October 2011

NEW HAMPSHIRE REVAMPS ITS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
http://www.eschoolnews.com/video/

You can attend the workshops presented at the Iowa Educational Summit. If you scroll to the pictures of workshop presenters you will get a brief but informative description of presenters and their subjects. One of the most innovative approaches to revamping the educational processes is presented by Fred Bramante of the New Hampshire Board of Education. He shares the New Hampshire experience with systemic changes, including: time vs. mastery, the classroom vs. learning environment, educators and flexibility in delivery systems. His picture is the first one, upper left.

ARKANSAS STUDIES

ARKANSAS HISTORY RESOURCE HUB AVAILABLE ONLINE
http://www.arhistoryhub.com/

The Arkansas History Hub is described as an interactive tool that assembles resources from history institutions across the state into a centralized, easy-to-use website.

It allows teachers to exchange ideas, enhance their lesson plans and download classroom materials about Arkansas history.

A short video at http://player.vimeo.com/video/27878665?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=1 will introduce you to the Hub.

OCTOBER 25, 1863 – CIVIL WAR BATTLE OF PINE BLUFF

The marker for the historic Civil War Battle of Pine Bluff reads:
During the morning and early afternoon of October 25, 1863, Colonel Powell Clayton commander of federal troops occupying Pine Bluff successfully repulsed a three-pronged confederate attack of forces of General John S. Marmaduke. Cotton bales hastily placed around the courthouse and surrounding streets provided an effective barricade for union defenders. Confederate loss: 41 killed, wounded and captured.

ART AND MUSIC

LAST AUSTIN CITY LIMITS BROADCAST FROM ORIGINAL STUDIO
http://video.pbs.org/video/1769474605/

Join Lyle Lovett and his Very Large Band for the last performance in the original Austin City Limits studio, a historic rock and roll site.

AETN ARTS FRIDAYS
http://www.aetn.org/engage/blog/posts/aetn_focuses_arts_and_culture_programming_on_friday_nights

AETN will debut ‘AETN Arts Fridays’ on Friday nights beginning Oct. 14 to bring world class arts and culture programming to your living room –with local Arkansas authors and bands via locally produced arts and culture series “AETN Presents” at 6:30 p.m. and the unprecedented “PBS Arts Fall Festival” at 9 p.m. PBS is America’s largest stage – and AETN has it for you every Friday!

COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION IN ARKANSAS
http://www.aetn.org/education/productions/ale

This program highlights successful ALE programs across the state and the techniques and approaches that they use to reach struggling learners. Students are given the chance to voice their opinion on the experiences they have had in ALE. The teachers and experts discuss a variety of topics, covering everything from student-teacher ratio to the advantages and disadvantages of hiring security guards.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

HELP FOR PARENTS TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN

Parents can select programs from the list below to help their children learn basic concepts. If a seven year-old child is having trouble with reading and writing, the list will show Arthur, Between the Lions, Electric Company, Martha Speaks, Super WHY, Word Girl and Word World as appropriate resources. By going to the program Web sites, parent and child can play the games, do the activities, color the activity pages and explore the world of reading together.

PROGRAMS BY FOCUS AREAS

PROGRAM	AGE	FOCUS
Arthur http://pbskids.org/arthur/	6-9 years	Reading, writing, social skills
Between The Lions http://pbskids.org/lions/	4-7 years	Reading
Caillou http://pbskids.org/caillou/	3-6 years	Social skills
The Cat in the Hat http://pbskids.org/catinthehat/	4-6 years	Social skills
Clifford the Big Red Dog http://pbskids.org/clifford/index-brd-flash.html	4-7 years	Social skills
Curious George http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/	3-5 years	Science, engineering, math
Cyberchase http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/	8-12 years	Math
Dragon Tales http://pbskids.org/dragontales/index_sw.html	2-7 years	Social skills
Electric Company http://pbskids.org/electriccompany/#/Home/	6-9 years	Reading
Fetch with Ruff Ruffman http://pbskids.org/fetch/	6-10 years	Social skills, problem solving
Martha Speaks http://pbskids.org/martha/	4-7 years	Reading
Maya & Miguel http://pbskids.org/mayaandmiguel/flash.html	6-11 years	Spanish language, social skills
Mr. Rogers http://pbskids.org/rogers/	3-5 years	Social skills, self-esteem
Sesame Street http://pbskids.org/sesame/	2-4 years	Reading, math, social skills
Sid the Science Kid http://pbskids.org/sid/	3-6 years	Science
Super WHY! http://pbskids.org/superwhy/#	6-8 years	Reading
Word Girl http://pbskids.org/wordgirl/	6-8 years	Reading
Word World http://pbskids.org/wordworld/index_flash.html	6-8 years	Reading

AGE-BY-AGE BIRTHDAY PARTY GUIDE
http://www.pbs.org/parents/birthdayparties/articles/article-agebyageguide.html

This guide will help you plan the perfect party for your child’s birthday!

CHILD DEVELOPMENT TRACKER
http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/
A child's development is unique and complex. Although children develop through a generally predictable sequence of steps and milestones, they may not proceed through these steps in the same way or at the same time. A child's development is greatly influenced by factors in his or her environment and the experiences he or she has.
The information provided by this tool is considered by experts as a representation of "widely-held expectations" for what an average child might achieve within a given year. Please consider this in the context of your child's unique development.

SOURCE: PBS Parents

GRANTS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS (AASL) GRANT SEASON BEGINS
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslawards/aaslawards.cfm

Now is a good time to visit this site to find out about awards and grants open to applications. More grant resources at http://www.aetn.org/education/stationbreak.

Grant Resources

Arkansas Department of Education grant listings http://arkansased.org/programs/grants.html
Technology grant information at http://www.vernier.com/grants/fulllist.html
Forecast of Finding for the U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html
PEN WEEKLY NEWSBLAST http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp This site includes grant opportunity, Web links, deadlines, eligibility and maximum grant amounts
EducationMoney.com
Federal Grants http://grants.gov allows you to search by category, you do not need to register to search for grant opportunities
http://grantsalert.com/

These sources will help locate foundation, government and other grant opportunities. It’s best to start when you have some time to invest, because one thing frequently leads to another link.

FREE makes it easier to find teaching and learning resources from the federal government at http://www.free.ed.gov/.

Grant Writing Tips and Tools

If you want factual information about grant writing and samples, be sure to visit the Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal by S. Joseph Levine, Ph.D., Michigan State University, at http://www.learnerassociates.net/proposal.
“SHOW ME THE MONEY: TIPS & RESOURCES FOR SUCCESSFUL GRANT WRITING” http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml

HEALTH, SAFETY AND FITNESS

UNDERSTANDING STRESS
http://video.pbs.org/video/1218735872/

Chronic stress has become one of today’s killers and disablers. This video will help you discuss stress with your students and community groups.

GETTING HEART RATE UP INCREASES NUMBER AND ACTIVITY OF BRAIN CELLS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/a-physical-education-in-naperville-ill/7134/

An innovative fitness-based physical education program improves academic performance at Naperville High School in Illinois. Watch and listen as students and educators share their experiences with fitness-based physical education. Can’t afford it? There are grants and corporate support (see Grant Resources above) for the fancy equipment, and state-of-the-art gym, but it doesn’t cost anything to have students walking, jumping rope, running and other activities that increase heart rate. Keep moving and thinking!

HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

EXPERIENCE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF EGYPT’S GOLDEN AGE
http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/special/lifeas/index.html

Explore what a day would be life for a pharaoh, nobleman, craftsman, priest, soldier, farmer and woman in Egypt’s Golden Age.

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIPS SCHEDULE
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/eft/eft_upcoming.cfm

Teach American history with the new Electronic Field Trip season. This year’s live, interactive lessons explore the ratification of the US Constitution, Westward expansion, The War of 1812, slavery, as well as the rights of women and youth.

“A More Perfect Union” October 13, 2011	Witness the conflict and compromises that accompanied the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Join young eighteenth-century observers, unseen by convention delegates, as they travel from state to state tallying the vote. Learn about the ratification process and Americans' growing interests in their fledgling nation's new government.
“Harsh World, This World” Broadcast premiere November 17, 2011	What was slavery really like for enslaved people and their masters? Traditional proverbs guide students through personal stories, based on primary sources, showing kindness, betrayal, trust, cruelty, and the many emotions that govern complex human relationships.
“Westward!” December 15, 2011	Explore the story of the early days of American westward expansion. Daniel Boone recounts the exciting experiences and unexpected consequences associated with moving west. Learn about the risks and grueling personal hardships of creating new settlements.
“War of 1812” Broadcast premiere January 19, 2012	A generation after the Revolution, Americans were once again plunged into war with Great Britain. Why? Join Henry Clay, Tecumseh, Andrew Jackson, James Madison, and others as they struggle to determine what course the United States will take.
“When Freedom Came” Broadcast premiere February 16, 2012	Everyone knows Abraham Lincoln freed all the slaves . . . or did he? Freedom came to enslaved people over the course of many months and years — and it arrived in different ways in different places. Discover how enslaved Americans made everyday choices during the Civil War that helped bring about their freedom.
“Remember the Ladies” March 15, 2012	In 1776, Abigail Adams requested that her husband, future president John Adams, "remember the ladies" when establishing the government and laws of the new nation. Examine the roles, responsibilities, and daily activities of early American women.
“Rights of Youth” April 19, 2012	Imprisonment, whipping, forced transportation, and even death were some of the punishments that courts sentenced children to in the eighteenth century. Witness how justice was administered at a time when criminal laws and sentencing guidelines made few or no exceptions for children.

Colonial Williamsburg online Teacher Community: http://www.history.org/history/teaching/index.cfm

LIBRARY, LITERATURE AND READING

6 WAYS TO GET BOYS TO READ
http://www.pbs.org/parents/best-books-for-boys/6-ways-to-encourage-your-son-to-read.html

Read Aloud
Reading aloud to a boy from infancy onward will help him fall in love with stories. And even if reading aloud didn't enhance vocabulary and comprehension, it would still be worth doing because it offers you both a positive and peaceful interaction in your otherwise busy day.

As a boy learns to decode words, try reading to each other, matching him page for page. Support him when he reads aloud to you, but don't be too quick to correct a mispronunciation. Better to let a word go than to humiliate a boy.

Even after he's a more accomplished reader, he'll still benefit from hearing you read to him. Children often understand far more words when hearing them spoken than when reading them on a page. Remember, the goal of reading aloud is to have a good time. Keep things light; read only as long as you're both enjoying it.

Expand Your Definition of Reading
Don't worry if a boy isn't drawn to traditional boy classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Treasure Island. Magazines, comic books, baseball cards, newspapers, graphic novels, websites, joke collections — it all counts as reading.

Pair Books with Activities
Boys who prefer active learning to quiet contemplation may enjoy making their books come to life. Turn your boy into a human pizza after reading Pete's a Pizza. Supply simple props like rocks and boxes while reading Roxaboxen. Try out some of the recipes at the end of Eating Fractions.

Get Caught Reading
Most boys pay more attention to what we do than to what we say, so let them catch you reading. Don't reserve your books for those few minutes of quiet after you put them to bed; read in public. It's especially important for boys to see other males reading, so dads and uncles should let boys see them curling up with their favorite books. Also, leave books around the house rather than tucking them all away on shelves.

Let Boys Choose
All kids like control, and many of them don't get enough of it. We decide what they eat for dinner, when they go to bed and where they can play. Independent reading is an excellent area for your son to control, even if he chooses books you think are above or below his reading level.

Start a Book Club
Discussing books with your child and his friends is a great way to talk about values and dilemmas in a nonconfrontational setting. Just make sure that the adults don't dominate the conversation

SOURCE: PBS Parents

MASTERPIECE THEATRE 2011

MYSTERY – INSPECTOR LEWIS
‘ October 9, 2011 at 9pm Watch online October 10-November 8, 2011	The Gift of Promise During an investigation of a brutal bludgeoning, what seems to be a blackmail plot gone wrong turns into a case much more dark and sinister.
CASE HISTORIES Three 120-minute mysteries — Sundays, October 16-30, 2011 Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The Patriot) stars as private investigator Jackson Brodie in a series of interlocked mysteries based on the gripping bestsellers by Kate Atkinson. Set in brooding, beautiful Edinburgh, the crimes are a mix of cold cases and fresh bloodshed that only a maverick ex-cop like Brodie can solve.
October 16, 2011 at 9pm *Watch online October 17-November 29, 2011*	Episode 1 Jackson Brodie takes on the cold case of a girl who went missing thirty years earlier. He is also talked into helping a grieving father find the man who murdered his daughter, and tracking down the niece of a mysterious seductress.
October 23, 2011 at 9pm *Watch online October 24-November 29, 2011*	Episode 2 The only witness to a drowning, Jackson is on a search for the victim's identity when he meets a crime novelist caught in a road rage incident. So begins a strange journey that also involves the wife and dominatrix of a comatose crook.
October 30, 2011 at 9pm *Watch online October 31-November 29, 2011*	Episode 3 Jackson Brodie is injured in a train wreck and acquires a teenage sidekick who saves his life and insists that he return the favor by finding her missing employer. Also, while in the hospital, Jackson makes a startling declaration to a former police colleague.

MATH AND SCIENCE

NASA PREPARES TO EXPLORE MERCURY, THE EXTREME PLANET
http://video.pbs.org/video/1845276893

Share exciting discoveries with NASA scientists to see what they have in mind for exploring our neighboring planets. Has the science outgrown the budget? If so, what are their plans to accommodate those limits? Are you able to use this in your classroom? For more science and math resources, visit http://www.aetn.org/education/stationbreak.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

FREE AETN IDEAS PORTAL WORKSHOPS

AETN offers free professional development workshops for Arkansas teachers.

The Arkansas IDEAS Workshop walks educators through all educational resources offered by AETN and a hands-on experience using the IDEAS portal. Participants in the workshop will earn three technology professional development hours.

For registration, please call 1-800-488-6689, or email to education@aetn.org.

We also conduct workshops at schools around the state at no cost to the school district. You can contact us to schedule one for your school today!