NEA TODAY EXTRA

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You Write the Songs!

Wow! There are a lot of talented songwriters in our classrooms! We asked for songs from NEA members, and boy, did you strike up the band! From all over the country, would-be Sinatras flooded our mailbox with tunes of the teaching life, laments of NCLB, and odes to their colleagues in the classrooms.

Now it’s time to tune in and turn them on. Go to www.neatoday.org and listen to our five favorites. Then (are you listening, Paula? Simon?), you too will have a chance to cast a vote for America’s finest teacher-songwriter.

Q&A with Anika Noni Rose

Reading Girl

On March 2, more than 45 million adults and children will help celebrate NEA’s Read Across America Day, including actress Anika Noni Rose of the recent movie Dreamgirls. That day, Rose will honor RAA’s 10th anniversary and the 50th birthday of the Cat in the Hat at a celebrity Red Carpet Read-In at the New York Public Library.

What message are you hoping to deliver to kids?

Rose: Reading is fun! It’s not just homework but also home-fun. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you read, or how big or small the book is. It allows you to take yourself places you’ve never been or even dreamed of.

Can you tell us about your own favorite children’s books?

Rose: I love Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day, Michael Brown’s Santa Mouse, and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are .

Who helped you develop a love of reading?

Rose: I was a very early reader and unfortunately, kids sometimes don’t take kindly to what they perceive as overachieving. Mrs. Lucy Nevers was my second-grade teacher, and she made certain that every child in her class felt good about their work. That’s important, because I think peer pressure can turn children’s pride into a stigma. Like Mrs. Nevers, we need to reward the desire to learn and teach children to support each other—it’s important they know it’s OK to learn.

But my father is probably most responsible for my love of reading. The first stories I remember him reading with me are Romeo and Juliet and Aesop’s Fables. I actually had a fish that I named Othello. We would read together every night. Then, when I got older, I’d say good night and then whip out my flashlight and read under the covers.

Who was your favorite teacher?

Rose: My favorite teacher is my grandmother. She didn’t teach me in a classroom, but she did teach special education in Hartford Public Schools.

She was, and is, amazing. To this day, we will run into former students of hers and they’ll talk about how she changed their lives and made them feel like they could “do.”

For more information about NEA’s Read Across America, including book lists and other resources for educators, go to www.nea.org/readacross .

Where the Germs Are

With the season of sneezing and sniffling well upon us, it might be a good idea to look at the germ factories that call your classroom home. Last year, the non-profit NSF International took its microscope to two Michigan elementary schools to collect bacteria. Here’s what they found.

Illustration: Sylvie Pinsonneaux

In December 1984, the NEA Board of Directors adopted the Action Plan for Educational Excellence, spelling out nine principles that should guide the NEA’s efforts to raise the quality of American education.

Students must master what is taught.

The objective of education should be a demonstrated grasp of fundamentals, the competent use of skills, and command over subject matter, not mere passing grades. Mastery of what is taught must be America  ’s standard of educational excellence, and schools need to offer the comprehensive curriculum and provide the time and resources that can make this mastery an achievable goal.

Students must be active participants in learning.

Students must become questioners and explorers, not just passive recipients of information. That active involvement demands learning environments free from disruptive behavior and learning activities designed to encourage student initiative.

Full learning opportunities must be available for all students.

All students must be provided learning opportunities that enable them to fully realize their individual potential, regardless of their economic, social, physical, or psychological condition.

Learning should occur throughout life.

Appropriate opportunities for learning must be available in all school districts for all age groups.

Authority must be vested in the local faculty.

Key decisions about teaching and learning should be made by those closest to students and the community, not by large bureaucracies whose assembly-line approach diminishes expectations of students and teachers.

School staff must be professionally compensated.

Salaries in education must become commensurate with those in comparable professions if the nation is to attract and retain the best teachers.

There must be high standards for teacher preparation and practice.

Professional competence must be rooted in intellectually stimulating and demanding teacher preparation programs, rigorous personnel evaluation procedures, and meaningful professional and staff development programs.

School/community resources must be coordinated to benefit students.

Problems that affect students’ ability to learn must be resolved by school/community collaboration and coordination.

Financial support to achieve educational excellence is required.

Excellence in education depends on the combined resources of federal, state, and local governments.

Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life

MTV, February 5, 4 a.m. ET/PT.

Part of a United Nations initiative, this documentary follows rapper and record executive Jay-Z to several regions around the globe that are affected by the world water crisis. Can be taped and used in the classroom for one year.

Black Aviators: Flying Free

History Channel, February 5, 6 a.m. ET/PT.

This program explores how African-American men and women overcame discrimination to become pioneers in aviation. Can be taped and used in the classroom for two years.

NOVA: Forgotten Genius

PBS, February 6, 8 p.m. ET/PT. Check local listings.

This two-hour documentary looks at the life of African-American inventor and chemist Percy Julian. Born in 1899 in Montgomery,  Alabama, Julian showed an early interest in science, especially chemistry.

He studied organic chemistry in Vienna, Austria, earning his Ph.D. in 1931. After returning to the states, Julian taught at Black colleges before moving to private industry. Some of his inventions include a flame-retardant foam that saved many lives during World War II and synthetic hormones that help pregnant women carry to term. Don’t miss this story of a man who overcame every obstacle to become a world-class scientist, a self-made millionaire, philanthropist, and a civil rights pioneer.

Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Stories from the Dream

Nickelodeon, February 16, 6 a.m. ET/PT.

Explore the impact of Black history on the present and future through interviews with several prominent African-Americans. Tape and use in the classroom for 10 years.

The L incoln ssassination

History Channel, February 28 & March 1, 6 a.m. ET/PT.

This two-part program examines the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Can be taped and used in class for two years. Teaching materials are available at www.historychannel.com/classroom .

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

Happy 10th Anniversary, Read Across America!

Ten years ago, NEA and its members started a reading revolution. From a one-day celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday to a year-round literacy campaign reaching nearly every home, school, and community, NEA’s Read Across America is building a nation of readers. Here’s how you can get involved.

Follow the Reader: Whether it’s a Seuss-a-fied birthday party, breakfast of green eggs and ham, or a reading parade, begin your reading roadtrip with a stop at www.nea.org/readacross.

10th Anniversary Toolkit: Map out your plans with our online planning guide. You’ll find posters, certificates, planning tips, and more.

Choose Your Books: From Seuss to Lemony Snicket, oh, the places you’ll go when you read. Look for booklists galore on our Web site!

Pick a Partner: Need a little help along the way? Read Across America partners are ready with resources, volunteers, book donations, and more.

Make it Multicultural: From Lea con La NEA materials to multicultural booklists, NEA’s Read Across America will help your outreach to minority communities.

Pledge, pledge, pledge: Planning a great event? We want to hear all about it. Fill out your online pledge and then find out what your colleagues across the country have planned.

Alert the Media: Check out the tips and tricks to making the news—from reading forecasts by local meteorologists to news anchor appearances. You’ll also find sample press releases and photo guidelines.

Read and Win: Think your reading event or project deserves recognition? NEA is seeking the largest, most unusual events in each NEA region at the preK, elementary, middle, and high school levels. We’ll also honor Books Across America donors.

Stop and Shop: Looking for Cat in the Hat hats? Go to the NEA Professional Library at http://store.nea.org to find everything you need.

Ppause for Project 236: Set your watch to 2:36 p.m. ET on March 2 and join millions reading The Cat in the Hat. This record-breaking attempt partners with First Book’s mission to help low-income children. See more at www.catinthehat.com.

Stay Connected: Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, providing the latest literacy news from programs to tips on reaching minority communities.

Give the Gift of Reading: In 2006, NEA, together with The NEA Foundation, First Book, and The Heart of America Foundation, launched NEA’s Books Across America, a groundbreaking initiative to provide funds and books for school libraries in need. In 2007, NEA’s Books Across America goes national, helping school libraries around the country. Go to www.nea.org/booksacross.

Keep Reading on Your Roadmap All Year Long: Find out about the programs and partnerships that keep reading front and center all year long, from Get a Kick Out of Reading to Drop Everything and Read.

March 2, 2007:www.nea.org/readacross

Surviving Slavery—Young People Speak

Excerpted from original slave narratives, this riveting and heartbreaking collection presents the stories of 10 young African-Americans, all under the age of 19, who were born in chains and lived to write about their experiences. Growing Up in Slavery, edited by Yuval Taylor, presents an unvarnished look at an institutional horror and the triumph of a people over adversity. For young adults. $9.95. 256 pp. from Lawrence Hill Books. To order, go to www.ipgbook.com.

Integration in Jeopardy

The Dream Long Deferred: The Landmark Struggle for Desegregation in Charlotte, North Carolina by Frye Gaillard tells the compelling, 55-year story of the historic battle for desegregation, and presents a sobering look at the present state of Charlotte’s public school system. 215 pp. $34.95 from the University  of South Carolina Press. To order, go to www.sc.edu/uscpress.

Give the Man a Hand

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt gives a familiar tune a swinging makeover: This jazz man, he plays five, he plays bebop, he plays jive! A paean to a particularly American musical idiom, this lively book pays homage to 10 jazz greats, and includes short biographies at the end. Ages 3–7. 32 pp. $16 from Harcourt Children’s Books. Go to www.harcourtbooks.com to order.

All the Colors of Freedom

Based on a true story from slave narratives, Night Boat to Freedom by Margot Theis Raven tells of Christmas John, a 12-year-old boy who risks his life rowing other slaves to freedom, but can he save his grandmother and himself? Illustrated with gorgeous watercolors. Grades 2–6. 40 pp. $16 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux. To order, go to www.fsgkidsbooks.com.

A Hero In and Out of the Ring

Joseph Louis Barrow, a grandson of slaves, grew up to survive racism and the Great Depression and became a world heavyweight boxing champion and World War II hero to millions of Americans of all races. The forceful text and powerful illustrations in David A. Adler’s Joe Louis, America  ’s Fighter portray the drama of his eventful and iconic life. Ages 6–9. 32 pp. $16 from Gulliver Books/Harcourt. To order, go to www.harcourtbooks.com.

Pioneers in a New World

In Going North, by Janice N. Harrington, Jessie and her family pack their old station wagon and leave the familiar world of 1960s Alabama for a new life “up North.” Lyrical prose poetry conveys the Black family’s fears and hopes as they drive to a better future. Grades 2–4. 40 pp. $16 from Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Go to www.fsgkidsbooks.com.

Expert Help to Cope with Identity Theft—Free!

Your worst fears are realized: You find out someone has stolen your identity and is “enjoying life” at your expense. Now, just for being a participant in the NEA Members Auto & Home Insurance Program® through California Casualty, real help is at hand—free of charge.

A personal advocate from Identity Theft 911 will give you direct assistance with filing police reports and fraud victim affidavits; notifying governmental agencies, credit grantors, and credit bureaus; and dealing with debt collectors. Learn about the benefits of this important free service and special rates for educators through the NEA Members Auto & Home Insurance Program. Add another measure of security to your life.

Call toll free (800) 800-9410 or visit us online at www.aplus.com/neamb.

Need to Consolidate Debt?

If you’re a homeowner contending with high-interest debt, using your home’s equity to obtain a debt consolidation loan*could offer several benefits:

• Better money management—a single monthly payment can help you avoid missed payments and late fees.
• Lower interest rates—means extra cash in your pocket to pay down the loan’s principal balance.
• Tax advantages—up to 100 percent of the interest could be tax-deductible.**

Call the NEA Home Financing Program® at (800) NEA-4-YOU. That’s (800) 632-4968.

*Home equity loans and lines of credit are available through Wells Fargo Consumer Credit Group, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

**Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility of interest. This information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2006 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

NEA-Retired

NEA-Retired announces its newest publication to help improve teacher quality and retention. NEA-Retired’s Intergenerational Mentoring Toolkit provides NEA state affiliates, locals, and Student Program chapters with a vital tool for implementing its mentoring program. Unlike other such resources, the NEA-Retired toolkit uses the skills and wisdom of retired educators to guide students of education from their Praxis exam to their first year in the classroom. Free from peer pressure or evaluation oversight, Retired mentors offer a unique perspective on the challenges facing beginning teachers.

Contact NEA-Retired or your state affiliate for a copy of the new toolkit.

Free Afterschool Toolkit

A new online toolkit gives afterschool program directors and instructors the resources to build fun, innovative, and enriching afterschool activities that engage students, extend knowledge, and increase academic achievement. Each subject area—arts, literacy, math, science, technology, and homework help—is filled with standards-based multimedia resources, such as research-based practices, sample lessons, interactive activities, and video segments. Whatever your level of experience, you’ll find useful practices and lessons plus how-to instructions and outcomes to look for. Sponsored by WGBH, The U.S.  Department of Education, and Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Go to www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits.

Meds and Middle-Schoolers

Children start to self-medicate at about age 11 or 12, and some who babysit may be asked to medicate younger children. The Medicines in My Home program was designed to teach sixth-graders about the safe use of over-the-counter medications, including understanding the Drug Facts label and sharing information with families. A lesson plan and teacher kit are included that integrate with learning objectives related to home safety, medicines and common health problems, or consumer products. Go to www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome.

Portraits of Greatness

Online resources from the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery (like this painting of choreographer Martha Graham by Paul Meltsner) offer a highly visual way to learn about people who have impacted history and culture. Exhibits include a survey of 2,000 years of Latin American portraiture, modern American drawings, daguerreotypes by African-American photographer Augustus Washington, a retrospective of the life of Ernest Hemingway, and photographs by the legendary Henri Cartier-Bresson. Most exhibits include teacher guides. Go to www.npg.si.edu/educate2/educate2.htm.

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker

Students wondering which career to choose and how to get there can find free information at Careers&Education.com. From the arts to technology, the Web site includes general information about required degrees and certificates, finding financial aid, typical salaries, and tips on the hottest industries and high-paying jobs. Go to www.careersandeducation.com.

Math Dictionary: The Easy, Simple, Fun Guide to Help Math Phobics Become Math Lovers

By Eula Ewing Monroe

This reference guide forstudents contains more than 500 common terms from core mathematics vocabulary. Written in simple language, illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings, and punctuated with fun “Did You Know?” facts, this helpful book aims to take the mystery out of math. Ages 12–adult. 206 pp. $19.95 from Boyds Mill Press. Go to www.boydsmillpress.com.

Get Organized Without Losing It

By Janet S. Fox

The “tweener” who can never find her homework, whose backpack is a jungle of papers, who forgets when assignments are due, and who doesn’t know the first thing about managing complex projects would do well to read this breezy guide. From bringing order to a chaotic locker to tips for ignoring distractions during study time, this little book is chock full of practical ideas for kids to organize their lives and reduce stress. Grades 5–8. 105 pp. $8.95 from Free Spirit Publishing.

To order, go to www.freespirit.com.

The Kids in Mrs.Hildebrand’s Class

By Linda Dallmann

The first-graders in Mrs. Hildebrand’s class are busy and happy until cancer afflicts their beloved teacher. How can they help her recuperate? With help from their substitute teacher, they devise creative and loving ways to show that they care. This touching story demonstrates that even children can help grownups heal. Ages 9–12. 32 pp. $15 from Trafford Publishing. Go to www.trafford.com/06-0061.

Effective Classroom Management: Six Keys to Success

By Dianne F. Bradley, Judith Ann Pauley, and Joseph F. Pauley

The authors of this guide offer strategies to manage classrooms and maximize student potential based on positive student-teacher relationships and knowledge of each student’s personality type. Included are true stories of improved academic performance and decreases in negative behaviors. 148 pp. $24.95 from Rowman & Littlefield Education. To order, go to www.rowmaneducation.com.

NEA Friend of Education Awards

The Friend of Education Award is the Association’s highest honor and may be bestowed on an individual or organization whose leadership acts or support have significantly benefited education, education employees, or students on a national scale. Letters of nomination must include the name of the nominee; nominee’s position and/or organizational affiliation; nominee’s mailing address (or organization mailing address); name of the nominator or affiliate; signature of nominator or affiliate officer; name of nominator’s local affiliate (if applicable); and nominator’s mailing address and telephone number.

If the nominator is an NEA member, send proof of membership (e.g., an NEA Today mailing label with membership number).

In 100 words or less, indicate the reason for your nomination and summarize the nominee’s qualifications. Nominees will be evaluated based on leadership, acts, and support of education on a national scale. Supporting materials, such as publications or videos, may be submitted along with the nomination information. Submit all nomination information and materials to: NEA Friend of Education Award Committee, Executive Office, Attn: Joyce Parker, National Education Association, 1201 16th St. NW  , Washington, DC 20036. You may also fax the information to (202) 822-7974.

Buy Stuff, Get Good Karma

Giveline.com is an online store created for the community-minded shopper. Every transaction generates a financial contribution to your favorite charity—between 7 and 33 percent of product sales. The site features discounts, however, shoppers can waive the discount and pay full price, increasing the charitable contribution generated by the transaction. What can you buy? Books, movies, music, video games, electronics, home and garden items, and more. Go to www.giveline.com.

A Web of Friendship

With the “Become a True Friend” program from F.I.L.M. (Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies), Charlotte ’s Web—the recent Paramount Pictures release—becomes a service-learning vehicle for students ages 8–12. Youth are encouraged to read the book by E.B. White and see the movie; participate in activities from a free downloadable guide; and complete a project. Themes addressed include becoming a true friend, generosity, embracing change and coping with loss, farm life, and appreciating diversity. Participants who complete an online evaluation will be entered into a periodic drawing for the book and a DVD of the film. For more details, go to www.youthfilmproject.org/film/charlottesweb.htm.

Begun in 1926 through the efforts of Black scholar and historian Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month was originally celebrated as a weeklong event. In 1976, Congress expanded the observance to the entire month of February. These resources, including links to NEA’s Web site, will help you plan your own observances.

Encyclopedia Britannica’s Guide to Black History boasts a large collection of articles, galleries with hundreds of images, and film and audio clips. Classroom activities and teacher guides are included. Go to http://search.eb.com/blackhistory.

African-American World weaves together resources from PBS archives, including articles and interviews from All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation, and the Tavis Smiley Show, to create an online mosaic of African-American history and culture. Go to www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld. The History of Jim Crow takes the viewer on a tour of the struggles of a people to transcend oppression. You’ll find literature, eyewitness accounts, maps, and image galleries that explore the segregation, disenfranchisement, and violence that lay at the heart of the Jim Crow experience. Lesson plans are available. Go to www.jimcrowhistory.org.

We Shall Overcome—Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement focuses on key locations associated with one of the most important chapters in our history. Follow a National Register of Historic Places itinerary through49 locations in 21 states, as well as the Selma-to-Montgomery Historic Trail. Go to www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights.

Mighty Times—The Legacy of Rosa Parks, a free teaching kit for middle and upper grades, uses first person accounts and stirring dramatizations to bring to life the story of the “mother of the civil rights movement.” An award-winning film, a teaching guide, and classroom activities are included. Go to www.tolerance.org/teach/resources/mighty_times.jsp.

Integrating with All Deliberate Speed, a comprehensive unit on the Civil Rights Movement, features videotaped interviews with legendary leaders. The three lesson plans for middle and high school also feature primary source photographs, speeches, and historical documents. Go to www.visionaryproject.org.

On the NEA Web Site

Check out these resources from NEA.org: 

• African-American booklist 
• Horizons of Opportunity: Celebrating 50 years of Brown v. Board of Education   
• American Teachers Association: The Story of the ATA and the NEA 

February

February 12—Llincoln' s Birthday

Our 16th and arguably most popular president was born this day in 1809 in Hardin County  , Kentucky.

February 14—Valentine’s Day

Dating from the Roman feast of Lupercalia, this day has also been used by Christians to honor St. Valentine, a martyr. Today, many take time to show affection to loved ones.

February 16—Mahashivaratri

Observed by Hindus, this feast is a remembrance of the night when Lord Shiva is said to have performed the dance of primordial creation, preservation, and destruction.

February 20—Mardi Gras

Fat Tuesday customs include wearing beads, donning elaborate masks and costumes, attending balls and parades, and feasting and frolicking far into the night.

March

March 8—International Women’s Day

This day commemorates the historic 1857 garment and textile workers’ strike in New York  , one of the first organized actions by women anywhere.

March 10—Harriet Tubman’s Death

Born into slavery, Tubman freed herself and dedicated her life to freeing others and advancing the rights of Blacks.

March 20—Spring Equinox

Observed and celebrated for thousands of years by many cultures and religions, the first day of spring sees the sun directly above the equator and is characterized by 12 hours of darkness and light.

March 21—BahÁ’ÍNew Year (Naw-RÚz)

Celebrated at the spring equinox, this is one of nine holy days of the year when work and school are suspended for those of the Bahá’í faith.

Recognizing Outstanding Library Humanities Programs

The Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award recognizes an elementary or middle school library that has conducted an exemplary program or program series in the humanities during the prior school year. The annual award consists of a $4,000 cash prize, a plaque, and the promotion of the winner as a model program at a training opportunity for other school libraries.

Any elementary or middle school library or any school library program in the United States serving children in any combination of grades K–8 is eligible for the award, which is sponsored by the American Library Association Cultural Communities Fund and the National Endowment for the Humanities, with the American Association of School Librarians.

Nomination forms can be found at www.ala.org/ala/ppo/jaffarianaward.htm . Mail the original and five copies to the Sara Jaffarian Award Committee, ALA Public Programs Office, 50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 by February 27, 2007.

Rewarding Unsung Heroes

The ING Unsung Heroes awards are given to K–12 educators pioneering new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning. Educators submit applications by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its innovative method, creativity, and ability to positively influence students. Every year, 100 finalists are selected to receive a $2,000 award, payable to both the winning teacher and his or her school. At least one award is granted in each of the 50 states, provided at least one qualified application was received from each state. Winners are selected by Scholarship America, a national non-profit educational support and student aid service organization.

Of the 100 finalists, three are selected for additional awards: $25,000 for first place; $10,000 for second place; and $5,000 for third place. Full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and classified staff members are eligible to apply. For more information, go to www.ing-sa.com/us/aboutING/communityconnections/ineducation/unsungheroes/index.htm. The deadline is April 30, 2007.

Grants for the Inventive

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams grants foster inventiveness among high school students. InvenTeams composed of high school students, teachers, and mentors are asked to collaboratively identify a problem that they want to solve, research the problem, and then develop a prototype invention as an in-class or extracurricular project. Grants of up to $10,000 support each team’s efforts. InvenTeams are encouraged to work with community partners, specifically the potential beneficiaries of their invention. High school science, math, and technology teachers—or teams of teachers—are eligible to apply. Inter- and intra-school collaborations are also welcome.

For more information, go to http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/about.html. The deadline is April 27, 2007.

Grants for Community Improvement Programs

Hamburger Helper wants to lend a helping hand to neighborhoods nationwide with its “My Hometown Helper” grant program. Individuals from communities and organizations across America  , including public schools, can submit a written essay of 250 words or less describing how the grant would help improve their community project. Grant awards may be given up to $15,000. All requests for funding must be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or public school.

Go to www.myhometownhelper.com/LearnMore.aspx before May 31, 2007, when the program ends.

Who DunnIt? The Students!

MWA:Reads, a Mystery Writers of America literacy program that encourages children and teens to read mysteries by joining authors with students, parents, teachers, and librarians, will hold its second annual Joan Lowery Nixon Award mystery writing contest. The contest allows students to use language arts skills and the power of imagination to create their own unique mystery stories. There are two age categories: grades 2–5 and grades 6–10. Only one story per student may be submitted. The entries will be judged in the area of creativity and proper use of English. The winner of each category will receive a $250 cash prize. Submissions for the contest will be accepted until February 28, 2007. For complete contest rules, visit www.mysterywriters.org/MWAreads . 

Win Free Presentation Tools

PLUS Vision Corp.’s “Education Spotlight” program gives a projector or electronic copyboard to a selected primary or secondary school. School teachers or administrators must complete an online application, stating the reasons why the equipment will enhance their students’ education and submit unique examples of how they might use PLUS tools. At the end of each calendar year, PLUS Vision Corp. selects the recipient. For more information and to apply, go to www.buyplusdirect.com/site/spotlight.html .

Now that’s Italian

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) will present nearly 100 scholarships for the 2007–08 academic year to high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate students, or doctoral students across the country. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $15,000 each in the humanities, medicine, engineering, business, music, Italian language and culture, and other specialized fields.

Applicants must either be of Italian descent, with at least one ancestor who emigrated from Italy  , or students of any ethnic background majoring or minoring in Italian language, Italian studies, Italian-American studies, or a related field. Winners are selected based on academic merit, and students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to apply.

To apply for a NIAF scholarship, visit www.niaf.org/scholarships . The application deadline is March 1, 2007.

Are virtual dissection simulations an acceptable substitute for real animal specimens?

The tally on the debate in the last NEA Today:

54% Yes
46% No

Should we swap out sweets for nutritious snacks at school parties?

Click here if you’d like to take part in this future Debate.