Conferences and Professional Development Opportunities
SACS
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is hosting the Kentucky Improvement School Conference Nov. 13-14 in Lexington. This year’s theme is “Professional Learning Communities: Fostering a Culture of Improvement.” The conference will focus on building capacity to pursue excellence through high standards, continuous improvement and quality assurance. For more information, contact Thomas E. Jones at (859) 257-4256.
‘Safe Schools’ online registration
How a school’s culture and climate affect student achievement is often overlooked. It is hard for students to learn when they are scared. The 14th annual Safe Schools-Successful Students Conference will be Oct. 6-7 in Louisville at the Galt House East. Online registration is now available. For more information, contact Tamara Tatum or Kerri Schelling at (800) 372-2962.
'Integrating the arts disciplines'
“Integrating the Arts Disciplines,” presented by Susan Pope, will be Monday, Sept. 22, in Madisonville for middle and high school teachers of arts and humanities, drama, dance, music and visual art, plus librarians, social studies or language arts teachers who want to integrate drama into their curriculum.
EKU writing project
The Eastern Kentucky University Writing Project has an upcoming professional development event, offering the annual Hot Topics in Literacy Conference on Oct. 11 at Madison Middle School. Registration deadline is Oct. 10. For more information, contact Sally Martin at (859) 622-2992.
Drop out prevention funding
The KDE Dropout Prevention Branch is providing funding to offer the e-Learning Kentucky online PD Course “Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence & Child Abuse: Awareness and Intervention” for a reduced fee of only $25. Registration is open for this high-quality, facilitated and interactive online PD course on a first-come, first-served basis.
Autism training
Several dates remain for Kentucky Autism Training Center's Fall Regional Workshops. The next workshop is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Berea, and there are several more that run through Nov. 11. For more information, contact Emily Kirkham at (502) 852-3597.
Major Gang Task Force conference
The annual national Major Gang Task Force Conference, set for Sept. 23-26 in Louisville, is an essential way for any organization to obtain new information regarding gang activities in the United States. The event will be hosted by the Kentucky Department of Corrections. For more information, go to the link provided and click on conferences or contact Debbie Kays at (502) 564-2220, ext. 284 or Meredith Sanford at (502) 564-2220, ext. 244.
Content Area Learning
The 2008 Fall Conference on Content Area Learning, Sept. 19-20, will feature Avi, noted author of children's and adolescent literature. He will read from his works on Friday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., as well as deliver the keynote speech Saturday morning. Teachers may bring students to the Friday reading. Registration deadline is Sept. 15.
School psychologist conference
The 2008 annual conference of the Kentucky Association for Psychology in the Schools (KAPS) will be Oct. 1-3 in Lexington, with the theme RESPOND. A variety of state and national speakers will be addressing such topics as Response to Intervention, Specific Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, preschool assessments and treatment, resiliency, grant writing, school safety, cyber bullying, curriculum-based measurement, behavior disabilities, dyslexia, neuropsychology, and much more. For more information, contact Dr. Kristen Kyriacou, KAPS President, at (502) 485-6094.
UCSMP conference
The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) will host a conference for teachers and administrators who:
· teach from "UCSMP Grades 6-12" (third edition)
· are considering "UCSMP Grades 6-12" (third edition)
· use or have used earlier editions of UCSMP middle and high school materials
· use or have used UCSMP's "Everyday Mathematics"
This conference will be held on the University of Chicago campus Nov.15-16. Participants are asked to choose several textbooks to study in-depth and can schedule a meeting with an author.
Social studies conference
The 2008 KCSS Annual Conference will be held in Louisville Sept. 23-24. The theme for this year’s conference is “Leadership and Advocacy for Social Studies Education.” This year’s conference features Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers and former Kentucky education commissioner, delivering the keynote address, as well as numerous other educators providing both content and pedagogy sessions. Breakout sessions and workshops throughout the two days will include sessions for teachers at all levels.
Grant writing workshops
Kentucky Arts Council grant writing workshops for educators, artists and parents
are set for the following dates and locations:
· Madisonville, Aug. 21, 6-8:30 p.m. CDT
· Danville, Aug.26, 5:30-8:30 EDT
· Stanton, Aug.28, 6-8:30 EDT
History teachers
The Kentucky Association of Teachers of History (KATH) will hold its annual conference Sept. 28 in Frankfort. The keynote speaker is Roger Daniels, a University of Cincinnati history professor emeritus and author of books about Asian Americans and immigration. This year’s theme is “Tradition and Transforming: Teaching East Asian History in a Global Setting.” Conference participants will receive free classroom materials.
KASA bullying workshop
The Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA) is hosting a workshop in Lexington, Sept. 9, titled “Bullying… From Understanding to Action.” Presenters include Lynn McCoy-Simandle, research assistant for Kentucky Safe Schools, and Karen McCuiston, director of the postsecondary component with the Kentucky Center for School Safety. Cyberbullying also will be covered at the conference.
KCTM conference
The Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics (KCTM) annual conference is set for Oct. 11 at Ballard High School in Louisville. Early registration deadline is Sept. 12. For more information, contact Bethany Noblitt at (859) 572-5778.
Instruction and assessment workshop
The annual Scott Trimble Workshop on Instruction and Assessment, titled “Keeping Kentucky’s Vision: Success for Every Student” and presented by the Kentucky Association for Assessment Coordinators (KAAC), will be Oct. 27-28 in Louisville. There will a three-hour pre-workshop session as an opportunity to expand the workshop experience.
Science Teachers conference
The Kentucky Science Teachers Conference and Professional Development in Lexington will be held Nov. 6-8. The theme is “Science for the Future,” and the strands are technology, literacy and content. Education Commissioner Jon E. Draud will be the keynote speaker on Nov. 7. That same day, a Green and Healthy Schools strand will be present all day. There will be over 100 sessions for K-college levels and all content areas. For more information, contact Sherry Fox at (502) 267-5078.
KYSPRA PD conference
The annual Kentucky School Public Relations Association fall conference is set for Nov. 20-21 in Lexington. Among the working sessions for the conference will be: public relations tips from the pros, to what degree is your PR a success and how to deal with angry people.
KASC annual conference
The Kentucky Association of School Councils (KASC) will host its annual conference Sept. 29-30 in Louisville. Education Commissioner Jon E. Draud will deliver the keynote speech, and KDE Associate Commissioner Ken Draut will offer assessment updates on CATS and NCLB. The conference is approved for EILA credit. For more information, contact KASC at (859) 238-2188.
Middle School Association
The Kentucky Middle School Association (KMSA) annual conference will be held Sept. 21-23 in Louisville. Keynote speaker will be Sharon Faber, and there also will be sessions by the 2008 Schools to Watch, content area strands and more than 30 exhibitors.
Check the KDE Professional Development Bulletin Board for additional opportunities.
Educators Wanted, Call for Proposals and Presenters
Davidson Institute seeks achievers
The Davidson Institute for Talent Development is seeking 2009 Davidson Fellows, an honor accompanied by a $50,000, $25,000 or $10,000 scholarship in recognition of a significant piece of work in science, technology, mathematics, music, literature, philosophy or “Outside the Box.” Applicants can’t turn 18 before Oct. 1, 2009. Application deadline is March 4, 2009.
Mathematics teachers needed for study
Kentucky mathematics teachers in grades 5-7 can earn $200 for participating in a federally funded research study for LessonLab, a Pearson Education company. Teachers will need to allow LessonLab to videotape one fraction lesson on either ratios/proportions or variables/expression/equations. For more information, contact Frank Sotelo at (310) 664-2347.
KCSS accepting proposal submissions
The Kentucky Council for the Social Studies (KCSS) is accepting proposal submissions for the KCSS Conference Sept. 23-24, in Louisville. The theme is “Leadership and Advocacy for Social Studies Education.” For more information, contact Mark Kopp and (502) 564-9848.
Grants, awards and contests
Young astronomers
This fall, the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) will be collaborating with Kalmbach Publishing Company, the producers of Astronomy magazine, to sponsor the Young Astronomers Video Contest. Teams of up to four students will work together to produce a video not to exceed three minutes. The grades 6-8 division will deal with the topic “Is Pluto a planet?” High school students in grades 9-12 will describe “What is a black hole?” Videos must be produced entirely by the students and must be received at Astronomy magazine by Nov. 17.
Stock Market game
Learn how to teach mathematics, social studies and practical living content while incorporating writing, decision-making, cooperative learning and technology applications using the Stock Market Game Internet simulation. Through funding from Hilliard Lyons, the Kentucky Council on Economic Education (KCEE) is offering grants to help cover team fees if school funding is an issue. Click here to complete the application form. For more information, contact Susan Sandage.
Space-flown basil seeds available
The NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber contest is looking for participants. Elementary, middle and high school students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers - while engaging in research - and standards-based learning experiences. Educators who complete the challenge with their students can request cinnamon basil seeds that have flown in space on the STS-118 space shuttle mission. Students can compare plants grown from both space-flown and Earth-based control seeds and test the designs of the lunar plant growth chambers.
Portraits of Learning 2008
Tech & Learning invites K-12 students to participate in the sixth annual digital photography contest. The competition, open to all K-12 students, challenges students to capture and share a unique vision of the world. The best digitally enhanced photo wins a special prize from Adobe. Other prizes include a digital camera, Adobe Photoshop Elements and more. Photos must be received by midnight, Oct. 1.
Virtual science challenge
Louisville Science Center’s Virtual Science Challenge for grades 5-10 has been extended, and incentives for teachers to get their students excited about this project have been added. The event invites students to use video to create unique solutions to science challenges. Students get the chance to win cash prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000. The entry deadline is Sept. 21. For more information, contact Tara M. Gahlinger at (502) 561-6100, ext. 6143.
BubbleWrap design contest
Sealed Air Corporation and the National Museum of Education will host the third annual BubbleWrap® Competition for Young Inventors for grades 5-8. This contest incorporates national and state academic standards in the fields of engineering design, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and all of the core curricular subjects. The deadline is Nov. 3. For more information, call (330) 376-8300 or go to info@nmoe.org.
National Geographic Bee
The National Geographic Bee is a school competition for students in grades 4-8. Schools registered by Oct. 15 will receive contest materials in early November. For more information, contact S. Kay Gandy at (270) 745-2991.
St. James Art Show scholarships
The annual St. James Court Art Show Scholarship Competition will award eight scholarships to high school seniors in portfolio, watercolor and photography. The deadline for entries is Sept. 22. For more information, contact Norman Nezelkewicz at (812) 282-1470 or Kim Crum at (502) 417-3424.
Siemens, Discovery Education and the National Science Teachers Association will host the first of its kind national K-12 student sustainability competition this fall for students in grades 6-8. The Siemens “We Can Change the World Challenge” will provide students and teachers with the tools and resources to inspire innovative thinking about sustainability issues, and engage them in developing actionable solutions for a greener world.
Technology in Motion
Sony Creative Software, with support from the International Society for Technology and Education, is sponsoring the Technology in Motion Project. This contest, themed, “Community of the Future,” is currently accepting entries until Oct. 15. Entrants will then receive a Technology in Motion launch kit and will then create a film to submit for judging. Film entries must be received between Jan. 1 and April 1, 2009.
The Kentucky Historical Society has grants available for field trips and projects in the classroom for K-12 public or private schools. Heritage Education and Lincoln Heritage Education Grants are available. The first deadline for both upcoming grants is Sept. 30. For more information, contact Kate Hesseldenz at (502) 564-1792, ext. 4477.
Licensing to Sylvan Dell Publishing
Sylvan Dell Publishing is offering grants for a free, one-year site license, providing unlimited access to all 35 Sylvan Dell e-books. The license can be used on all school computers and may be placed on secure school Web sites, enabling students and their families to log in and access eBooks from homes. With each book comes free online educational material available for cross-curricular learning. Click here to view a list of available books.
Conservation art and writing contest
The Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts and Kentucky Farm Bureau will be hosting the annual Writing and Jim Claypool Conservation Art contests. Information has been placed on the two Web sites. This year’s theme is “Working Trees: Kentucky’s Renewable Future.” The writing contest is for students in grades 6-12 and the art contest for students in grades 1-5. For more information, go to www.conservation.ky.gov or www.kyfb.com.
2008-09 juried art exhibition
Crayola is sponsoring an online art exhibit for students in grades K-6. Each visual art image will be accompanied by children’s written statements expressing the dreams, thoughts and feelings that inspired their work. This year’s theme, “Green – Earth’s Favorite Color,” asks children to express how they are and can be a hero for the planet. The exhibit will be supported by lesson plan ideas. Educators and parents are asked to upload children’s art to the Crayola Online Gallery by Nov. 1. Cash prizes will be awarded in addition to publication in the book.
Future City competition
Middle school students across the state can compete in the Kentucky Future City ’09 competition, sponsored by the National Engineers Week Future City Competition. Future City encourages interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on applications. This year’s topic focuses on water use, challenging students to create self-sufficient water systems for the homes in their future cities. Registration deadline is Oct. 15. For more information, contact Diana Anderson at (606) 337-4386.
Grant Opportunity at the KASC Conference
Three DREAM grants will be awarded to educators who can take something from the 2008 Kentucky Association of School Councils (KASC) Conference, develop it for classroom implementation and then share their project at the 2009 KASC conference (which they will attend as guests). The grants are $250 each and will be awarded to selected applicants from KASC member schools who attend the Sept. 29-30 conference. For more information, contact Lisa Stone at (859) 238-2188.
Educational Opportunities
EKU programming schedule
Eastern Kentucky University is offering several opportunities for in-school programs relating to music, dance, visual arts, poetry and theatre. There are also professional development opportunities for teachers. For more information or to book a school or district for a performance or workshop, contact Sarah Evans at (859) 622-8488.
‘A Day on the Frontier’
Fort Boonesborough State Park will present a special school program titled “A Day on the Frontier,” a living history program for schools Nov. 5-7 and 10-14. Many activities will include hands-on participation Reservations are required. Space will be limited to 250 participants per day. For more information, contact Bill Farmer at (859) 527-3131, ext. 216.
Toyota Environmental Education Center
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) invites people to visit the Toyota Environmental Education Center Nature Trail for an outdoor environmental education experience. Be sure to check out the KERA-aligned curriculum for grades 4-12, which makes relevant connections to the environment through hands-on learning.
State fair educational opportunities
The Kentucky State Fair is hosting two thematic exhibitions. “Infrastructure: Supporting Kentucky’s Future” is a 12,000-square-foot interactive exhibition offering a behind-the-scenes look at the essential services, products, facilities, and people that make Kentucky work and that will secure the Commonwealth’s future. “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln” will prepare fairgoers for the bicentennial of President Lincoln’s birth in this exhibition focusing on Lincoln's Kentucky connections. There will be many other educational opportunities as well, and discounted admission is available to school groups booked in advance.
College tour to visit 10 schools
Thoroughbred College Tours, LLC. is offering the Spring 2009 College Tour for high school seniors, juniors and sophomores, March 29 through April 3. The college tour trip including stops in Tallahassee, Fla., Atlanta, Nashville and Frankfort. In all, 10 colleges will be visited. The cost is $600 per student, but those who pay by Nov. 30 receive a 10 percent discount. Meals, transportation, guided campus tours, sightseeing tours, and college and career workshops are included in the price. For more information, call (502) 386-6008 or e-mail thoroughbredcollegetours@yahoo.com.
Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum in Louisville will present “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery,” through the rest of the calendar year. For more information, contact Kirsten Popp.
Upcoming themes related to the event include:
· Quills and Calligraphy, Sept. 13
· Costumes and Historic Clothing, Sept. 27
· Decorative Miniatures or Toy Furniture, Oct. 11
· Life and Liberty Art Family Day, Oct. 25
· Campaign Posters, Nov. 4
· Book Making, Nov. 8
· Family Portraits, Nov. 22
· Cartooning, Dec. 13
· Art in Motion Family Day, Dec. 27
Photography exhibit
Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville's main library, will be showing a photography exhibit by Milton Rogovin from Sept. 22 through Oct. 31. The exhibit's content highlights global diversity, including coal miners of all races and ethnicities. The photography exhibit will hang in the media department and on the lower level across from the Chao Auditorium. The library is open in the fall term from 7:30 a.m. until midnight, Mondays through Thursdays, from 7:30 to 6 p.m. on Fridays, from 9 to 6 on Saturdays and from noon to midnight on Sundays.
Education Outreach performances
The Kentucky Repertory Theatre’s Education Outreach Performances for the fall will feature the following productions in Horse Cave:
· "Abraham Lincoln," through Nov. 1
· "To Kill a Mockingbird," Oct. 3-Nov. 15
· "Amadeus," Oct. 24–Nov. 15
· "King Lear," Nov. 21–Dec. 4
For more information, contact Kentucky Repertory Theatre at (800) 342-2177.
Resources
SREB launches Web site for online teachers
The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) has a first-of-its-kind Web site for teachers of middle grades and high school online courses. The Web site, www.srebonlineteachers.org, will help online teachers connect with each other, find best practices, learn about research in the field, draw on classroom resources and more. Features of the site include a Web-based community that online teachers can join and resources related to online classroom instruction, digital learning content (which allows teachers to gather catalogued, high-quality materials that can be used to help with instruction), information about professional development and more. For more information about www.srebonlineteachers.org or online learning in your state, contact SREB Communications. SREB's many online learning resources can be found by visiting www.sreb.org and clicking on the button on the left for the SREB Educational Technology Cooperative.
MathLincs for grades 5-6
MathLincs is a collaborative project for 5th- and 6th- grade math students around the world. Students share math ideas through a variety of math projects that are organized by strands. MathLincs use a variety of technologies including blogging, videos, podcasting, GoogleEarth and video conferencing.
Constitution Day resources
A mandate in the 2004 federal congressional spending bill requires every school and college or agency that receives federal money to teach about the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, the day the Constitution was adopted. U.S. Department of Education guidelines allow schools to plan their own programs. Resources to help teachers, schools and districts meet the mandate are available at the link provided.
Professional development essentials
“The Professional Development Essentials: Proven Ways to Build Student Achievement” booklet series is available in a six-booklet format from The Teacher Institute. These 16-page booklets provide your teachers with the latest research-based teaching information to help schools meet the state standards, make AYP (adequate yearly progress) and score well on other assessments. For descriptions of the individual titles click here. For more information, call (800) 333-0776.
Science Literacy maps
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is preparing to launch online, interactive versions of the Atlas of Science Literacy maps.
Online college information search tool
CampusCompare offers a new way of tackling the college search and selection process. It takes all the information out there, abridges it and adds the comments and thoughts of students who have experienced the college first-hand, allowing college-bound students to get opinions on schools. This free and interactive online resource and social networking community helps college-bound students find the right school for them with up-to-date college information and reviews from students and alumni on the most important topics.
Online magazine for teachers
Ohio State University and the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) have launched an online magazine for teachers in the early grades. The National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded publication, “Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears” is designed to help teachers develop knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctica and to use best practices to integrate science and literacy instruction around polar themes. Click here for more information.
'Google Earth Lessons'
"Google Earth Lessons" is a free public resource by teachers to give other educators tools and ideas for using the free Google Earth software in their classrooms. A section called "Google Earth How-tos" gives educators the basic skills needed for the software, and a discussion section includes threads for exchanging ideas on a variety of topics.
KET EncycloMedia
This Internet-based comprehensive learning service is free to Kentucky public schools. It is the result of a partnership between Kentucky Educational Television and the Kentucky Department of Education. It offers teachers and students more than 4,000 videos, 40,000 video clips and thousands of digital images, all searchable by keyword, content area, grade level and Kentucky academic standards.
Kentucky Teacher
The Kentucky Department of Education keeps people informed about the good things happening in Kentucky schools through its professional development publication, "Kentucky Teacher."
Online KDE Bookstore
Buying publications, compact discs and videotapes about the state's education system has been made simpler by the opening of the Online KDE Bookstore.
For Parents
The Kentucky Department of Education has a Web site, "For Parents," that gives parents of Kentucky schoolchildren one-stop access to education information, resources and "ParentInfo" e-mail updates.
Scholarship information
Find helpful scholarship information and tips to avoid scholarship scams.