratings, and a content advisory. Commissioned by Hallmark Entertainment and produced by KIDSNET, the guide can be found at www.kidsnet.org.

Michael Palin's Travels: Sahara
Bravo, January 1, 6, 7, and 8, 6 a.m., ET, check local listings.

This four-part series follows Palin as he crosses the vast and merciless Sahara Desert. Part 1, "A Line in the Sand," follows Palin as he prepares for the exotic journey and his start onto the first desert trails. Part 2, "Destination Timbuktu," shows Palin's travels getting harder as he enters the heart of the Sahara. "Absolute Desert" tracks the journey in Chad, and the final part, "Dire Straights," follows Palin through Libya, Tunisia, and his return home across the Mediterranean. The series can be taped and used in the classroom for one year.

DNA
PBS, January 4, 11, 18, 25, and February 1, 10 p.m., ET, check local listings.

Fifty years ago, James Watson and Francis Crick, two unknown scientists, solved the riddle of DNA and launched a new era of biology with the double helix as the icon of life. This five-hour series, a Windfall Films Production for Thirteen/WNET New York in association with Channel Four, offers a look at the dazzling progress that has been made in biological science. It shows how an experiment with cardboard models in the back of a physics lab grew into one of the most ambitious endeavors in human history. Episodes feature groundbreaking scientists and explore the underlying issues and consequences of being able to read the genetic code. For more information, visit www.pbs.org.

The Great Pharaohs of Egypt
A&E, January 5-8, 7 a.m., ET.

This four-part program looks at the 3,000-year legacy of the Egyptian pharaohs, covering the pyramid complex of Pharaoh Snefru through the death of Cleopatra, Egypt's last pharaoh. Can be taped and used in the classroom for two years. Teaching materials are available at www.aetv.com/class.

The Proud Family: I Had a Dream
The Disney Channel, January 6, 3 a.m., ET, check local listings.

This animated program finds Penny, an African-American teen, transported back to 1955 where she is confronted with living in a time of segregation. The show can be taped and used in the classroom for one year with materials at http://psc.disney.go.com/disneychannel/cableintheclassroom.

On TV listings are provided by KIDSNET, a national resource for children's media in Washington, D.C., www.kidsnet.org and by Cable in the Classroom's Access Learning magazine at www.ciconline.org.

On Film

Anti-bullying film released

A new, 35-minute documentary, Let's Get Real, takes an illuminating look at name-calling and bullying from the point of view of young people. Let's Get Real allows kids in grades 6-9 to speak openly about what it's like to be targeted, to bully others, and to stand up as an ally when they witness harassment. Directed by Debra Chasnoff and part of the Respect for All Project, the film is designed to support students speaking up both to their peers and the adults in their lives, and to encourage empathy in order to prevent acts of aggression and violence. The Respect for All Project's national campaign against bullying includes curriculum guides and teacher-training programs to junior high schools and youth-advocacy programs. Educators should preview the film to determine how it best fits their needs. The film ($75 per copy), may be purchased at www.respectforall.org.

Portrait of a teaching artist

To Be and To Have, directed by Nicolas Philibert, follows Georges Lopez, a calm and compassionate teacher who has presided over a one-class school in an isolated French village for more than 20 years. Philibert and crew spent six months observing Lopez's class, and the result is an often-hilarious portrait of a teacher's day-to-day interaction with his students. They may range in age from kindergarten up through the end of primary school, but the ever-patient Lopez tends to each student with the kind of respect and devotion that could only be mistaken for love. Look for screenings of To Be and To Have in selected U.S. cities in January: Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; Madison, Wisconsin; Denver; Santa Fe; and San Francisco and Berkeley, California. Educators may rent videos or films from New Yorker Films. For more, go to www.newyorkerfilms.com.

Diversity Calendar

[January]

January 1-3 - Japanese New Year Celebration
Three days of festivities mark the beginning of a new year. Celebrations include giving gifts, visiting local shrines, and decorating house entrances and cars. For more, visit www.japan-guide.com/e/e2064.html.

January 18 - World Religion Day
Celebrated in countries around the world on the third Sunday in January, this day is observed to help promote the understanding of all religions.

January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Civil Rights leader of nonviolent resistance and Nobel Peace Prize winner was born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. This federal holiday is celebrated on the third Monday of the month. For more, see http://thekingcenter.com/holiday/index.asp.

January 23 - First American Indian senator takes office
Charles Curtis of Kansas became the first American Indian Senator on this day in 1907.

[February]

February 1 - Chinese New Year
Celebrated by Chinese all over the world, this day begins the Year of the Monkey. For more, visit www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chineseny.html.

February 2 - Eid al-Adha
This Muslim Holy Day is known as the Feast of the Sacrifice and commemorates the end of the Pilgrimage to Mecca. The day is filled with prayer and feasting. For more, visit www.cie.org/ teachers/hajj/hajj.asp.

February 15 - Susan B. Anthony's Birthday
After teaching for 15 years, Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) fought for women's rights and the abolition of slavery. For more information, go to www .susanbanthonyhouse.org/.

February 25-April 10 - Lent
Christians observe this period of fasting and penitence for 40 days, excluding Sundays, beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter. For more, go to www.factmonster.com/ce6/society/A0829403.html.

Take Note

Free Forensics Units

The National Science Teachers Association and Court TV have partnered to develop science units for elementary, middle, and high school science teachers. The units, available for free, are located on the Court TV Web site and use forensics as a hook to spark student interest in science, teach key biology and chemistry concepts, and suggest possible science careers. Students learn how to analyze footprints, identify fingerprints, and view hair samples under a microscope. Registration on the site is required. For more, go to www.courttv.com/forensics_curriculum/.

Art Resources for Hire

Need art education resources but lack the funds? Then borrow what you need from the National Gallery of Art. Over 120 teaching resources are loaned free of charge to educational institutions and community groups. Programs are designed to meet national standards in the visual arts. View an online catalog and find detailed ordering information at www.nga.gov/education/ep-main.htm.

Pets Primer

Why are many Dalmatians born deaf? Why do rabbits love telephone books? A 45-page guide, Pets for Life: A Look at the Relationship Between People and Their Companion Animals educates teens on the facts, history, legal issues, and laws about pets. The guide can be downloaded for free from the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education's (NAHEE) Web site at www.humaneteen.org/pets_for_life or ordered in print for $5 a copy.

Help for Early Readers

By age three a child is eager to write and maybe a little interested in reading. The Partnership for Reading announces, "A Child Becomes a Reader" for parents of preK-3 children. The guide suggests proven ideas from research to help young children become strong readers. The guide may be downloaded free of charge at www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading.

What's Up at NEA's Health Information Network?

HIN Launches Audio Book Series

The NEA Health Information Network and 212 MEDIA have partnered to produce an audio book series to benefit children's health initiatives. The Hear and Now series will feature popular children's stories narrated by celebrities that support better health and treatments for children. Notable voices and personalities in film, television, music, and sports will recite tales from such classics as Curious George and Arthur. Profits from the sale of Hear and Now will benefit NEA HIN and the Elizabeth Glasser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The audio book series will be released in Spring 2004.

For more information, contact David Hoover at dhoover@nea.org or Neal Shenoy at 212 MEDIA, 212-931-0182.

Building Coalitions For Healthier Schools

NEA Members and UniServ staff from Washington, Connecticut, and Oregon attended the October National Coalition For Healthier Schools Meeting coordinated by the Healthy Schools Network, a national not-for-profit organization based in New York. U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton opened the meeting that focused on federal policies and the activities of State Healthy Schools Reform Coalitions. Earlier in the week, the NEA coalition meeting attendees were among the 95 NEA representatives who attended the fourth Annual Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Symposium. The National Coalition discussed opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and state activities to advance health protections for children and adults in their "workplaces"--schools.

For information on linking to or starting a healthy schools reform coalition, or to learn more about school environments, call or visit the Healthy Schools Network at 518-462-0632, www.healthyschools.org.

Join the NEA Fitness Challenge!

More than 60 percent of American adults and nearly 20 percent of children are either overweight or obese, according to statistics projected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data relating to teachers specifically are even more alarming than the national average, making educators more vulnerable to sequel disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic stress disorder. NEA HIN has collaborated with NEA Today to launch the first NEA Fitness Challenge. Join the challenge and get in shape with the help of the "dream team"--a personal trainer, nutritionist, stress reduction expert, and a meditation teacher. It's never too late to get started and chat with the experts, ask personal queries, and share your success stories with colleagues.

To learn more or to join the NEA Fitness Challenge today, visit www.neafitness.org/home.htm.

On the Web

Poetry reading

Why just read a poem when you can hear it read aloud? The Academy of American Poets offers dozens of poems in text form or as RealAudio files for listening. Many are recordings of the authors reading their work. All are searchable by title and author name. Go to www.poets.org/booth/booth.cfm.

Mark Twain In His Times

This site focuses on how Mark Twain and his works were created and defined, marketed and performed, reviewed and appreciated. Students and teachers can see what Mark Twain and his contemporaries said about each other. Go to http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/, for texts and manuscripts written by Twain, as well as contemporary reviews and articles.

History in Coins

The U.S. Mint's History In Your Pocket Change Web site is a fun, educational tool that generates interest in coins, the Mint, and U.S. history. The site, at www.usmint.gov/kids/, uses games and stories to bring to life the individuals who appear on U.S. coinage. The site also helps teachers share the innovative ways they've found to use coins in the classroom.

It's My Life

It's My Life, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, focuses on the everyday issues kids and teenagers deal with, but from their perspective. On this site, kids can read informative articles, share stories, participate in polls and quizzes relevant to them, participate in games and activities, get advice from older kids and experts, and contribute their own comments and questions. Go to www.pbskids.org/itsmylife.

School Bus Safety

The Web site for the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), located at www .schooltrans.com, has information on school bus safety for drivers, children, and parents. It offers information regarding reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on seat belts, and a school bus exhaust report that examines whether buses that use diesel release fumes harmful to students. The "Do You Know?" and "The ABCs of School Busing" sections present simple, meaningful facts about the school bus system in the United States.

Start Buying Differently

Clothes. Fast food. Basketball shoes. The things we buy keep us fed, clothed, and entertained. But the World Wildlife Fund's site, www.ibuydifferent.org, sets out to show that everything we buy has an impact on the environment. Learn what biodiversity is, how what you consume can affect the environment, and how you can take action to help make a difference.

OWL.org

OWL.org Joins Read Across America to Support Literacy

"The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat." What is more natural than a partnership between an OWL and a Pussycat? English poet Edward Lear certainly thought that there was an affinity between feline and fowl, and so do OWL.org and NEA's Read Across America (RAA) and its signature figure, Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat.

Since its launch in August of 2002, OWL has featured numerous articles about reading--from reading and literacy resources to incorporating reading skills into subjects such as math and science. Now OWL has taken another step and formed a partnership with one of NEA's most popular programs--Read Across America.

What does this partnership mean for NEA members? Registered users on OWL will have exclusive access to a variety of reading activities and materials developed by the RAA team to help celebrate Dr. Seuss's 100th birthday on March 2 and promote reading all year long. NEA members who shop online through OWLShopper will be contributing to RAA efforts to support student literacy since a portion of OWLShopper sales support student literacy grants.

So come to www.owl.org for exciting new Read Across materials -- and don't forget to click on OWLShopper to support important local literacy programs!

Heads Up From NEA Member Benefits

The New Year is a good time to consider your family's future financial well-being by increasing your life insurance coverage.

With the NEA Preferred Term Life Insurance Plan, members, and now their spouses, too, can apply for insurance benefit amounts of $100,000, $250,000, and $500,000 for 10-, 15-, and 20-year terms.

An expanded number of rate classes (eight instead of only three) provides more flexibility in qualifying for coverage. And with level premiums and level benefits, rates and benefit amounts stay the same for the entire term of coverage.

To learn more or to apply, go to www.neamb.com/insurance or call our Member Service Center toll-free at 800-637-4636, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (or Saturday,

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) ET. TTY users call: 800-445-1269.

Adding up your savings...

If you are contributing to an NEA Valuebuilder retirement program, did you realize how a small increase each pay period has the potential to improve your retirement nest egg?

If you invest $100 per month earning 8.5 percent interest compounded daily over a 40-year career, you will have $370,994 at retirement. Look what could happen if you increase your contribution amount by $25 per month periodically throughout your career:

First 10 years	$100/month
Years 11-20	$125/month
Years 21-30	$150/month
Years 31-40	$175/month

Assuming the same 8.5 percent interest rate, at the end of 40 years you will have accumulated $429,786 for retirement--an increase of almost $59,000!

Consider giving your retirement plan a boost.

Contact your NEA Valuebuilder representative or call 800-NEA-VALU, today.

Books by NEA Members

Fawn's Story: The True Story of A Special Therapy Dog
By Susan W. Burney

Written for children ages 8-12 by an elementary teacher, the book tells the true story about the adoption, training, and experiences of Fawn--a disabled pup with only three legs. Fawn's Story sends a positive message about overlooking a "disability" and realizing that "it's what inside that counts." Fawn, a certified T.O.U.C.H. dog (Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers), visits hospitals and schools to comfort and entertain students and patients. 40 pp. $10--proceeds benefit Support Dogs, Inc. and Open Door Animal Sanctuary. To order, go to www.supportdogs.com or call 314-423-1988.

The Classroom Is BareÙThe Teacher's Not There
By Martha Karlovetz

This is the moving and inspiring story of a talented young teacher whose life and career were cut short by brain cancer. Facing incredible odds, Linda Favero's determination to teach, even though she was told to forget about teaching when first diagnosed, spanned six years. Written by her mother, a caring teacher herself, The Classroom Is Bare gives readers rare insight into the bond formed between a mother and child during a time of grief. The author's name appears in the National Teachers' Hall of Fame. 224 pp. $15.95 plus $4 s&h from Linmar Publications. To order, go to www.classroomisbare.com, or call 636-398-5909.

Improving the Quality of Teaching Through National Board Certification: Theory and Practice
By Jill Harrison Berg

This first-of-its-kind resource gives educators a clear understanding of how and why National Board Certification can help them improve their teaching. Berg, a National Board Certified Teacher and doctoral fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education, gives her own and 12 other NBCTs' hands-on experiences with the process. Well-organized, the book provides practical strategies to support teachers' growth during their candidacy. 169 pp. $27.95 plus $3 s&h from Christopher-Gordon Publishers, Inc. To order, call 800-934-8322, or go to www.christopher-gordon.com.

Welcome Home or Someplace Like It
By Charlotte Agell

This debut novel for teen readers explores the meaning of "home" for two children left with their grandfather in a small Maine town for the summer. Once granddaughter Aggie begins exploring the town, however, things get interesting. Anything seems likely--even the possibility the children have found home. The author is a creative writing and English teacher on the junior high level. 240 pp. $16.95 from Henry Holt and Company. To order, go to www.henryholtchildrensbooks.com/search.htm or call 888-330-8477.

In Print

Making The Minutes Count

While educators may deserve an in-class secretary for organizing all their tasks, for now Time-Saving Tips for Teachers by Joanne C. Watcher and Clare Carhart must suffice. The book helps teachers become more efficient and organized with effective time-saving tactics for student assessments, conference planning, research, handling absences, substitute communications, filing, and a whole lot more. 95 pp. $27.95 from Corwin Press. To order, call 800-818-7243.

Digging the Past

Discover what life was like during the adventures of King Tut, or before the burning of the cities of Troy and Pompeii. Author John Orna-Ornstein in Archaeology: Discovering the Past reconstructs ancient civilization in this full-color book that defines the study of archaeology, its key terms, and the modern equipment used to determine the paths of the prehistoric life with an easy-to-read approach. 39 pp. $17.95 from Oxford University Press. To order, call 212-726-6057.

What Was It Like, Grandma?

In Grandma Lai Goon Remembers, eight-year-old Allyson and her nine-year-old brother, Daniel, find out more about the culture, recipes, and traditions of their Chinese-American heritage each day they spend time with their grandmother. Author Ann Morris has written several books in the "What Was It Like, Grandma?" series, each featuring a different culture. The books contain recipes, crafts, and other activities to help young readers explore family traditions. 32 pp. $22.95 each from Millbrook Press. To order, call 800-223-2336 or go to www.millbrookpress.com.

Lakas and the Manilatown Fish

When Lakas, a Filipino-American boy, goes shopping with his father for a pet, he learns he has no ordinary fish. Lakas' new pet can talk, jump, and run--just like a small boy. When it leaps from its bowl, Lakas and his friends try to catch the fish before it plunges into the San Francisco Bay. Will he ever catch it? Author Anthony D. Robles captivates with his colorful bilingual book (in English and Tagalog). 32 pp. $16.95 from Children's Book Press. To order, visit www.cbookpress.org or call 415-821-3080.

Courage Under Fire

During the summer of 1910, Jarrett, Lizbeth, and Seth's lives are changed forever as one of the biggest wildfires of the century sweeps through Montana and Idaho. Using historical documents and firsthand accounts of the actual historical event, author Jeanette Ingold combines information and imagination to create a convincing story for readers ages 12 and up. In The Big Burn, readers learn how the three teens struggle to grow and come into their own while the fire threatens their homes and lives. 304 pp. $17 from Harcourt Books. To order, visit www.harcourtbooks.com or call 800-543-1918.

Single-Sex Comeback

Since the 1970s, coeducation has been the predominant form of public and private schooling, but single-sex education has recently started making a comeback. Rosemary C. Salomone delves deeply into the matter with research and examinations on educational achievement and the legal questions of single-sex schooling with her book, Same, Different, Equal: Rethinking Single-Sex Schooling. Salomone supports and advocates single-sex education with sound theories and also corrects many current misconceptions. 320 pp. $29.95 from Yale University Press. To order, visit www.yalebooks.com or call 800-405-1619.

Working Hats Off, Reading Hats On with NEA's Read Across America

Can you think of 100 ways to celebrate reading and celebrate Dr. Seuss's 100th birthday? March 2 is fast approaching and NEA's Read Across America has the resources and ideas to help you spread the joy of reading. How about asking everyone from cowboys to chefs, race car drivers to skateboarders, police officers to footballers to trade their working hats for reading hats? Why not celebrate your local authors in Seussian style and keep the reading momentum going long after the birthday party? Check out the Read Across America Web site: www.nea.org/readacross for a hatful of ideas. You'll find booklists, activities, and a special Seussentennial section, plus a link to OWL.org for more.