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Reading First Teacher Education Network Webcast
Reading, and in particular the five components -- phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary -- is fundamental to learning and achievement. Plan to join NCATE's Reading First Teacher Education Network (RFTEN) and colleagues from across the nation on Thursday, June 15 from 9 - 11 a.m. EST to learn and refresh skills needed to impact student learning, reading achievement, and teacher preparation in reading.
Teacher educators, classroom teachers, and candidates, this is your opportunity to be a part of a live webcast featuring IRA President, Dr. Timothy Shanahan, and other national reading and education experts. The webcast will be broadcast from the campus of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA, but you can log on, ask questions and earn CEU credits without leaving your home, classroom or office. Register today for the web conference at http://webconference.rften.org. The webcast is free.
To view an archived version of the entire webconference (after June 15), visit RFTEN website, www.RFTEN.org
Professional Development Opportunity for Educators: Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program
Applications are now available for the Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program, a professional development opportunity sponsored by Aramco Services Company. The program is open to full-time elementary and secondary school (grades 1-12) social studies teachers and library media specialists.
The application deadline is June 15, 2006.
Due to the short window of time educators have to submit their application, applicants are urged to utilize all electronic means available (such as listservs, online newsletters, emails and websites) to share this unique opportunity with social studies teachers and library media specialists in grades 1 through 12.
The Aramco 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. Additionally, the Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program seeks to encourage teachers to establish creative means of sharing this understanding with their students, colleagues and communities. This is a singular occasion for U.S. educators to examine in-depth and up-close a region of the world that is an integral part of today's global society.
The Aramco 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. Upon returning to the U.S., participants will implement an interdisciplinary follow-on plan drawing on their program experiences.
About the Program
Applications are now available to participate in a fully-funded, ten-day study tour of Saudi Arabia. Sponsored by Aramco Services Company, this professional development opportunity is open to full-time social studies teachers and library media specialists in grades 1-12.
The Aramco 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 Aramco 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 14 - 28, 2006.
Social Studies teachers and Library Media Specialists in grades 1-12 are encouraged to submit applications for the Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program. Interested individuals can download an application at: www.iie.org/programs/aramco.
For more information, visit our website or contact us at: atsap@iie.org.
Space Still Available for Free Teacher Workshops! Sign-Up Now!
The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is offering 14 free workshops for teachers this summer. Space is limited, but there is still time to attend the following workshops. Teachers and administrators from across the country will share strategies that have proven effective in their own classrooms and schools.
Denver Summer Workshop (June 5-6)
The Denver Teacher-to-Teacher workshop will offer sessions for teachers of grades 6-12 in all subject areas. The workshop will be held at the Colorado Convention Center.
St. Paul Summer Workshop (June 20-21)
The St. Paul workshop will offer sessions for teachers of grades K-8 in all subject areas. The workshop will be held at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront.
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park Workshop with the National Park Service (June 22-23)
Sessions will be offered for K-8 teachers of math and history at the birthplace and home of aviation. Tours of the Wright Brother's bicycle and print shop, and the Huffman Prairie Field will be offered.
Pittsburgh Summer Workshop (July 17-18)
Sessions for teachers of grades 6-12 in all content areas will be offered at the Pittsburgh Summer Workshop. The workshop will be held at the Hilton Pittsburgh.
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Workshop with the National Park Service, Billings, MT (July 20-21)
Sessions will be offered for K-12 teachers of science and history. Re-enactors and historians will relive the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The workshop will be held at Montana State University.
Foreign Language Workshops with a Special Emphasis on Mandarin Chinese
Los Angeles (July 31-August 1); Washington, DC (August 3-4)
Sessions will be offered on classroom strategies for foreign language instruction, with special sessions focusing on the instruction of Mandarin Chinese. Program design and implementation will also be addressed. These workshops are appropriate for all K-12 foreign language teachers and coordinators, as well as schools and school districts interested in offering Chinese programs.
Edison National Historic Site with the National Park Service, West Orange, NJ (August 7-8)
Sessions will be offered for science teachers of grades 6-12. Tours of Edison's personal Chemistry lab and his Glenmont home will also be offered.
Teachers may be able to earn professional development credit through their district or state for attending. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.t2tweb.us/Workshops/about.asp.
Request for Applications, University Hosts for the International Educators Program (IEP)
The U.S. Department of State and IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board) announce a competition for U.S. universities to design and host a professional development program for 14 secondary-level teachers of English as a Foreign Language, social studies, civics, mathematics and science for the International Educators Program (IEP). IEP will bring outstanding secondary school teachers from the Near East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia to the United States for one semester. The goals of the program are: (1) to contribute to the improvement of teaching in the participating countries; (2) to provide international educators with an important professional development opportunity in the United States that will enhance their ability to contribute to national development; (3) to create among educators a deeper understanding of the United States; and (4) to develop productive and lasting relationships and mutual understanding between American and international teachers and their students.
Application Deadline: June 16, 2006.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The International Educators Program (IEP) will provide 56 teachers from the Near East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills and increase their knowledge about the United States. The program will consist of a semester-long academic program at a U.S. university, including coursework and intensive training in teaching methodologies, curriculum writing, teaching strategies for their home environment, educational leadership, as well as the use of computers for Internet, word processing and as tools for teaching. The semester-long program will also include an 8-week internship at a high school to engage participants actively with American teachers and students. Trips to U.S. cultural sites and academic support will be provided for participants throughout the program.
Program participants will:
- Be secondary-level, teaching professionals with five or more years of classroom experience in disciplines including English as a Foreign Language (EFL), social studies, civics, mathematics and science (it is expected that approximately 75% of participants will be teachers of English as a Foreign Language);
- Be citizens of countries in Southeast Asia, the Near East, and South Asia; and
- Have English-language proficiency in written and spoken English, documented by a minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL test.
ABOUT THE BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world. ECA does this through a wide range of international exchanges as authorized by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. ECA works in close cooperation with U.S. Embassies overseas to promote personal, professional and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad.
ABOUT IREX (INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & EXCHANGES BOARD)
IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development.
Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of $50 million and a staff of over 500 professionals worldwide. IREX and its partner IREX Europe deliver cross-cutting programs and consulting expertise in more than 50 countries.
HOST UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBILITIES
Host universities will be responsible for the following:
- Hosting 14 teaching professionals from January – June 2007 (approximately 5 months).
- Providing housing in graduate dormitories (double rooms), or similar accommodations. Please note that applicants must arrange shared housing for program participants, but IREX will pay for the cost of housing directly, separate from the sub-grant.
- Appointing a campus coordinator to head the program.
- Providing an orientation for the group upon arrival that will include both an overview of their academic program and the U.S. education system as well as provide information about the university.
- Designing and administering a non-credit, semester-long academic program allowing program participants to audit relevant existing courses and participate in a specifically-designed seminar (at least 18 hours during the semester) for program participants. This academic program should provide participants with:
- Intensive training in relevant subjects and teaching methodologies through a variety of courses within the host university's school of education or other departments; participants should have the option to select courses based on their individual goals and interests;
- Enrollment in a specifically designed semester-long group seminar. Class topics may include teaching strategies for home environments, educational leadership, positive youth development, action research, reflections and de-briefs of school visits and internships, presentations by each teacher on the educational system in his/her country, follow-on action plans, etc.;
- Individual and group work periods for research and curriculum writing on EFL, civics, and other topics; and
- Training in the use of computers for Internet and word processing as tools for teaching (IREX will provide laptop computers for program participants).
- Providing at least one academic advisor with whom each program participant can consult individually.
- Recruiting diverse U.S. high schools (public, private, magnet and/or charter) to host program participants for 8-week internships that will take place concurrently with the academic program. High schools should be within easy commuting distance to the host university, and should be capable of introducing participants to more than one approach to teaching (for example, inquiry, active classroom, group projects, problem-based learning, etc.). Schools should designate an experienced mentor to oversee the day-to-day activities of each participant. Internship activities should include: observing a variety of teaching methods as well as computer-based lessons; working individually with a mentor teacher on creating lesson plans and pilot testing curriculum units developed by the participant; and team teaching. Because it is expected that approximately 75% of program participants will be teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), it is important that these participants be paired with a school that has an established ESL program.
- If no public transportation is available, providing transportation for program participants from the university to the school at which they are interning.
- Providing opportunities for program participants to interact with Americans at school board meetings, parent-teacher conferences, civic and volunteer organizations, and other community activities.
- Arranging short home hospitality for program participants so that they have opportunities to visit American homes and interact with members of the community.
Eligibility
Accredited U.S. colleges and universities with schools or departments of education, teacher training programs, or Teaching English as a Second Language programs may submit proposals. Successful applicants will be awarded a cost-reimbursable sub-grant.
Sub-grants are a maximum of $70,000 (not including housing, participant stipends, and transportation to and from the host university and internship host for the program participants). Sub-grants will cover all university fees, program-related labor, and program materials.
If public transportation to and from the host university and internship host is available, IREX will directly provide program participants with a transportation allowance of $50/month per participant to cover the costs of their commute. Otherwise, if public transportation is not available, the applicant will need to propose alternative transportation (e.g. arranging a shuttle or bus for program participants) and the transportation allowance may be given to the host university (instead of participants directly) to cover the cost of private transportation.
The following costs will be covered directly by IREX: participants’ international travel and travel to and from Washington, DC and the host university for the Welcome Program and the End-of-Program Workshop; participant stipends ($25/day per participant); laptop computers for each participant; shared housing costs; and accident and sickness insurance. IREX will also provide J-visas for program participants Cost-share by the U.S. host university is encouraged.
Successful applicants may be asked to make changes to their proposed budget prior to the final award decision. A selection committee comprised of ECA and IREX staff will evaluate sub-grant proposals based on the following selection criteria (not in order of importance):
- Selection of available courses;
- Strength and relevance of group seminar;
- Professional quality of academic advisor(s), seminar faculty members, and campus coordinators;
- Overall capacity of college/university to administer programs of this nature;
- Diversity, range, and capacity of local schools suggested as possible internship hosts;
- Participants’ access to faculty and university facilities; and
- Cost-effectiveness of proposed budget and demonstrated cost-share.
IREX anticipates awarding sub-grants to four U.S. institutions.
Timeline
Application deadline: June 16, 2006
Award announcements: On or about August 30, 2006
Note
If awarded a sub-grant from IREX, applicants will be subject to OMB Circular A-133, A-110, and the applicable cost principles, which for educational institutions is A-21.
Application Instructions
A complete application package should include:
- U.S. University Host Application Cover Sheet. A completed university host application cover sheet should be attached to the full application package.
- Proposal narrative (eight single-spaced pages maximum). The proposal narrative should outline the applicant’s capacity to administer this program and provide a suggested academic semester program model. The narrative should include the following sections:
- Capacity Statement, outlining the applicant’s ability to and previous experience with developing and administering programs for teachers from abroad.
Application instructions and materials are also available on-line at www.irex.org.
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