Project Archeaology Training

Project Archaeology, a BLM supported archaeology education organization, announces an online teachers' professional development workshop to show educators how to engage kids in learning through the processes of archaeology, using the Project Archaeology-designed curriculum Investigating Shelter. Engaging hands-on activities fulfill many core requirements such as social studies, science, mathematics, language arts and art while promoting citizenship, building personal ethics and character, and achieving deeper cultural understanding.

The Eight-week Online Educator Workshop begins January 18, 2010. The course will incorporate 4 ½ hours per week of self-directed study and is geared towards upper elementary teachers, grades 3 - 6. The course costs $160.00 which includes the curriculum guide and 2 university credits. Interested teachers should contact Madlyn Runburg at 801-671-7713 or mrunburg@umnh.utah.edu by January 8, 2010.

Pay It Forward Foundation Mini-Grants

"The Pay It Forward Foundation was established in September 2000 by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and others to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and provide them with opportunities to do so. By bringing the author's vision and related materials into classrooms internationally, students and their teachers are encouraged to formulate their own ideas of how they can pay it forward."

The Foundation offers mini-grants (up to $500) to educators to assist in Pay It Forward endeavors. Application reviews occur twice a year—September 15th and February 15th—but grant applications are accepted year round. Contact the Pay It Forward Foundation's Mini-Grant Explanation Website for more details.

Nevada Mining Workshop, April 6-8, 2009

The Nevada Mining Association & Nevada Division of Minerals will offer its annual Nevada Earth Science Education Workshop April 6th through 8th, 2009 at Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees will earn one PDE or UNLV credit and will receive:

• Free classroom materials
• Mine and Geology Tours
• Master Teacher Track – with new material for teachers who have
• attended the Workshop within the past four years
• Geology From the Ground Up – for those new to teaching earth science

Registration is $20 and REFUNDABLE at check in! If you are interested in receiving registration information for the Workshop, contact Joseph Riney or apply online.

A Conversation with Lincoln (2/27/09)

Celebrate Lincoln's Bicentennial by attending A Conversation With Lincoln at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy on Friday, February 27th from 5:00-8:00 PM. The program's theme is "Lincoln and Equality" and is open to the public. The celebration will include:

• President Lincoln re-enactor
• Lincoln scholar presentation by Bob Nylen (Nevada State Museum)
• Civil War soldiers
• Civil War artifacts, music, food
• Student art, essays, documentary films
• Opportunities to have photos taken with Lincoln

Tickets are $3.00 at the door. For more information, contact Jeff Hinton.

Teaching Primary Sources—A New Blog

Teaching Primary Sources is a new blog dedicated to teaching methods for using primary sources and providing information about primary source learning opportunities in Southern Nevada. The site will include primary source sets, primarily using the Library of Congress resources.

Battleground Nevada—The Lincoln Bicentennial and Nevada

Presented by the Nevada Council for History Education
with support from the Library of Congress (Teaching with Primary Sources) and University of Northern Colorado and The College of Southern Nevada

This conference will prepare teachers to use primary sources available through the Library of Congress website to engage in students in history instruction. Activities include investigating the Library of Congress website and developing Lincoln activities for your classroom. The conference will offer lectures on Lincoln and Nevada as well as appearances by Civil War re-enactors (including President Lincoln).

Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009
Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: College of Southern Nevada—West Charleston Campus (New Library Building I-101)
Limit: 28 participants
Participants Receive: One-half credit from the Nevada Department of Education for re-certification, teaching materials, and lunch
Registration Ends: February 1, 2009
Registration Process: Email the below information to Dr. Linda Miller, State Coordinator for the Nevada Council of History Education

Preliminary Schedule of Events

8:00 Registration/Get in Groups
8:15 Welcome/Introductions (Dr. Linda Miller, Nevada Council for History Education State Coordinator)
8:30 Encountering Primary Sources/Project Overview (Dr. Keeler)
8:45 Examining Primary Sources using the Library of Congress Website (Jeff Hinton)
9:30 Interpreting Library of Congress Materials—Nevada Focus (Dr. Miller)
10:00 Break
10:15 Interpreting Primary Sources/Pony Express and Nevada Statehood (Robert Nylen)
11:00 Lunch/Paired project discussions (Determine inquiry question)
11:45 Civil War Tents Observation (Nevada Civil War History Association)
12:30 Senator Stewart Chautauqua (Robert Nylen)
1:15 President Lincoln Chautauqua (William Peck)
2:00 Break
2:15 Integrating Primary Sources/Work on Projects (Dr. Keeler)
4:00 Present Projects
4:45 Evaluations

TerraCycling: Recycling in the Classroom

TerraCycle collects trash that would otherwise find its way to a landfill and, instead, uses those items to create new products. By mailing recyclables to the company (preferably in used containers), schools can earn approximately $0.02 per item. Some of the items they collect include:

• Drink Pouches (e.g., Capri Sun)
  
• Cookie Wrappers (e.g., Oreo)
• Corks
  
• Yogurt Containers (i.e., Stonyfield Farms)
• Plastic Bottles (e.g., Coke)
• Chip Containers (e.g., Wheat Thins)
  

This sounds like a great way for schools to teach eco-friendly concepts while making money.

Schools sign-up to participate and are sent shipping labels and sometimes boxes in which they can mail the items to TerraCycle.

Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History Summer Seminars for Teachers (Applications due 2/15/09)

The Gilder Lehrman Summer Seminars are designed to strengthen participants' commitment to high quality history teaching. Public, parochial, independent school teachers, and National Park Service rangers are eligible. These week-long seminars provide intellectual stimulation and a collaborative context for developing practical resources and strategies to take back to the classroom.

Seminars participants receive:

• Room and board
• Books and teaching resources
• Stipends of $400 (international seminar stipend of $500)

Seminars are limited to thirty participants by competitive application with preference given to new applicants.

To apply, visit http://gilderlehrman.org/teachers/seminars1.html.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2009

CUE-SN Announces Its Annual Multimedia Festival (Projects due 3/31/09)

Computer-Using Educators of Southern Nevada is now accepting invitations for its Sixth Annual Student Multimedia Festival Competition. The theme for this year's competition is "Explorations."

Entry categories include grade level (K-5, 6-8, 9-12), media category (computer generated, audio/video), and entry category (subject-area, non-subject area).

Applications are due March 31, 2009 and may be acquired here.

Contact Cynthia Ochoa with questions regarding entries, judging, and the festival.

CUE-SN Presents "CrazyTalk with Tanya Morrill" (1/13/09)

The Computer-Using Educators of Southern Nevada , the newest affiliate of Computer-Using Educators, Inc., invites all to their meeting January 13 at Kesterson ES from 4:00-5:30 PM. See how student drawings, as well as portraits, can come alive and “talk” when narration is added using CrazyTalk. The presenter, Tanya Morrill’s first-grade class captured a CUE-SN MultiMedia Festival award with this fun application.

RSVP Tanya Morrill or Lynn Kiehlbauch via CCSD's InterAct. For more information, visit http://www.cue-sn.org and click on "Free Local Trainings."

The Nevada Women’s History Project Teacher of the Year Award (Due 2/1/09)

The Nevada Women’s History Project, a non-profit statewide educational organization, announces its first Teacher of the Year Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding teacher who promotes the roles and contributions of Nevada women in their classroom. They seek lesson plans or programs that promote the study of Nevada women. Applications must be received by February 1, 2009. The award will be presented at a Nevada Women’s History Project event in the North or the South depending on the location of the winner.

• AWARD: The successful candidate will receive a $500 cash award. The winning lesson will also be published on the Nevada Women’s History Project website.
• ELIGIBILITY: A candidate must teach in the state of Nevada and be a full time teacher in Grades 4-12.
• BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION: The applicant must include a one-page autobiographical statement including his or her background, a complete history of where s/he has taught, when and what courses and a summary of teaching accomplishments and philosophy. The applicant should also refer to other history related activities in which s/he has participated and note any special awards received.
• BRIEF INTRODUCTION: Prepare a one-page introduction to the lesson or program. Address the following:
• For whom is the lesson intended?
• What is the purpose of the lesson?
• How does it fit in the curriculum?
• What history standards are covered?
• How does it promote the study of Nevada Women?
• PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION: Prepare a 1-2 page narrative description of the program or project and how it advanced the study of Nevada Women and their contributions. Include relevant handouts as needed.
• CONCLUSION: Write a one-page reflection on how the lesson or program succeeded in your class. What did your students learn about Nevada Women’s History? Including student work is encouraged.
• THREE LETTERS OF SUPPORT: Include three letters of support (none more than two pages) written by individuals familiar with the applicant’s work.

Deadline: Postmarked by February 1, 2009
Send five copies of application packet to Dr. Linda Karen Miller, Nevada Women's History Project Chair.

CUE-SN Presents "Google Docs Rock" (11/6/08)

The CUE-SN presentation, delivered by Donna Levy and Charles Sinicki, will introduce the free technology tool revolutionizing collaboration. Come learn why Google Docs ROCK!

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Chaparral High School, Room 165A

Siemens "We Can Change the World" Challenge

Discovery Education teamed with Siemens in the development and support of the "We Can Change the World" Challenge. The current round is open to middle school students. In 2009, the Challenge will open to K-5 applicants and in 2010, it will open to high school students.

More information on the Challenge is available at http://siemens.discoveryeducation.com/

"The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge gives students the opportunity, tools and inspiration to become those agents of change. Beginning in fall 2008 through March 15, 2009, middle school student teams from across the country will be challenged to create sustainable, reproducible environmental improvements in their local communities.

Top prizes will include a chance to appear on Discovery Network's Planet Green, a share in thousands of dollars in cash prizes, a one-in-a-lifetime Discovery Adventure trip and more."

Google RISE Awards—Due December 1, 2008

The Google RISE (Roots in Science and Engineering) Awards are designed to fund, promote and support science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and computer science education in the United States. Non-profit organizations, and university computer science faculty, staff, and student organizations are encouraged to apply. Special consideration will be given to programs that impact students from communities with longstanding underrepresentation in computing and technology (women, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, people with disabilities) and economically disadvantaged students

Programs ranging from formative ideas that explore learning concepts to fully tested models that are ready to be adopted and disseminated will be consider. Awarded funds may include a combination of monetary awards, volunteer resources, and in-kind donations with award amounts ranging from $500 - $15,000

Applications for 2009 funding are due December 1, 2008. Awards will be announced mid-January 2009

For more information, contact google-rise@google.com

PCMall's Green Light Contest

WIN A "GREEN COMPUTER LAB" FOR YOUR SCHOOL!

INSPIRE your middle and high school students to be leaders in the Green Schools movement and your school could win a state-of-the-art computer lab! The "Green Light Contest" essay competition, sponsored by PC Mall Gov, in partnership with HP, InFocus, and T.H.E. Journal is seeking entries from students in two categories: grades 5 - 8 and 9 - 12. In essays of 1,000 words or less students are asked to describe how they and their teachers can utilize technology to protect the environment. The grand-prize-winning composition will receive a 30-seat "green" computer lab for the author's school. Two additional first place
winners (one from each grade-level category) will each receive a "green" laptop and all winning essays will be published in T.H.E. Journal. Recognition of winners
will occur at FETC, January 21 - 24, in Orlando, FL.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2008
Essay and submission criteria are available online at: http://www.1105info.com/t.do?id=1685344:7097764

Holocaust in Nevada—October Training

From the Holocaust in Nevada webpage:

"If you have just a day or two to teach about the Holocaust, what would be critical for your students to know about the Holocaust and what are the best instructional strategies for teaching that content? This conference will provide teachers with specific content, lessons, and instructional strategies for teaching students about the Holocaust. The training and materials are free. Free recertification credits available. Food will be provided!

Location: Sig Rogich Middle School
Dates: Friday, October 24 from 4pm - 8pm
and Saturday, October 25 from 8am - 6pm

The deadline to register for the Southern Nevada teacher training is October 17, 2008. "

Petco's Aquademics Program

Local Petco stores offer fish tanks for free to fourth and fifth grade teachers. They will bring the tank to your classroom along with lesson plans. The below information is available at http://www.petco.com/Content/Content.aspx?PC=aquademics&Nav=538:

"Aquademics® is a hands-on, minds-on enrichment opportunity that brings learning to life for children, whether they are sitting in the classroom or gathered with family members around the aquarium in the living room.

Now it's easy to incorporate the fun of an aquarium into your 4th or 5th grade students' learning experience.

Aquademics can help meet state learning standards in Science, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Ecology, Writing and more.

Lesson Plans
Use the aquarium to create interest in a range of subjects from biology to creative writing, from math to social studies and more.

Resource Materials
Use materials such as worksheets to give each student the opportunity for a hands-on, minds-on learning experience.

Cash for College
One of your students could win $1,000 to save for college!

Special Offers
Money-saving offers are available for Aquademics teachers.

Bring your class in to your local participating PETCO store for an unforgettable learning experience. Signups for the upcoming school year begin in August. For more information, visit your nearest PETCO store. "

Each store has a limited number of tanks so teachers are encouraged to contact their local store as early as possible.

Picturing America — An Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities

From the National Endowment for the Humanities:

"Picturing America, an exciting new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art.

Collectively, the masterpieces of American art featured in Picturing America, when used in conjunction with the Teachers Resource Book and program Website, help students experience the humanity of history and enhance the teaching and understanding of America’s past.

What You Receive
40 high-quality, laminated reproductions (approximately 24” x 36”), an illustrated Teachers Resource Book, with activities organized by elementary, middle and high school levels. The resource book will help K-12 teachers use the images to teach core curriculum subjects such as: American history, social studies, civics, language arts, literature, science, math, geography, and music.

Other Resources
The Picturing America website, is a rich source of additional information and resources, including innovative lesson plans.

Who May Apply
Public, private, parochial, and charter and home school consortia (K-12), as well as public libraries in the United States and its territories.

How to Apply
Go to the Picturing America website
From the Picturing America home page you may browse the gallery of images or go directly to the application by clicking on Apply Now and follow the simple directions.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2008"

Southern Nevada Council for the Social Studies: Fall Social — October 16, 2008

The Southern Nevada Council for the Social Studies will celebrate Social Studies their Fall Social and Membership Drive on October 16, 2008. Food, fun and festivities will occur at McMullan's Irish Pub (4650 West Tropicana, 702-247-7000) from 4:00-6:00 PM.

There will be a raffle for all new members, as well as a raffle for all current members who bring a new member. RSVP to Karlye Mull by Monday, October 13, 2008.

Innovative Project-Based Learning: From Kindergarten to College

Presented by Christy G. Keeler, Ph.D. and Heather B. Rampton, M.Ed. at the National Educational Computing Conference, San Antonio 2008

1. View sample student-made project (“Mixed-Up Chameleon”)
2. Introduction and PBL overview
3. The Strategies
1. Video Methods
1. Adapting literature into first-person using video (“Mixed-Up Chameleon”)
2. Research-based video reports (“St. Patrick’s Day” — Not available online)
2. Audio
1. Mock interviews (“Tomorsky’s Simpson Book Review”)
2. Process practice songs (“Gravity”)
3. “Day in the Life”
1. Man-on-the-street (“New York City Draft Riots")
2. Journal memoirs (“Civil War Nurse”)
4. Content-based podcasts (“Civil War Metaphors”)
3. Blogs
1. Journaling (“Harriet Tubman”)
2. Daily homework (“Baula’s Logic…”)
3. e-portfolios (“Dennison’s Pre-service Teacher Portfolio”)
4. Digital Photography
1. Scavenger hunts (“Geometry”)
5. Page Layout Software
1. Mock newspaper reports (“Saia’s 1930s Newspaper Book Review”)
2. Tri-fold brochures (“Kuennen’s Book Review”)
6. Common Applications
1. Virtual museums using slideshows (“Native Americans of the Colonial Era”)
2. Slideshow-based games
   
4. Brainstorming/Goal Setting
5. Closing

Boulder City and Hoover Dam: Then and Now—Teaching and Writing Local History

The Nevada Chapter of the National Council for History Education (co-sponsored by Arcadia Publishing) is offering a one day conference on teaching and writing about local history with historical foci on Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Boulder City.

Boulder City and Hoover Dam: Then and Now:
Teaching and Writing Local History

Boulder Dam Hotel and Forever Earth Cruise on Lake Mead
September 27, 2008

Presented by the Nevada Council for History Education
Co-Sponsored by Arcadia Publishing

Preliminary Schedule of Events

7:45 Arrive at Green Valley Tech Center (pending bus transportation)
8:00 Depart for Boulder Dam Hotel
8:30 Arrive Boulder Dam Hotel
8:45 Introductions by Dr. Linda Karen Miller, Nevada Council for History Education State Coordinator
9:00 Senator Harry Reid (invited not confirmed) Importance of writing Local History: Discussing book on Searchlight
9:30 Gene Segerblom, former Nevada State Assemblywoman on past issues in Boulder City and Lynn Stewart, current Nevada Assemblyman and former Boulder City High School government teacher on current issues about Boulder City
10:00 Break
10:15 Mimi Rodden on Images of America: Boulder City
10:45 Arcadia Publishing on Writing Local History
11:00 Tour of Boulder Dam Hotel and Hoover Dam Museum
12:00 Lunch (Talk with author or publisher about writing)
12:45 Depart for Lake Mead and Forever Earth Boat or walking tour of Boulder City
1:00 On board Forever Earth** — Introduction Daphne Sweing, Program Manager Forever Earth, UNLV; Dr. Fran Campbell: CSN, Blacks in the Construction of Boulder Dam
1:30 National Park Service Presentation (will continue as we go to the Dam) by Kay Rohde, Chief of Interpretation at Lake Mead
3:30 Lessons from Forever Earth instructor or primary source lessons.
4:00 Wrap Up: What does the future hold?
5:00 Depart Boulder City

Alternative Schedule: 1:00-4:00 Walking Tour of Boulder City: Observe changes then and now

**The boat excursion is limited to 25 people. If there are more participants, then the others will go on the walking tour of Boulder City.

Participants will receive:

• Images of Boulder City by Mimi Rodden (First 25 only) ($20)
• Lunch: ($15)
• Boat ride
• One year membership in Nevada Council for History Education ($15)
• One year membership in National Council for History Education ($30)
• Recertification credit from the Nevada Department of Education
• Lesson plans and resources

For information or an application, contact Dr. Linda Miller.

Google Teacher Academy

This was sent my Mike Lawrence of the Computer Using Educators sent hte following message:

"Since today is National Teacher Day, we thought it would be the perfect day to announce that Google's FREE training program for K-12 educators is back at the Google headquarters! Outstanding educators from across the country (and beyond!) are encouraged to apply for the Google Teacher Academy taking place on Wed, June 25, 2008.

The GTA is an intensive, one-day event (8:30am-7:30pm) where participants get hands-on experience with Google's free products and other technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies, collaborate with exceptional educators, and immerse themselves in an innovative corporate environment. Upon completion, GTA participants become Google Certified Teachers who share what they learn with other K-12 educators in their local region.

50 outstanding educators from across the country will be selected to attend the GTA based on their passion for teaching, their experience as leaders, and their use of technology in K-12 settings. Each applicant is REQUIRED to produce and submit an original one-minute video, and applications for the event in Mountain View are due on May 28, 2008. Please use Google Video or YouTube to post these original videos. Participants must provide their own travel, and if necessary, their own lodging. Though we will give preference to K-12 educators within a 90-minute local commute of an Academy event, anyone may apply.

Learn more about the program and the application at: http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html"

Southern Nevada Council for the Social Studies - Spring Fling - May 20, 2008

The SNCSS will have its Spring Fling on May 20, 2008 at McMullan's Irish Pub (4650 W. Tropicana, Las Vegas, Nevada). The banquet and social will include delivery of the "Best Of" social studies teacher awards, raffle prizes, food and drink, and trivia. The cost is $20 at the door for non-members (includes one year membership fee) and free for members.

The evening is sponsored by Rick Coop of Holt, Rinehart, and Winston Publishing and will begin at 4:30 PM. Please RSVP to Karlye Mull.

PBS Content at iTunes U

On Friday, iTunes added PBS content to iTunes U (available by going to iTunes, selecting the "iTunes Store," clicking on "iTunes U," and using the "Beyond Campus" menu). The content includes teaching support videos and instructional content from KQED, WETA, WNET thirteen, WGBH, and more. Video clips that illustrate science, geography or history (including segments from Ken Burns' documentary The War) are accompanied by PDF lesson plans and educator's guides!

Students and Teachers Mash It Up in eInstructionTM’s “Content Meets Technology” Sweepstakes

From Christy Oberly:

Classroom technology leader to give away over $25,000 in interactive technology; asks students and teachers to collaborate on nationwide Google Maps mashup

Denton, TX – April 8, 2008 – Merging content with technology when they joined forces in December, eInstruction™ and the former Interwrite Learning™ today announced “Content Meets Technology”, a first-of-its-kind sweepstakes that asks teachers and students to submit, using 250 characters or less, their vision of the role of technology in education. Those thoughts will then post to an interactive Google Map mashup on the eInstruction site. The “mashup” of Google Maps (technology) and the student/teacher collaborations (content) is designed to mirror the merger of eInstruction and Interwrite Learning.

The student/teacher submissions, which will only be required for posting to the map, should highlight classroom achievements made possible by the use of technology or focus on the benefits of a technology-empowered classroom. The work, along with the name of the school, the grade, and the teacher’s name, will appear on a Google Map of the world on the sweepstakes’ Web site at www.contentmeetstechnology.com.

“The combination of eInstruction and Interwrite Learning helps make teaching and learning fun and interactive in a whole new way,” said Lisa O’Masta, Vice President of Marketing for eInstruction. “We’re celebrating this merger by asking teachers and students to participate in a groundbreaking, educational exercise that is itself a metaphor for the tremendous possibilities available when great content and great technology come together.”

Winners will be awarded an interactive makeover prize package that consists of:

Interwrite Workspace with ExamView™ reader. The award-winning, easy-to-use software enables educators to create, save and share engaging, interactive lessons with a gallery of digital images and annotation tools that can be used with any application. Workspace provides one-click integration with CPS, eInstruction’s popular student response systems.
Interwrite Board™. Teaching from the front of the classroom has never been this fun before. The Interwrite Board combined with Interwrite Workspace gives you the power to control your computer from the front of the class. Your students will be on their best behavior with the chance to come to the board.
Interwrite Pad™. Combined with Workspace, the wireless Interwrite Pad is a powerful teaching tool that enables educators to easily control their computer and instructional resources from anywhere in the classroom. Used by over 50,000 teachers worldwide, this dependable, durable pad is a must in every classroom.
32-Pad CPS RF Clicker System. Engage every child in class material by creating an interactive learning environment in your classroom. Students who normally remain silent in class can now answer every question without fear of embarrassment. Join the 150,000 teachers who now spend less time grading and more time teaching. CPS simplifies taking attendance, grading tests and quizzes, creating lessons, and generating personalized reports automatically!
One year subscription to ExamView Learning Series™. A collection of over 9,500 unique high-quality standards-aligned questions that work in conjunction with the ExamView Suite. Over 50 leading publishers also create and distribute ExamView-formatted questions with over 5,000 elementary, middle school, high school, and post-secondary textbooks.
Epson PowerLite 400W Projector. Ideal for widescreen computers and interactive whiteboards, this 3LCD short-throw projector with WXGA resolution reduces shadows, simplifies installation, and provides 30 percent larger images than standard 4:3 projectors. It can project an 87 inch widescreen (16:10) image from just 3.4 feet away. The 3LCD optical engine, the world’s number one projection display technology, provides vibrant color and incredible image quality and unsurpassed reliability.
Epson Short-throw Projector Wall Mount. This projector wall mount enables quick, efficient and low cost installation of short-throw projectors. It allows presenters to fully utilize an interactive whiteboard (IWB) or screen without creating shadows or having light from the projector shine in their eyes.
Free installation and online training.

The contest will name one winner from the following three grade level segments: kindergarten through fifth; sixth through eighth; and ninth through twelfth. The sweepstakes is not limited to users of eInstruction or Interwrite Learning products. It is open to all teachers and students in the United States.

To encourage participation in the Google Map mashup, eInstruction will provide those teachers a referral bonus: for each teacher they successfully refer, they will receive an additional chance to win (total chances per teacher are capped at eleven per single entry).

All participants will submit their work by going to www.einstruction.com and clicking the “Content Meets Technology” link. The sweepstakes begins on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 and ends on Thursday, May 13, 2008. Winners will be chosen randomly from each grade category and announced on Monday, May 19, 2008.

The Content Meets Technology Sweepstakes arrives on the heels of Interwrite Learning’s 2007 Video Makeover Contest, in which more than 220 classes submitted music parody videos. The success of that contest has prompted eInstruction to schedule the second annual music parody contest; teachers and students can begin submitting their musical collaborations September 9, 2008.

For further information on the sweepstakes and eInstruction, please visit http://www.einstruction.com. For more information on Interwrite Learning, visit http://www.interwritelearning.com.

NCSS Social Studies Teacher of the Year, April 22

NCSS Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award has been extended--new postmark deadline is April 22, 2008

If you know of an exceptional social studies teacher or are one, then please submit an application for this year's Teacher of the Year Award. Winners will be asked to present a session at the upcoming conference in Houston, TX and will receive a special tribute at an awards reception!!!

Guidelines and criteria for this award can be found on the NCSS website at http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/teaching/. You can download the cover page from the website or email excellence@ncss.org for a copy of the information.

CUE-SN Presents: "Simple Broadcasting," 4/3/08

How to Set Up a Simple In-School Broadcast

This CUE-SN presentation is a basic introduction to the nuts and bolts of setting up an IN-SCHOOL Broadcast.

Agenda

• Goals of Broadcast
• How to Connect the Modulator to DVD, Camera, VCR, etc.
• Connect the Portable Encoder for the Video over IP systems (Schools built from 2006 to present only)
• Software for Editing Video
• Teleprompters
• Examples of Student Work
• Presentation by Ken Baird from Visual Communication Systems

When: Thursday April 3, 2008 from 4:30 - 6pm
Where: Burkholder MS Room 210

RSVP or for more information contact Craig Cuddihy on InterAct or 702-799-1010 ext.5359

Geographic Alliance in Nevada Summer Institute

I highly encourage you to consider participating in the Geographic Alliance in Nevada's (GAIN) Alliance Summer Geography Institute (ASGI). The institute includes two weeks of training in geography content and instruction and takes place in both Las Vegas (content/instruction) and Reno (field experiences). This year's institute will be June 9-20, 2008. Contact Herb Thompson (GeoMan) for more information and applications.

We the People Summer Institute

I highly recommend all teachers participate in the below advertised institute. I attended last year and found it to be an incredibly enjoyable and educational experience. You may find information about last year's institute at another of my blogs: "Keeler Thoughts and Conference Notes."

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
NEVADA/CALIFORNIA SUMMER INSTITUTE
July 27 – August 3, 2008
Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution helps students understand the history and principles of our constitutional government. The program focuses on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and fosters civic competence and responsibility among upper elementary, middle, and high school students in public and private schools nationwide.

The Nevada/California institute is a rigorous professional development program that brings educators to Sierra Nevada College to work with constitutional scholars from a variety of disciplines. Participants complete academic readings, attend morning lectures, and participate in afternoon sessions dedicated to the content and teaching methods, appropriate to the We the People curriculum. At the close of the institute, they also participate in a culminating activity modeled on the We the People simulated congressional hearing, an authentic assessment strategy.

The following topics are addressed in the lectures and teaching methods and assessment sessions:

• What are the historical and philosophical foundations of the American political system?
• How did the Framers create the Constitution?
• How did the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shape American institutions
• and practices?
• How have the protections of the Bill of Rights been developed and expanded?
• What rights does the Bill of Rights protect?
• What are the roles of the citizen in the American democracy?

WHO CAN APPLY
Educators from schools throughout the state of Nevada and northern California are eligible to apply. Enrollment is limited to thirty teachers from upper elementary, middle and high schools, both public and private. Applications are due May 1, 2008 with notification of acceptance by May 15, 2008.

BENEFITS
Participants will receive AT NO COST

• Airfare or other transportation costs (up to $150)
• Lodging and meals
• A library of congressional literature
• A set of textbooks and other materials for the classroom

LOCATION
Sierra Nevada College is located in Incline Village, Nevada, about one-mile from the shore of Lake Tahoe, at an elevation of 6,700 feet above sea level. While many view the Lake Tahoe Basin as a recreational wonderland made up of world-class resorts and intense natural beauty, Sierra Nevada College views Tahoe as a laboratory for learning, where altitude and attitude come together to create a truly unique atmosphere.

OBLIGATION
Participation in the institute, considered to be professional development worth more than $3000, obligates the recipient to conduct a simulated congressional hearing in his or her classroom. State, regional and congressional district coordinators for We the People will assist with the hearing and other aspects of program implementation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
David Richmond [(661) 871-5636 ] , California State Coordinator (We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution)

Draft Social Studies Standards for the State of Nevada

This message is from Stephanie Hartman, Social Studies Coordinator for the State of Nevada.

“The Nevada Social Studies Standards have been revised and a draft copy is now available for public comment. Public comment will be open from March 4, 2008 to April 4, 2008. The revised standards may be found at: http://www.doe.nv.gov/standards/socialstudies/standards_revision.html

The Social Studies Standards Revision Team has been meeting since last August to provide teachers, students, administrators, and parents with a revised Social Studies Standards document. Several issues guided the work of this team:
First, the document needed to be user friendly and teachable for all teachers. This issue guided the decision to combine the old social studies standards document into one document. In addition, the four content area standards have been numbered sequentially to demonstrate the belief that social studies is an interdisciplinary content area.
Second, standards and benchmarks were combined and subsumed within each content area so that teachers could effectively teach the standards and benchmarks in a school year.
Third, the document is now laid out in a K - 12 continuum so that teachers can read the content across the grades to see what students should have learned before and after a specific grade.
Finally, the group focused on the idea that the standards and benchmarks are not meant to be curriculum, but instead, to provide a framework for guidance to districts in the development of an appropriate and comprehensive social studies curriculum.

For questions, please contact Stephanie Hartman at (775) 687-2450 or at shartman@doe.nv.gov.”

2008 George Washington Teachers’ Institute, Applications due April 4, 2008

This message is from Stephanie Hartman, Social Studies Coordinator for the State of Nevada.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens is pleased to announce that through the generous support of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, Nevada educators are now eligible to attend the George Washington Teachers’ Institute. Now in its tenth year, the Institute provides a one-week study program at George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, in northern Virginia for ten Nevada teachers from public and non-public schools, teaching in grades three through twelve.

The Institute’s weeklong program provides an intensive immersion study of George Washington and his world. The curriculum includes discussions led by noted Washington scholars and hands-on workshops exploring Washington’s life and interests at Mount Vernon. Participating teachers will meet with Mount Vernon’s historians, curators, and educators; and will spend a day in Philadelphia, Colonial Williamsburg or Washington’s hometown of Alexandria, Virginia exploring 18th century colonial life and politics. Through study, discussion, tours, and projects, participants will gain a new and deeper understanding of the life and character of George Washington and his unique legacy in creating and shaping the principles of America’s democracy.

This year, they are providing an abbreviated workshop format for lower elementary teachers. The workshop is an intensive three day, hands-on learning experience for teachers of grades 3 – 5.

Upon completing the Institute’s study program, teachers are required to prepare a lesson plan, suitable for publication and distribution to teachers across the nation, providing engaging, quality guidance on teaching about the life and contributions of George Washington. Teachers are also required to conduct a seminar for their colleagues in their home districts to share the information they have gained at the Institute.

Teachers enrolled in the Institute will reside in lodgings on the grounds of historic Mount Vernon, within sight of Washington’s Mansion. The Institute will provide each participating teacher with room and board during the Institute and a stipend of up to $350.00 to offset travel expenses.

Institute Dates:
High School: July 19 – 25, 2008
Middle School: July 8 – 14, 2008
Elementary School (Grades 3 – 5): June 24 – June 27, 2008
Elementary/Middle School (Grades 5 – 8): August 2 – 8, 2008

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is one of the largest private foundations in the United States.

Contact Stephanie Hartman for more information and a Nevada application.

CCSD's Web2 4U Conference

You are encouraged to attend the 21st Century Technology Conference presented by the Clark County School District.

Friday, May 16, 2008 - Saturday, May 17, 2008

Foothill High School (800 College Drive, Henderson, Nevada 89002)

Registration available online.

My Hero Project Media Arts Curriculum and Short Film Festival

My Hero Project is a website that offers students opportunities to write about and publish biographies of their personal heroes. In addition to providing the basic forum, the organization is running a Media Arts Curriculum and Short Film Festival. In addition to accepting student-developed pictures and videos, they also accept audio entries.

You may access the following online:

• Gallery of Past Winners
• Film Screening Room

The grand prize winner will receive $2,000. The deadline date for applications is June 15, 2008.

Note: There is a charge for submitting entries to the contest. There is NOT a charge for posting "My Hero" content on the My Hero Project website.

CUE-SN Accepts Submissions for the 2008 Multimedia Festival

Computer-Using Educators of Southern Nevada is now accepting invitations for its Fifth Annual Student Multimedia Festival Competition. The theme for this year's competition is "Explorations."

Entry categories include grade level (K-5, 6-8, 9-12), media category (computer generated, audio/video), and entry category (subject-area, non-subject area).

Applications are due March 31, 2008 and may be acquired here.

Contact Cynthia Ochoa with questions regarding entries, judging, and the festival.

Nevada Social Studies Standards: Revision Document Available for Review

The following memorandum was written by Stephanie Hartman:

The Nevada Social Studies Standards have been revised and a draft copy is now available for public comment. Public comment will be open from March 4, 2008 to April 4, 2008. The revised standards may be found at: http://www.doe.nv.gov/standards/socialstudies/standards_revision.html

The Social Studies Standards Revision Team has been meeting since last August to provide teachers, students, administrators, and parents with a revised Social Studies Standards document. Several issues guided the work of this team:

• First, the document needed to be user friendly and teachable for all teachers. This issue guided the decision to combine the old social studies standards document into one document. In addition, the four content area standards have been numbered sequentially to demonstrate the belief that social studies is an interdisciplinary content area.
• Second, standards and benchmarks were combined and subsumed within each content area so that teachers could effectively teach the standards and benchmarks in a school year.
• Third, the document is now laid out in a K - 12 continuum so that teachers can read the content across the grades to see what students should have learned before and after a specific grade.
• Finally, the group focused on the idea that the standards and benchmarks are not meant to be curriculum, but instead, to provide a framework for guidance to districts in the development of an appropriate and comprehensive social studies curriculum.

For questions, please contact Stephanie Hartman at (775) 687-2450 or at shartman@doe.nv.gov.

Service-Learning Summer Job Opportunities

Spend a week (or a month or two) this spring or summer helping young people discover how to make a difference in the world! The Civic Education Project (CEP), a leadership and citizenship program at Northwestern University, is NOW HIRING exceptional staff for our Spring & Summer 2008 service-learning programs. Learn more.

Spring & Summer Programs

CEP offers week-long field study programs for 9th-12th graders during the academic year, and intensive, three-week service-learning courses for 7th-12th graders during the summer. CEP programs explore complex social issues through academic study, meaningful service work, and meetings with community leaders, and help teach young people how to apply their skills and abilities to pressing social issues in their own communities. This year, CEP will offer programs in Chicago, Baltimore, Washington DC, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco, covering a wide variety of topics, including poverty, homelessness, education, public health, law, politics, leadership, and social change. Learn more.

Job Opportunities

We are looking for outstanding teachers from public and private schools and universities, service-learning practitioners, other education, youth development and nonprofit professionals, and graduate and undergraduate students. Instructional, residential, and administrative positions are available, ranging from one-week to eight-week sessions in the spring or summer. Staff generally receive a cash stipend, room and board, and training in service-learning and experiential education. However, the biggest payoff comes from the opportunity to work with bright, motivated students, build community with passionate, dynamic colleagues, and gain valuable experience educating young people about civic engagement and social responsibility. Learn more.

How To Apply

To learn more about CEP programs and staff positions or to apply online, visit the website.

Apply Now! Spring staff consideration has just begun, and summer staff consideration begins February 15, 2008. Applications are accepted at any time, but are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure full consideration.

Using Digital Photo Scavenger Hunts to Reinforce Content Learning, 2/5/08

Computer-Using Educators of Southern Nevada (CUE-SN)

CUE-SN invites 40 members and guests to attend program titled “Using Digital Photo
Scavenger Hunts to Reinforce Content Learning.” RSVP to Cynthia Ochoa
via InterAct. Dress to be active and outdoors.

Chaparral HS Mac Lab
4:30-6:30 PM
Tuesday, February 5, 2008

GeoFest, 1/31/08-2/1/08

Southern Nevada K-12 GeoFest
Geographic Alliance In Nevada - Southern Nevada RPDP - UNLV
Thursday, January 31 - Saturday, February 2
4:30pm-9:00pm (Thursday & Friday) and 8:00am to 4:00pm (Saturday)
Del Webb Middle School - Henderson, Nevada

1 Graduate Credit - $45.00 / Registration Fee - $15.00

Dinner will be provided both evenings and there will be LPG's (aka "Lovely Parting Gifts")!

Presenters include Chris Ryan and Herb Thompson and there will be breakout sessions conducted by GAIN Teacher Consultants on Saturday.

A Community Resource in Las Vegas: Goshen

WAYS THE GOSHEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COALITION CAN ASSIST CLASSROOMS WITH SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS:

• Provide information on Development Assets – one service-learning project = 19 developmental assets.
• Provide information and community contacts on ways to reduce violence and bullying – how to become a bully free school.
• Mentoring.
• Tutoring.
• Research.
• Explaining the difference between volunteerism and service-learning.
• Creating field trips.
• Finding paint supplies and/or building relationships with cooperative extensions, city councils, and county commissioners.
• Provide resources on locations to find service-learning grants.
• Providing contacts for learning more about banking/savings accounts – US Bank, Washington Mutual.
• Connecting classrooms with doctors and nurses to learn more about biology and medicine.

These are just a few ways that the Goshen Community Development Coalition can be of service to the classrooms.

For more information, please feel free to contact Kathleen Dickinson or Lindsay Garcia at:

Goshen Community Development Coalition
2008 Hamilton Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 880-4357
www.goshenonline.org

Grant Writing Workshop, 1/17/08

Computer-Using Educators of Southern Nevada

Writing Grants Workshop
January 17, 2008
4:30-6:00 PM
Las Vegas Day School (3275 Red Rock Street)

For questions or to RSVP, contact Shannon Wood or Cynthia Ochoa on InterAct.

NEH Summer Institutes for Teachers

The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent grant-making agency of the federal government. Each year the NEH offers teachers opportunities to study humanities topics in a variety of Summer Seminars and Institutes. The dates and duration of each project are listed under each title. The application deadline is March 3, 2008 (postmark).

Amount of Award
All teachers selected to participate in a seminar or institute will be awarded a fixed stipend based on the length of the seminar or institute to help cover travel costs, books and other research expenses, and living expenses: $1,800 (2 weeks), $2,400 (3 weeks), $3,000 (4 weeks), $3,600 (5 weeks), or $4,200 (6 weeks).

Eligibility
Full-time teachers in American K-12 schools, whether public, private, or church-affiliated, as well as home-schooling parents, are eligible to apply to seminars and institutes. Americans teaching abroad are also eligible if a majority of the students they teach are American citizens. Librarians and school administrators may also be eligible. Applicants should consult the guidelines and application information received directly from seminar and institute directors concerning any additional eligibility requirements specific to the project. Selection committees are directed to give first consideration to applicants who have not participated in an NEH-supported seminar or institute in the last three years.

How to Apply
Please mail or e-mail a request for application information and expanded project descriptions to the seminar and institute directors listed. When doing so, please include your regular mailing address because directors may send application material through the mail. You may request information about as many projects as you like, but you may apply to no more than one project. The application deadline is March 3, 2008 (postmark).

Information
Please direct all questions concerning individual seminars and institutes, as well as all requests for application materials, to the appropriate director. General questions concerning the National Endowment for the Humanities' Seminars and Institutes Program may be directed to 202/606-8463 or e-mail: sem-inst@neh.gov.

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Seminar Options


The Arabic Novel in Translation
July 7-August 1, 2008 (4 weeks)

Literary Pícaros and Pícaras and Their Travels in Early Modern Spain (In Spanish)
June 23-July 20, 2008 (4 weeks)

The Great Plains from Texas to Saskatchewan: Place, Memory, Identity
June 23-July 25, 2008 (5 weeks)

The Political Theory of Hannah Arendt: The Problem of Evil and the Origins of Totalitarianism
June 29-August 7, 2008 (6 weeks)

Making Sense of 1989
July 20-August 1, 2008 (2 weeks)

Religion in English History and Literature from The Canterbury Tales Through Pilgrim's Progress
June 23-July 18, 2008 (4 weeks)

Historical Interpretations of the Industrial Revolution in Britain
June 30-August 1, 2008 (5 weeks)

Citizenship and Culture: French Identity in Crisis
June 29-July 25, 2008 (4 weeks)

Roots: Teaching the African Dimensions of the Early History and Cultures of the Americas
June 23-July 25, 2008 (5 weeks)

The Abolitionist Movement: Fighting Against Slavery and Racial Injustice from the American Revolution to the Civil War
July 6-August 1, 2008 (4 weeks)

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
June 22-July 18, 2008 (4 weeks)

Authors in the Prado: Spanish Painting and the Literature It Inspired (In Spanish)
June 22-July 26, 2008 (5 weeks)

The President and Congress: Constitutional Principles and Practices That Have Shaped Our Understanding of the War Powers
July 8-July 19, 2008 (2 weeks)

Poetry as a Form of Life, Life as a Form of Poetry
July 6-July 25, 2008 (3 weeks)

Petrarch and Provence: Between Seclusion and the World
June 30-July 25, 2008 (4 weeks)

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Institutes

An institute for school teachers, typically led by a team of core faculty and visiting scholars, is designed to present the best available scholarship on important humanities issues and works taught in the nation's schools. The 25 to 30 participating teachers compare and synthesize the various perspectives offered by the faculty, make connections between the institute content and classroom applications, and often develop improved teaching materials for their classrooms.

Mozart's Worlds
June 16-July 11, 2008 (4 weeks)

J.S. Bach in the Baroque and the Enlightenment
June 30-July 25, 2008 (4 weeks)

Houses of Mortals and Gods: Latin Literature in Context
June 23-July 28, 2008 (5 weeks)

Thomas Jefferson: Personality, Character, and Public Life
July 13-August 8, 2008 (4 weeks)

Political and Constitutional Theory for Citizens
July 12- August 2, 2008 (3 weeks)

Multiple Perspectives on the Holocaust
June 26-July 29, 2008 (5 weeks)

Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad in Upstate New York
July 14-August 1, 2008 (3 weeks)

Literatures, Religions, and Arts of the Himalayan Region
July 7-July 31, 2008 (4 weeks)

Winston Churchill and the Anglo-American Relationship
July 13-August 2, 2008 (3 weeks)

Voices across Time: Teaching American History through Song
July 7-August 8, 2008 (5 weeks)

From the Yucatan to "The Halls of Montezuma"—Mesoamerican Cultures and Their Histories
July 14-August 8, 2008 (4 weeks)

Folger Shakespeare Library: Teaching Shakespeare 2008 Institute
July 6-August 2, 2008 (4 weeks)

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See http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html for more information and for specific seminar and institute details.

Southern Nevada Literacy Cooperative Workshop, April 2008

The Southern Nevada Literacy Collaborative (social studies and literacy organization in southern Nevada) are holding a one credit workshop in 2008:

DATES: Friday April 11 -- Saturday April 12
PLACE: Campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
TITLE: Celebrating Diversity: Literacy Across the Content Areas

Contact Jesus Garcia for more information.

Phi Delta Kappa Program on "UNLV's COE Dean," 12/6/07

Phi Delta Kappa invites you to their upcoming program featuring UNLV’s new College of Education Dean — Dr. M. Christopher Brown II. Dr. Brown's presentation, titled "Educating Millennial Learners: The Shifting Science of Pedagogy," will include discussion of directions for the UNLV College of Education and partnership goals between UNLV and CCSD. In addition to Dr. Brown’s keynote presentation, the program will include an overview of the 2007 PDK/Gallup Poll and a “book talk.” All educators are encouraged to attend.

4:30 PM — Thursday, December 6 — UNLV’s CBC A110

Chocolates provided by Chocolates á la Carte

RSVP to Chris Merriweather at cmmerriweather@interact.ccsd.net

Travel Training in South Africa

Teachers: Study in Southern Africa this Summer
Become a Fulbright Scholar

The University of Toledo, with funding from the U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Program, is sponsoring a seminar in the southern African countries of South Africa and Lesotho, June 21 – July 30, 2008. Designed for educators, the focus of the seminar will be southern African political, cultural and historical relations, especially the relations between South Africa and Lesotho.

Participants will spend over five weeks in southern Africa interacting with African teachers and government officials while visiting historic and contemporary sites and sharing professional expertise with teachers and organizations in the region.

Accepted seminar members will pay $850 of the direct program costs of over $8000 per person plus personal expenses including for pre-and post-travel seminars in Toledo and transportation to and from the departure/arrival airport. Information and applications (due January 10, 2008) are available at www.utoledo.edu/as/ids/global/Africa2008index.html
Or contact Professor Richard Weisfelder, Department of Political Science, University of Toledo, MS #511, Toledo, OH 43606-3390, (419) 530-2265. rweisfe@utnet.utoledo.edu (A flyer is available at http://www.utoledo.edu/as/ids/global/Uploaded_files/flyer_october_10.pdf )

Phi Delta Kappa Program on "School Violence," 11/7/07

Phi Delta Kappa invites you to their upcoming program titled "School Violence." The program features CCSD School Police addressing campus violence and prevention. All educators are encouraged to attend.

4:30 PM — Wednesday, November 7 — Canyon Springs High School
Chocolates provided by Chocolates á la Carte

RSVP to Chris Merriweather (InterAct)

CUE-SN Presents a "Web 2.0 Whirlwind" (11/8/07)

CUE-SN invites educators to attend their upcoming meeting on Web 2.0 technologies:

There are many new free Web applications that can be useful in and for extending the classroom that have a special emphasis of online collaboration and social networking. Free applications related to digital photos and video, digital music tools, one-to-one and one-to-many communications, mapping, social bookmarking, Web office tools, and even old-fashioned tools like blogs and wikis will be demonstrated. A presentation wiki containing all resources will be shared for use after the presentation.

Kendall Hartley, UNLV and Allison Powell, CCSD
Thursday, November 8, 2007
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Chaparral HS Mac Lab
3850 Annie Oakley Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89121
Between Twain & Viking, off Sandhill

Please email Allison Powell on InterAct

2007 West Regional Education Summit — “Exploring the Future of Holocaust Education” (UNLV)

I received this email message from Peter Fredlake via Stephanie Hartman:

"On behalf of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, I would like to invite you to attend the 2007 West Regional Education Summit, “Exploring the Future of Holocaust Education,” to be held at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas on February 20 - 22, 2008.

This Summit proposes to bring together individuals at secondary schools and institutions of higher learning as well as scholars and members of organizations interested in the challenges of Holocaust education in the West region to address common needs and problems, meet and plan cooperative ventures, get support from other regional organizations, and establish a means to follow up on collaborative efforts. Our aim is to provide support to more effectively meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of teaching about the Holocaust in the future.

This Regional Education Summit is the fifth such gathering of scholars and educators. Previous Summits have been held at Vanderbilt University, the University of Denver, the University of Pittsburgh, and most recently at the University of Texas at El Paso. These Summits have resulted in the establishment of active regional networks, the publication of articles in academic journals, and greater cooperation in organizing regional conferences on teaching the Holocaust. In addition, participants have returned home with a greater sense of their mission, bolstered by new contacts and resources.

I have attached a draft agenda for the West Summit [email him for the agenda]. Though it is subject to minor changes, I want you to be able to see how we structure the three days around conversations that allow us to talk in a meaningful way about issues in our profession.

We would be honored to have you participate in this regional conference. We share concerns about the future of Holocaust education in the United States, and we hope this conference will provide a means for addressing these concerns and becoming familiar with how we can help one another.

We will cover expenses related to your transportation, meals, and lodging for the conference. Please RSVP to Nicole Hanna (202-314-7826, nhanna@ushmm.org) before November 10, 2007."

HP Announces 2008 HP Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative

For the fifth year HP will be partnering with ISTE to provide professional development for K-12 teams participating in the 2008 HP Technology for Teaching grant program, which will award grants of nearly $7 million in cash and equipment. K-12 grants are available to public schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Higher Education grants are available to public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities throughout North America (Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.). The higher education initiative is specifically targeting faculty teaching selected disciplines within math, science, engineering, information systems, and computer science.

Web-based applications are due by 5 p.m. PST, February 14, 2008. For more information and to download a request for proposals, visit http://www.hp.com/go/hpteach.

Hispanic Heritage Month Art Contest, Due 10/25/07

The Hispanic Heritage Art and Essay Contest entries are due Thursday, October 25 (just before Nevada Day holiday) to the Partnership Office. Complete rules and a brochure are available at http://www.lasvegasNIE.com along with over twenty curriculum pieces related to Hispanic Heritage month.

This contest is open to students in grades 4-8 and the organization is seeking increased participation this year.

Four selected winners will receive US Savings Bonds from Ford Motor Company Fund & Community Services.

Student-Made Music Video Contest

Interwrite Learning, in partnership with TeacherTube, announces first
interactive makeover video contest!

Three winners will win an Interwrite Makeover™ by creating a music video
of the song of their choice and will receive prizes valued at more than
$15,000.

COLUMBIA, Md. — Interwrite Learning, in partnership with TeacherTube,
announces the company’s first video contest to recognize teachers and
students for their creativity and use of technology in the classroom.
Participants of the contest are asked to create a short music video
parodying the song of their choice. The video should demonstrate how
different kinds of technology are being used in the classroom.

The contest is not limited to users of Interwrite Learning’s products or
members of TeacherTube. It is open to all teachers and students in the
U.S., New Zealand and Australia (still up for discussion) who can
creatively show how they are using technology in the classroom or how they
would like to use technology in their classroom.

All participants will submit their videos on the Interwrite Learning Web
site at www.interwritelearning.com. Submissions will open at 12:00
Midnight EDT on September 11, 2007 and close at 11:59 EDT on October 21st,
2007. Winners of the Interwrite Makeover will be announced on Tuesday,
November 27, 2007.

First SNCSS Meeting for 2007-2008 School Year, 10/24/07

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 is the kick-off event for the Southern Nevada Council for the Social Studies (SNCSS). It will be held at McMullan's Irish Pub from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be complementary food, prizes, and more! This event is FREE to those who have current membership status with the council (yearly council dues are up-to-date.). It is $20.00 for renewing or new members. Remember, this fee pays for a full year's membership.

Contact Karlye Mull or Karen Sedoti via InterAct if you have any questions.

Phi Delta Kappa Program on "Student Transiency," 10/16/07

The Governing Board of the Las Vegas Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa invites all area educator to attend our upcoming program. The program will bring together panelists including a district-level administrator, principal, and teacher to address issues relating to student transiency. The focus will be on describing the reality of the issue district-wide including policies addressing the issue and site-based methods of working with teachers and students to maintain quality education under the circumstances.

Program Date: Tuesday, October 16
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Development Center (UNLV Campus)

Teaching American History Grant Modules

Third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers in Clark County School District are invited to participate in the Elementary Teaching American History Grant Program which consists of six independent 5-week modules offered during the 2007-2008 school year. The modules were developed to promote the teaching of American History and improve the quality of instruction in elementary classrooms. Each module will address a specific historical era as well as a unique pedagogical theme. For example, when focusing on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Era, participants will also learn about service learning for elementary classrooms.

The TAH grant program will continue during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. While some module themes will repeat, there will be additional module themes added each year of the grant.

During each module, participants will meet in two face-to-face meetings from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 PM at the College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus. Online sessions, activities, a book review, and other projects will be required during each five week module.

Module One: October 3 - November 2, 2007
Native Americans in Colonial Times/Technology Integration
Attention: Module One is already full

Module Two: November 12 - December 14, 2007
The American Revolution/Primary Source Documents
Attendance is required on November 14 and November 28, 2007

Module Three: January 7 - February 8, 2008
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement/Service Learning
Attendance is required on January 9 and January 23, 2008

Module Four: February 11- March 14, 2008
The Civil War and Reconstruction/Children's Literature
Attendance is required on February 13 and February 27, 2008

Module Five: March 24 - April 25, 2008
Exploring the Americas/Hands-On Learning
Attendance is required on March 26 and April 9, 2008

Module Six: April 28 - May 30, 2008
America in the 1930s: Depression, New Deal, and Dust Bowl/Arts Education
Attendance is required on April 30 and May 14, 2008

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, participants will qualify for the following:

1. A stipend
2. A video iPod (only one per participant if participating in more than one module)
3. One UNLV graduate credit (optional)
4. Several content and pedagogy books
5. Several books to share with your students

Register for this course is available on Pathlore.

Creating Teacher Websites, 10/02/07

The Computer-Using Educators of Southern Nevada (CUE-SN) will have their first program of the 2007-2008 academic year. The presentation will introduce teachers to developing their own websites using myccsd.net, a free and easy-to-use tool available to all Clark County School District teachers. Teachers will leave with:

• Their own teacher or class website;
• Knowledge of how to update, modify, and add to their website; and,
• Ideas for using teacher-created websites for productivity and instructional purposes.

Date: Tuesday October 2, 4:30-6:00
Location: Las Vegas Day School, 3275 Red Rock St. (Corner of Desert Inn and Jones)
Notes: Use parking lot off Jones and proceed upstairs in 2nd story building

RSVP or for more information contact Cynthia Ochoa.

Geographic Classes in Southern Nevada

The Geographic Alliance in Nevada and Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program are pleased to announce their upcoming schedule of offerings. Se the list below for the planned events. Educators may register for courses via Pathlore (available to Clark County School District teachers) or by contacting Herb Thompson, GAIN Co-Coordinator.
_______________________________________________________________

RPDP/CIE 740: Teaching Elementary Geography
September 18, 20, 22, 2007
4:30pm – 9:00pm Tuesday & Thursday and 8:00am – 4:00pm Saturday
1 Graduate Credit - $45.00
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Registration Fee $15.00
Del Webb Middle School – Room #816

Instructor: Herb Thompson – Regional Trainer SNRPDP & GAIN Co-coordinator.

Course Description: This one credit class will focus on the basic
concepts, skills, and themes used in the teaching of geography to K-5
students. Participants will experience traditional content lectures,
hands-on small group activities, and standards-based geography lessons
designed to help teachers integrate geography into the curriculum. Dinner
will be provided both evenings and teachers will also receive LPG’s
(Lovely Parting Gifts)!
_______________________________________________________________

RPDP/CIS 707: Field Geography for Teachers
October 11-13, 2007
Thursday-Friday 4:30pm-9:00pm & Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm
1 Graduate Credit - $45.00
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Registration - $15.00
Geographic Alliance In Nevada
Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef - Luxor IMAX – Red Rock Canyon NCA

Instructors: Herb Thompson – Regional Trainer SNRPDP and GAIN
Co-Coordinator & Chris Ryan GAIN Coordinator – WNCC

Course Description: This one credit class will focus on physical and human
geography content and the resources available for local teachers and
students to experience geographic learning in the field. There will be a
full-day field trip to Red Rock National Conservation area on Saturday.
_______________________________________________________________

RPDP/CIS 707p: Project-Based Instruction for Secondary Social Studies Teachers
October 30 & November 1, 3, 2007
Tuesday & Thursday 4:30pm-9:00pm and Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm
1 Graduate Credit - $45.00
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
$15.00 Registration Fee
Arbor View High School – Room #715

Instructor: Liz Bash – Part-Time RPDP Regional Trainer & GAIN Teacher
Consultant.

Course Description: This one credit class will focus on the basic
concepts, skills, and themes used in teaching US History, World History,
Geography, and Government to secondary students using project-based
instruction and units.
_______________________________________________________________

RPDP/CIE 740a: Integrating Economics for Elementary Teachers
1 Graduate Credit - $45.00
December 4, 6, 8, 2007
Tuesday & Thursday 4:30pm-9:00pm & Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
$15.00 Registration Fee
K.O Knudson MS – Room #400

Instructors: Doug Larson – Part-Time RPDP Regional Trainer & MAEEE University of Delaware

Course Description: This one credit class will focus on the basic
concepts, skills, and themes used in the teaching of economics to
elementary students. Participants will experience traditional content
sessions, hands-on small group activities, and standards-based economics
lessons presented by the instructor and guest teachers and will explore a
variety of methods, resources, and technologies that can be easily
implemented into social studies lessons.
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RPDP/CIS 707: K-12 GEOFEST 2008
January 31 & February 1-2, 2008
Thursday-Friday 4:30pm-9:00pm & Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm
1 Graduate Credit - $45.00
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Registration - $15.00
Geographic Alliance In Nevada
Del Webb Middle School – Room #816

Instructors: Herb Thompson – GAIN Co-Coordinator
& Chris Ryan – GAIN Coordinator – WNCC

Course Description: This one credit class will feature a combination of
geography content sessions and standards-based lessons that will help
teachers both understand and integrate geographic themes into science,
language arts, and other social studies curricula. All seven Nevada
Geography Standards will be addressed through several content lectures,
small group activities, and hands-on lessons presented by Geographic
Alliance In Nevada teacher consultants during Saturday breakout sessions.

PDK/Gallup Poll

Phi Delta Kappa just released its annual Gallup Poll results. The findings appear to confirm that the public agrees with educators about NCLB - that it is not helping teaching and learning in the United States. You can acces information about the poll's on the Phi Delta Kappa website.

Presidential Mockus — A Simulated Nevada Caucus in Your Classroom

I was informed of a wonderful learning opportunity for high school students this semester. Representatives of the Nevada State Democratic Party will come to your classroom to run a mock caucus. To approach the topic from a non-partisan perspective, students will cast their preferences for pizza or ice cream toppings rather than actual presidential candidates. Below is an excerpt of a letter I received from Brian Hutchinson (a contact person for scheduling a "mockus").

"Since a presidential caucus is different from a traditional primary, the Nevada State Democratic Party (NSDP) is organizing mock caucuses (aka mockuses) around the state to educate citizens about the caucus process.

Students participating in a mockus will experience a precinct caucus, from beginning to end. This includes seeing how much influence each participant can have and how truly grassroots the democratic process is.

Here's how the mockus model works:

• Explanation by NSDP staff about the importance of the caucus in Nevada
• Students split into preference groups to show support for the candidate (or in this case, pizza topping) of their choice
• Viability of preference groups is determined
• Unviable groups (those who do not have enough supporters) must realign
• Viable group members lobby unviable group members to support their candidate
• Caucus math begins and delegates are apportioned
• Results are reported
• Delegates are elected to county convention (with the potential to continue to the state convention and then the national convention

We can adjust the content to fit within one class period and we would be thrilled to bring a mockus to your classroom."

To schedule a mockus in Northern Nevada, contact Brian Hutchinson, the Northern Nevada Field Director of the Nevada State Democratic Party, via email or phone (775-829-1699)

Note that the Southern Nevada model will be different than that mentioned above. The Southern Nevada model will appear in the form of high school assemblies. Contact your school principal to see if your school is participating.

Microsoft's U.S. Innovative Teachers Forum, September 27-28, 2007

This looks like a great opportunity for teams of K-12 teachers who are actively engaging in 21st century teaching. Learning teams share their expertise at Microsoft Headquarters in Washington on September 27-28, and a subset of these teams will also represent the US in Helsinki in November. All expenses are paid by Microsoft.

Those interested in applying should review this flier. Note, though, that the deadline for applications is July 11.

Middle Schoolers Must Pass Social Studies!

An email from Stephanie Hartman:

"Greetings Everyone!!


Well, it looks like SB 184 snuck in under the radar after all and has been signed by the Governor. So, what does this mean for everyone?

The State Board of Education must approve the legislation and make determinations for the provisions of the bill – ie: the State Board will determine the number of social studies credits, or courses that a student must pass for promotion to high school. In all probability, this legislation will take effect the fall of the 2008-2009 school year. So, beginning that year, all incoming 6th or 7th graders will be required to pass social studies and science in order to be promoted to high school.

Stephanie Hartman
K-12 Social Studies Consultant
Nevada Department of Education"

National Expectations Seminar, June 14-16, 2007

The CCSD Office of Equity and Diversity Education and the Center for Multicultural Education - UNLV's College of Education is sponsoring a National Expectations Seminar June 14-16, 2007 at the UNLV Student Union Building. Please plan to attend. Attendees will receive one free credit for attending all sessions. Email your intent to attend to Dr. Porter Troutman by Tuesday, June 12, 2007.

This seminar will feature eight national speakers including:

• Dr. Robert Green, former Dean of Education, Michigan State University and author of "Expectations: How Teacher Expectations Can Increase Student Achievement."
• Dr. James Banks is Professor in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Washington. His books include "Teaching Strategies for Ethnic Studies, Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives," "Curriculum and Teaching," and editor of "The Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education" to name a few of his publications.
• Dr. Gary Orfield is Professor of Education and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the co-founder and director of the Civil Rights Project at Harvard, an initiative that is developing and publishing a new generation of research on multiracial civil rights issues. Recent publications include: "School Segregation on the Rise Despite Growing Diversity," and "High School Dropouts Concentrated in 35 Cities."
• Dr. Asa Hilliard, Professor of Urban Education at Georgia State University. He has written more that 200 research reports, articles and books on testing, ancient African History, and teaching strategies. His most recent books are "The Maroon Within Us" and "The Reawakening of the African Mind."

Saudi Arabia Study Tour, Fully-Funded

Note: Geographic Alliance in Nevada Teacher Consultant Liz Bash attended this study tour in 2006. It was from that experience that the Southern Nevada Council for the Social Studies and Geographic Alliance in Nevada organized the Islam Conference on March 17, 2007.

Educators to Saudi Arabia Program
Professional Development Opportunity for Educators

This is an announcement of the sixth competition for the Educators to Saudi Arabia Program, sponsored by Aramco Services Company. The program, which travels to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is open to full-time Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Selected participants will travel to Saudi Arabia for a fully-funded, ten-day study tour of Saudi Arabia.

The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program aims to cultivate a greater awareness and understanding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in U.S. primary and secondary schools and communities. The Educators to Saudi Arabia Program will examine Saudi education, culture, history and global relations through site visits, panel discussions and cultural activities in the cities of Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah from November 19 – December 3, 2007.

Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 are encouraged to submit applications for the Educators to Saudi Arabia Program. Interested individuals can download an application at: http://www.iie.org/aramco.

For more information, visit our website or contact us at atsap@iie.org

The application deadline is June 25, 2007.