NEA Today articles from February 2003

NEA Today archives from February 2003

What's in a soccer ball? Teaching students how they connect with the rest of the world. (My Turn).(Column)
February 1, 2003... When I was in high school, I took a world geography course. It was like a memory Olympics: who could locate Poland's major cities? Who recalled Argentina's top three exports? We learned facts, but acquired no insight. We didn't talk...

Editor's note.(overview of how NEA Today is printed )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Every so often a member will request another copy of NEA Today to replace a damaged issue. Last month, for example, a member from New York sent us her issue. Some pages of her copy were out of sequence. This happens very...

Book talk! Reading books is one thing. Now, with passion, skill, and a little bit of chutzpah, educators are getting kids to talk about them--like grown-ups do. (Cover Story).(National Education Association)
February 1, 2003... Ah, to wallow in the magic of a good book. Unearth its meaning. Hold it to the heart. Toot about it. It's one of the simple pleasures many educators live for--the gift, too, they long to pass on to their students. Yet in many classrooms,...

Get ready to read! (Reading).(National Education Association celebrates Read Across America)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... NEA celebrates Read Across America March 3 this year, and it's not too late to send your pledge and let us know what you're doing to celebrate reading, if you're wondering what you can do to get involved, take a look at what's already...

`Reading exercised the muscles of my imagination.' (Reading).(National Education Association)(Esai Morales)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Read Across America co-chair Esai Morales describes himself as an "actorvist," who combines art and activism to build bridges of understanding. Looking at his strong union and education background, it's easy to see why. Morales talked with...

On diversity and Dr. Seuss. (Reading).(actress Ming-Na tells why she wants to co-chair this year's Read Across America campaign)(National Education Association)(Interview)
February 1, 2003... Actress Ming-Na, known for her portrayal of Dr. Jing-Mei (Deb) Chen on NBC's ER, will co-chair this year's Read Across America campaign. The actress, who moved from China to New York when she was four years old, first attracted attention with...

Read Across America Resources. (Reading).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Looking for a few good resources to make your reading efforts a success? NEA's Read Across America website (www.nea.org/readacross) is full of them. You'll find the entire Read Across America Resource Kit on the site, including a year-round...

Dedicated educators, dead-end management: spending cuts and poor leadership by Edison Schools, Inc. compound the problems of a struggling Pennsylvania district. (News).(National Education Association)
February 1, 2003... The first time your state legislators ooh and aah over the idea of for-profit school management, suggest a study tour of Pennsylvania's 5,300-student Chester Upland district, where Edison Schools, Inc.--the nation's "leading private manager...

ESEA regs back rights of educators, special-needs kids. (Your Dues Did It).(National Education Association)(the Elementary and Secondary Education Act)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has released final regulations for Subpart A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)--covering everything from school accountability to educator qualifications--and incorporated at...

`Oh, you're the teacher!' (Doer's Profile).(National Education Association)(Vana, Shelley)
February 1, 2003... I'm a Democrat, but I had support from Democrats and Republicans in my successful campaign for state representative, It's really important to talk about the issues and to work in a nonpartisan way to get pro-public education candidates...

Let us serve you in Santa Fe! Many NEA members moonlight to survive in lovely--but pricey--Santa Fe, New Mexico. That's why they've joined a drive for a citywide "living wage." (On Your Side).(National Education Association)(Santa Fe, New Mexico)
February 1, 2003... Ah--Santa Fe! "A city whose beautiful, brown adobe architecture blends with the high desert landscape... one of America's great art and culinary capitals," purrs the Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau. Absolutely true. And when you...

Santa Fe ESPs list four good reasons to pay a good wage. (On Your Side).(National Education Association's Education Support Professional members)(Santa Fe, New Mexico)
February 1, 2003... Just before the Santa Fe City Council approved a living wage ordinance for municipal employees last March, many private and non-profit business representatives lined up to testify against extension of this measure to all Santa Fe workers. ...

Tipping the scale at Fairbanks. (On Your Side).(Fairbanks Scales workers from United Electrical Workers in St. Johnsbury, Vermont)
February 1, 2003... On a bleak Vermont evening last winter--just six hours short of calling a strike--union bargainers from Lyndon Town School arrived at their superintendent's office for one last shot at reaching a contract. At this moment, "being a negotiator...

... Members of the Blount County Education Association (BCEA). (Kudos To ...).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ... members of the Blount County Education Association (BCEA) in Tennessee, who united with community supporters to replace a school board that hired a union-busting consultant and imposed its "best last" bargaining offer on teachers. In...

... Members of the Arkansas Education Association. (Kudos To ...).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ... members of the Arkansas Education Association, whose volunteer work across the state helped elect pro-public education candidate Mark Pryor to the U.S. Senate in November and defeat an incumbent. Senator Tim Hutchinson. Just one...

Healthy students learn best: teachers and school nurses--in both NEA and AFT--point out problems of students who come from families without health insurance. (News).(National Education Association)(American Federation of Teachers)
February 1, 2003... Janice Lowry doesn't know who among her students has health insurance and who does not. But she always knows when a child has been seeing a doctor regularly. Students who go to the doctor routinely don't come to school sick, says Lowry,...

Retiring on dollars a day: as health insurance premiums and other costs shoot up, educators on fixed incomes are getting squeezed. How secure is your retirement? (Inside Scoop).(National Education Association)
February 1, 2003... Irma Baker's retirement is dwindling away. Baker taught for 23 years in Falmouth, Maine, before her position was eliminated. Her years of service translate into a paltry monthly pension check--once taxes and health insurance premiums are...

Is "abstinence-only" the best sex education policy for schools to implement? (Debate).(National Education Association)(arguments for and against the teaching of safe sex)
February 1, 2003... yes Consider this: Good morning, class. Today we're going to talk about how to drive a car safely, even if you've been drinking. Now, it's really better not to drink and drive, because you might end up dead, but there are some ways...

Turning off the lights--and seeing. (In Focus).(National Education Association)(students at the Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California do an energy audit)
February 1, 2003... What would you do if a bunch a students sauntered into your classroom in broad daylight and confiscated your coffee pot, that personal fridge of yours--and, oh, your radio, too? At Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, a group of...

We hold these truths ... (In Focus).(National Education Association)(Lions Club of Denver, Colorado helps students understand the importance of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence)
February 1, 2003... Imagine standing, say, outside your local post office and being approached by a kid who wants to know if you know the answers to questions like, "What's the Fifth Amendment?" or "What truths are self-evident in the Declaration of...

Space race. (In Focus).(National Education Association)(seventh graders at Russell Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska construct and launch air-and-water-powered rockets)
February 1, 2003... Last May, instead of counting down the days until school would be out, seventh graders at Russell Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska, were counting down the seconds until liftoff. As part of an innovative curriculum developed by science...

Reading research: there's more--really. (In Focus).(National Education Association)(the National Reading Panel's report on reading research studies)
February 1, 2003... When it comes to reading instruction programs, one could easily march into a new century waiting for educators and researchers to agree on which ones work. That's because some show spectacular results for some students, yet are dismal...

I Can Do It! veteran teachers help beginners survive in the classroom. (First Five Years).(National Education Association)
February 1, 2003... Beginning a teaching career can be a daunting, overwhelming experience. Depending upon the school, a new teacher may confront an overcrowded classroom, no mentor, and little time to meet with peers or plan courses. In too many cases, new...

Secondary success. (Resources).(book available from the National Education Association Professional Library)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Teaching and the Art of Successful Classroom Management helps beginning secondary teachers establish classroom rules and inspire classroom discipline. The book, available from the NEA Professional Library for $14.95, also includes tips on...

Elementary secrets. (Resources).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Sixty elementary teachers share their secrets of classroom management in The Discipline Checklist, available from the NEA Professional Library for $4.50. This practical easy-to-read guide includes suggestions for motivating students, modeling...

Free stuff. (Resources).(National Education Association)(educational resources from more than 30 federal agencies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... You can find educational resources from more than 30 federal agencies on the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) website at www.ed.gov/free. The site provides one-stop access to learning resources developed by The Library of...

Noisy classroom. (Two-Minute Tips).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Quieting a rambunctious group can be a challenge, but I succeed with this trick. I ask the children to copy my movement patterns, saying "do what I do" while I move my arms up and down, pat my head, or touch my nose. Initially, I do one...

Post-it[R] charts.(National Education Association)(making a seating chart)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When I make a new seating chart, I put each child's name on a small Post-It note and then attach the notes to a piece of paper. I can move the sticky notes quickly to change the chart without erasing or forgetting a student. I store the notes...

How do you get your class back on task after lunch? (Dilemma).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... I ask my students to put their feet flat on the floor, take everything off their desks, and put their hands on their desks. Then I ask them to stare quietly at the clock and, in silence, watch the second hand go around for one complete...

Classroom Distraction. (Nobody Ever Told Me).(National Education Association)(a second grader brings a condom to school)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... There are some things that you just need to learn on your own during your first year as a teacher. My first year was quite an adventure, to say the least. One day in particular sticks out in my mind. I made it through the day with the...

Powerful presentations. (Wired).(National Education Association)(using Microsoft PowerPoint)
February 1, 2003... Dear Web Editor, I'm tired of creating boring Microsoft[R] PowerPoint[R] presentations! Do you have any tips about how I can make my classroom presentations more fun for my students? Your question tops the "most frequently asked...

H.I.P. pocket change. (Editor's Pick).(National Education Association)(History In Your Pocket - the United States Mint's educational website)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The U.S. Mint offers a fun educational website designed to help students generate an interest in coins, the Mint, and U.S. history. The History In Your Pocket (H.I.P.) Pocket Change site showcases the connection between U.S. coins and U.S....

Introducing OWL.org. (OWL Watch).(the new website and online community for National Education Association members)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... OWL.org is here! The new website and online community for NEA members provides practical information, tools, and services to help educators do their jobs and grow professionally. The site supports members with a variety of features,...

Professional learning: Michigan center offers ESPs training, certification. (Professional Development).(National Education Association)(education support professionals)(Michigan Education Association creates the Michigan ESP Center for Professional Learning program)
February 1, 2003... For years, a key employment issue for Michigan's education support professionals (ESPs) has been the lack of training and professional development they need to perform their jobs well and advance in their careers. The Michigan Education...

High-tech tactics. (Going the Extra Mile).(National Education Association)(Nazareth Area Educational Support Personnel Association)(Tucson Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Two local Associations are using technology to reach out to current and potential members of the Association. The Nazareth Area Educational Support Personnel Association in Pennsylvania used a $3.500 NEA ESP Technology Grant to purchase a...

New Jersey ESP elected to state board. (Going the Extra Mile).(National Education Association)(Lee Flanagan, an education support professional)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... New Jersey custodian Lee Flanagan was elected trustee of the New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System last summer. He started his term in September. Flanagan is a 24-year employee with the Plainfield Board of Education. For five...

Taking care of children. (Profile).(National Education Association)(Yarnelle, Darlene, school nurse at Portage Middle School and Price and Nebraska elementary schools, Fort Wayne, Indiana)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Name: Darlene Yarnelle Job Title: School nurse, Portage Middle School and Price and Nebraska elementary schools, Fort Wayne, Indiana What I Do in My Job. I do lots of things, especially because I work in low socioeconomic schools. I...

Let's team up. (Resources).(National Education Association Professional Library)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The NEA Professional Library has released a new edition of Let's Team Up! A Checklist for Paraeducators, Teachers, and Principals. This unique checklist is written to help paraeducators, teachers, and principals understand their roles and...

ESP conference. (Resources).(National Education Association's Education Support Professionals Conference)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The 2003 NEA Education Support Professionals (ESP) Conference will take place March 14-16, 2003, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The conference is designed to help NEA ESP members enhance their ability to...

Safe workplace. (Resources).(National Education Association)(United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Looking for information about a safe work environment? Check out the website for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at www.osha.gov. The site offers information about the federal agency and state programs, including...

Surviving the worst financial times. (Money).(National Education Association)(information on student loans and financial management)
February 1, 2003... Q: I read about the possibility of having some of my federal student loans cancelled or deferred. Where can I find more information on this? A: We received several letters on this subject, one from a teacher asking why the forgiveness of...

Thrifty educator. (Money).(National Education Association)(adding decorative touches to bulletin boards)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... This month's tip comes from Beverly Divarry, a computer lab paraprofessional in State College, Pennsylvania. So many teachers have complimented my decorative touches that I want to share my bulletin board idea, which is suitable for all...

Heads up from NEA member benefits. (Money).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Did you know that most NEA members are eligible for free life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage? Since 1985, NEA Member Benefits has offered NEA DUES-TAB[R] Insurance to Active, Reserve, and Staff members, as well as...

Dose for dose. (Health & Fitness).(National Education Association)
February 1, 2003... Each day some 3 million students in this country receive medication while at school, and increasingly large numbers of these students have complex medical conditions. Yet many school personnel aren't aware of safety and legal issues that...

Talking about sex. (What's Up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network).(National Education Association)(Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Sexuality Information and Education Council (SIECUS) of the U.S. recently released a report that could help parents looking to communicate better with their children about sex. Called "Innovative Approaches to Increase Parent-Child...

Marijuana--stamping out the myths. (What's Up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network).(National Education Association)(National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among America's youth. Despite propaganda to the contrary, the drug is harmful to developing bodies and minds, and puts kids at risk, The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has launched a...

Beating asthma. (What's Up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network).(National Education Association)(United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released "Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health Program," a new 12-page guide designed to help state and local education and health agencies and...

New EPA "healthy schools" web portal. (What's Up at HIN? NEA Health Information Network).(National Education Association)(United States Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a new webpage intended to serve as a portal for online "healthy schools" resources. The portal is designed to help people who are addressing environmental health issues in schools. Numerous...

Matters of the heart. (Working Out Our Stress).(National Education Association)(heart disease )
February 1, 2003... If you're totally stressed, can't remember the last time you took a brisk walk, are eating way too much--and you're a woman--consider yourself a good candidate for heart disease. After decades of being identified as mainly a man's...

Brown baggin' it. (Healthy Bites).(National Education Association)(Fall in love with leftovers!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Fall in love with leftovers! They are easy, convenient, and can provide a lot of nutrition. Even if leftovers means a couple of pieces of take-out pizza from the night before, you can work with it. Chicken, ham, or veggies are good topping...

Inspire me! (Healthy Bites).(National Education Association)(the benefits of walking)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... I have been walking 4 miles a day, every day, for a year and a half. These walks have helped my husband and I survive cancer, meningitis, and a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), while getting us more healthy in soul, mind, and body. ...

Good question! (Healthy Bites).(National Education Association)(What types of cooking oils are best?)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Q: What types of cooking oils are best? A: When choosing cooking oil, monounsaturated oils are the best. Some good sources: olive, canola, safflower, sesame, peanut, and walnut oils. All of these oils are healthy additions to your diet,...

Rock on. (People).(National Education Association)(Charlie Winkler helps bring music to Moore Elementary School in Clarksville, Tennessee)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The halls are alive with the sound of music at Moore Elementary School in Clarksville, Tennessee, thanks to the generosity of music teacher Charlie Winkler. Last summer, Winkler sold his original 1959 Fender Stratocaste[R], the same type of...

A little inspiration. (People).(National Education Association)(Amy Dunaway-Haney)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Helping people comes naturally to Amy Dunaway-Haney, a Spanish teacher at Kettering Fairmont High School in Dayton, Ohio. When she isn't sponsoring one of the school clubs or providing weekend community counseling, she finds innovative ways...

Celebrating black history. (People).(National Education Association)(Shirley Pitts is director of the Black History Tour Group, a program she founded at Jackson High School in Michigan)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... NEA-Retired member Shirley Pitts helps spread the word about Black history as director of the Black History Tour Group, a program she founded as an active teacher at Jackson High School (Michigan) that has become a major focus of her life in...

Sweet success. (People).(National Education Association)(David Hurley and the students at East Belfast Elementary School in Belfast, Maine help the city's Bearfest auction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Paraprofessional David Hurley and the students at East Belfast Elementary School in Belfast, Maine, know all about sticky situations. When Hurley decided to build an entry for the city's Bearfest auction completely out of gummy bears, he had...

Going the distance. (People).(National Education Association)(Jeanette Marquardt's 26.2 mile run to raise money for the American Stroke Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When Jeanette Marquardt announced that she planned to run 26.2 miles in Negril, Jamaica, to raise money for the American Stroke Association, her friends and family members thought she was crazy. Or at least, not being serious. But Marquardt,...

Teaching reading: fighting for what you know: a new book urges educators to resist caving in to federally anointed reading programs at the expense of methods they know work. (Resources).(National Education Association)(Resisiting Reading Mandates: How To Triumph With The Truth)(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... RESISTING READING MANDATES: HOW TO TRIUMPH WITH THE TRUTH By Elaine M. Garan 128 pp. $15 paperback; Heinemann (www.heinemann.com) EXCERPT "The [National Reading Panel] report is not just some pesky little mosquito buzzing ia our...

Middle School and the Age of Adjustment: A Guide for Parents.(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A resource for any parent with a child in middle school. Parents need to be aware of the physical, emotional, and social challenges their children face in middle school so they can help them deal with adolescent issues. The author, a middle...

The Tomb of the Boy King.(National Education Association)(a narrative poem about the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb)(Von Holtzbrink Publishing Services)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A narrative poem about the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb, this book is full of detail and wonderful colorful illustrations. The author, who teaches in a gifted-child program, weaves together the facts and mystery behind King Tut and...

Don't Sweat It! Every Body's Answers to Questions You Don't Want to Ask.(National Education Association)(Free Spirit Publishing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... From the dish on deodorant to the skinny on skin, this guide uses humor, gross facts, curious myths, and friendly tips to reassure preteens that hygiene can make a big difference in how they feel. Written by a health and physical education...

Fairy Tales On Trial.(National Education Association)(a book that simulates investigations and trials based on fairy tales)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... With this book, students learn about character and law by simulating investigations and trials based on fairy tales. Through the mock trials, students examine the fine line between "doing wrong" and crime. The author, who teaches gifted third...

Teaching tolerance. (Free Or Inexpensive).(National Education Association)(Southern Poverty Law Center)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Educators can sign up for a free subscription to Teaching Tolerance, a semi-annual magazine that supports K-12 teachers' efforts to promote respect for differences and appreciation of diversity. Published by the Southern Poverty Law Center,...

Inspired by familiar faces. (Free Or Inexpensive).(National Education Association)(Skylight Paths Publishing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Malcolm X, Dorothy Day, Desmond Tutu--author Maura D. Shaw inspires kids to learn about some of the world's greatest leaders in Ten Amazing People. The book includes timelines of important events, punchy biographies, and richly illustrated...

Bus Boycott video. (Free Or Inexpensive).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Through this 40-minute video, students in grades 5 and up can view Rosa Parks' descendants and witnesses to the Alabama Bus Boycott, as they recount how Montgomery citizens banded together to end segregation on city buses. Free to educators,...

Stargazing for stories. (Free Or Inexpensive).(National Education Association)(Sterling Publishing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The night sky is filled with bedtime stories about a lion and her cub, a king, a swan, a flying fish, a unicorn. Chris Sasaki's The Constellations: Stars & Stories brings to life the stories of 88 constellations young readers can find on a...

Good Morning to you. (Free Or Inexpensive).(National Education Association)(Northeast Foundation for Children)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... K-8 teachers across the nation have discovered a new way to start class in the mornings that brings the classroom together in a circle to greet each other and share news and ideas. The Morning Meeting Book by Roxann Kriete provides...

Surfing for fresh ideas. (Free Or Inexpensive).(National Education Association)(International Society for Technology in Education)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Find websites about every topic from journalism to special education to drama in The Best Web Sites for Teachers. Authors Vicki Sharp, Martin Levine, and Richard Sharp provide up-to-date URLs for more than 1,200 sites teachers can use in and...

Word Power: What Every Educator Needs To Know About Teaching Vocabulary. (From the NEA Professional Library).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... 158 pp. $15.95 NEA members $19.95 nonmembers #2022-7-00-PL A good vocabulary is one of the major building blocks for success in reading, and every content area has vocabulary to master. Whether you teach math, literature, or science, Word...

Biography: Frederick Douglass. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(A and E Television Networks)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A&E, February 10, 7 a.m., ET. This episode shows the key role Frederick Douglass, a former slave, played in the fight against slavery, including his work editing an abolitionist newspaper, recruiting Blacks for service during the Civil War,...

Unchained Memories: Readings from Slave Narratives. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(Home Box Office)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... HBO, February 10, 8 p.m., ET. From 1936 to 1938, more than 2,000 interviews with one-time slaves were conducted for the Federal Writers' Project with the transcripts forming a unique record of slave life. This 90-minute documentary brings...

The Future of the Milky Way. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(Cable Educational Network Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Discovery Channel (Assignment Discovery), February 14, 9 a.m., ET. Featuring dramatic animation, this program explores the origins of the Milky Way Galaxy, including the search for a massive black hole at the galaxy's core. Can be taped and...

Animal Magnetism and Animal Behavior. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(National Geographic Television)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... National Geographic Channel, February 14, 8 and 9 p.m., ET. This show studies the behavior of animal mating and examines just how similar human and animal behaviors really are. In the game of courtship, are females the power players?...

On this Island. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(Public Broadcasting Service)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... PBS, Independent Lens series, February 18, 10 p.m., ET, check local listings. On an isolated island off the coast of Maine, a disagreement about arts education threatens to tear apart a once close-knit community until a former Broadway...

The Music Man. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(American Broadcasting Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ABC, February 23, 7 p.m. ET, check local listings. Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth star in this made-for-television movie of the Meredith Willson musical. Professor Harold Hill, played by Broderick, waltzes into River City, Iowa,...

Save Our History: the Underground Railroad. (TV Tips).(National Education Association)(A and E Television Networks)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... History Channel, February 24 and 25, 6 a.m., ET. Hosted by actor Alfre Woodard, this two-part program uses slaves engravings, songs, and diary entries to chronicle the story of America's first civil-rights movement and profiles some of the...

Scholarships for Hispanics. (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... This new website from NEA and the Hispanic Press Foundation makes more than 1,000 sources of financial aid more easily accessible to Hispanic students around the country and world. The site includes application guidelines, an alumni section,...

Writing Black. (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(African American writers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Keele University's American Literature Department has compiled a list of links to important works by Black Americans along with other online resources about Black writers. Authors include Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Frederick Douglass, and...

Bite-sized Ed News. (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(Ed.Net Briefs )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... This weekly newsletter, available by e-mail, includes condensed versions of the most important education-related news stories found in various print and online sources. The information can be read in less than 10 minutes, which is convenient...

Need help finding a job? (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse, hosted by Recruiting New Teachers, Inc., simplifies the task of recruiting, placing, and retaining teachers in America's public schools by helping aspiring teachers find certification and...

News for teens. (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(NewsHour Extra)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... More than 68 percent of teens search for news online. Direct them to a trusted source at NewsHour Extra, a companion site to PBS' The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. The site provides interactive news stodes, lesson plans that meet national...

Getting smart about money. (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(Planet Orange)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Help young students become financially literate by guiding them to Planet Orange, where kids explore separate islands that outline the basics of earning, saving, investing, and spending money. Credit cards, the stock market, and allowance are...

Green thumbs and grants. (Web Winners).(National Education Association)(National Gardening Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Spring will soon be here and what better way to welcome it than planting a school garden? Visit this site for information on how to create, maintain, teach about, and fund a school garden or schoolyard habitat. Sponsored by the National...

College tuition assistance. (Announcements).(National Education Association)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Not all scholarships are for students with excellent grades, low-income families, or the athletically inclined. Millions of dollars of private sector financial aid goes unused because parents and students do not know how or where to apply....