NEA Today articles from February 2004

NEA Today archives from February 2004

Hallmarks of love.(Editor's Note)
February 1, 2004... A friend who teaches first grade told me a Valentine's tale of love and devotion that goes beyond the Hallmark variety--though Hallmark, actually, was involved. [paragraph] Her school is located in an area of Montgomery County, Maryland, that...

Beyond the same old drill.(President's Viewpoint)
February 1, 2004... "Sustained" and "thoughtful" are two terms not likely used when we consider ways to improve schools serving disadvantaged and minority children. We seem content with the educational quick fix instead of providing for all our children what...

Enough already!(up front)
February 1, 2004... Teachers and paraeducators may be the ones on the front lines, but that certainly hasn't stopped a whole host of other folk from joining the march against the Elementary and Secondary Education Act--the so-called No Child Left Behind law. The...

Voucher victory.(up front)
February 1, 2004... PUBLIC EDUCATION iS alive and well in Colorado. The Denver District Court has declared the state's private school voucher program unconstitutional, saying it strips local school boards of control over education. NEA and the Colorado Education...

I hereby resolve ... to keep my resolutions.(up front)
February 1, 2004... New Year's resolutions--we all make them and by this time each year most of us break them. But 2004 will be the year we stick with 'em! If you're feeling a little wishy-washy on those newly minted promises, check out these tips guaranteed to...

A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s.(up front)
February 1, 2004... AMERICAN STUDENTS are well on their way to mastering their multiplication tables. Seventy-seven percent of fourth graders and 68 percent of eighth graders performed at the basic level on the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress...

Coming attraction: a colossal investment in California's future!(Notepad)
February 1, 2004... Chronically underfunded for more than two decades--and bled dry by $4 billion in cuts in the past two years--California schools trail the national per-pupil spending average. In response, the California Teachers Association (CTA) is pulling...

Strength in solidarity.(up front)
February 1, 2004... IT WASN'T EASY. But in October, after a year and a half of negotiations, members of Michigan's Midland City Educational Support Personnel Association (MCESPA) secured their first contract as NEA members. The local, formerly part of the United...

(Un)healthy bill of fare: think the new Medicare law only concerns gramps and granny?(up front)
February 1, 2004... Guess again. The 678-page law signed by President Bush in December is bad medicine for anyone who relies upon employer-provided comprehensive health insurance. Most of the headlines about the NEA-opposed bill focused on the prescription...

A losing bet.(up front)
February 1, 2004... Edison Schools Inc., the for-profit management firm that can't seem to earn a profit, has a new--and rather unwilling--owner: school and other public employees in Florida. IN NOVEMBER, Edison shareholders approved the company's purchase...

From the page to the stage.(up front)
February 1, 2004... With a $15,000 grant from NEA, the Ford's Theatre distributed more than 2,300 copies of The Grapes of Wrath to Washington, D.C.-area high schools in tandem with its production of the stage version of the story. About 150 local students also...

Keeping up with the world.(Global Takes)
February 1, 2004... How well are U.S. students performing compared with other kids around the world? According to the 2003 Condition of Education, an annual report from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. fourth graders have higher reading scores than...

Homing in on higher learning.(Global Takes)
February 1, 2004... According to the 2003 Report of the Pan-Canadian Education Indicators Program, 41 percent of Canadians are college or university graduates--that's more than the United States, with 37 percent, and Japan with 34 percent. The percentage is even...

High-tech tots.(up front)
February 1, 2004... Babies still in diapers might be more wired up and tech-savvy than a lot of adults you know. According to a study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, even the very youngest children are growing up immersed in media, spending...

Coca-Cola 'Swerves' to stay in schools: what do you call a drink with all the calories and twice the sodium of Coca-Cola Classic?(up front)
February 1, 2004... Well, the Coca-Cola Corporation calls it Swerve, a new flavored milk drink sold only in schools--a "healthy" alternative to the traditional sodas that many schools have banned because of concerns about child nutrition and obesity. Swerve,...

Living her dream: when she was growing up, Tara Sparks wanted to be her teachers. In preschool, she wanted to be Miss Alicia, keeper of the toys and guardian of naptime.(up front)
February 1, 2004... HER THIRD-GRADE HERO, Mr. Washington, gave the class fun math projects and rewarded them with boogie time. Her eighth-grade muse was Mrs. Schukai, a drama and English teacher who inspired Sparks to follow in her footsteps. Sparks even envied...

Wet behind the ears.(Nobody Ever Told Me)
February 1, 2004... Like many, I did my student teaching in a university town that used a lot of student teachers during the year. My turn came in January. I wanted to look good for my first day, so I dressed in my best suit coat and tie. I was told to...

Comfortable clarinets.(Two-Minute Tips)
February 1, 2004... I teach beginning band. I cut soft pencil cushions in half and have my clarinet players put them on their thumb rests. This really helps with comfort and it's not very expensive. PENNI COON Filer, Idaho

Keyboarding hopscotch.(Two-Minute Tips)
February 1, 2004... I have a great tip for teaching keyboarding skills. Use an overhead projector to project a transparency of a keyboard onto a shower curtain liner. Then, using a permanent marker, trace each key onto the liner. Put it on the floor and let...

A laughing matter.(Two-Minute Tips)
February 1, 2004... I found that the line for the pencil sharpener in my class was longer than usual on test days. To use this time wisely and help students relax, I make any necessary announcements first, then give students 45 seconds to sharpen their pencils...

Good headlines, bad bottom line.(up front)
February 1, 2004... IF YOU THOUGHT former Minnesota Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura was an "X-treme" kind of guy, take a look at the education plan of Minnesota's current governor, Tim Pawlenty. He has proposed replacing teachers at underachieving schools with...

Too little, too late: poky urban school districts maybe causing their own teacher shortages, according to a report by the New Teacher Project.(up front)
February 1, 2004... The report, Missed Opportunities: How We Keep High-Quality Teachers Out of Urban Classrooms, blames sluggish hiring schedules for the loss of qualified teachers to other schools or districts. The districts have no problems recruiting...

The anti-drug: family dinners.(up front)
February 1, 2004... Who would have thunk? Frequent family dinners may help protect teens against illegal drug use and stress--and even help them do better in school, according to a study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at...

Be mine.(up front)
February 1, 2004... LOVE IS IN THE AIR and teachers everywhere are reaching for those tasty candy hearts with the funny sayings. Each year, the New England Confectionery Company, better known as NECCO, manufactures 8 billion of these little treats, called...

As my principal Mr. H observed my first-grade class, I had students follow simple directions I wrote on the board.(Smile)
February 1, 2004... As my principal Mr. H observed my fiLter-grade class, I had students follow simple directions I wrote on the board: I tried, "shake Mr. H's hand." A sweet, shy up to the principal, and across the back of the head. When I asked what she was...

We had a "Camouflage Day".(Smile)
February 1, 2004... We had a "Camouflage Day" as part of Spirit Week at my high school. One of the freshmen boys in my elective class left his desk too many times that day, and I had to reprimand him. I warned him that I didn't want him to leave his chair again...

While instructing my kindergartners in the proper use of computers, I reminded them it was important to use quiet voices.(Smile)
February 1, 2004... While instructing my kindergartners in the proper use of computers, I reminded them it was important to use quiet voices. "Does anyone know why? "I asked: One student had an answer: "So everyone can constipate." MARIETTA CANALIZO ...

Are you 'the worst teacher Eva'? A popular new Web site lets students praise or condemn their teachers online--anonymously. Can they really do that?(rights watch)
February 1, 2004... As he explains it, Michael Hussey just wants to "hold teachers accountable." So the young entrepreneur joined California teachers Tim and Nancy Davis in creating RateMyTeachers.com (RMT), a for-profit Web site where students can "have their...

The South Carolina Education Association (SCEA).(South Carolina)
February 1, 2004... The state of South Carolina proclaims that, legally, it need only provide a "minimally adequate" education. In response, eight rural districts have hauled legislators into court in a funding lawsuit. In their defense, lawmakers have...

Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA).(Nebraska)
February 1, 2004... The Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) is joining with the Nebraska Coalition of Educational Equity and Adequacy (NCEEA) to file a school funding lawsuit against the state. NCEEA's brief will contend that, under current funding...

Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA).(Massachusetts)
February 1, 2004... Through intensive organizing and mass lobbying, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) and other unions have won a long fight to get the state to honor contracts it negotiated nearly three years ago for more than 13,000 public higher...

Colorado Education Association.(Colorado)
February 1, 2004... A District Court judge has ruled for the plaintiffs in an NEA-financed suit against a new law creating a "pilot" voucher program in 11 Colorado districts. The judge has held that the law violates the "local control" clause of the state...

Michigan Education Association.(Michigan)
February 1, 2004... At a November rally, NEA President Reg Weaver urged more than 400 Southfield teachers and support professionals to "keep up the fight" in their protracted contract dispute over wages and health insurance, Following a quarter-mile-long...

Delaware State Education Association.(Delaware)
February 1, 2004... Four Delaware State Education Association local affiliates in the Capitol School District have won an arbitration case over the superintendent's decision to force education support professionals and teachers to work or attend a Professional...

California Teachers Association (CTA).(California)
February 1, 2004... The California Teachers Association (CTA) acted swiftly to provide help to members victimized by deadly fires in Southern California. Through its disaster relief fund, CTA awarded 59 grants totaling $59,000 and made 41 loans totaling $52,000...

Pensions and politics: some lawmakers want to put your retirement security at risk. Don't let them do it.(Leading the way)
February 1, 2004... John Jensen, who began teaching in 1967 in Omaha, Nebraska, at a salary of $5,700, is now a millionaire--of sorts. Because he worked in a system with a guaranteed pension plan, Jensen, who retired last year, knows he'll get a monthly...

Success outside the comfort zone: a Colorado ESP local spreads its wings, building membership and earning the respect of school administrators.(Getting organized)
February 1, 2004... NEA LOCAL AFFILIATE: Canon City (Colorado) Educational Support Personnel Association (CCESPA). THE NUMBERS: THE NUMBERS: In the past year and a half, CCESPA has grown by 450 percent, to 98 members. "Our strength is in numbers,...

In New Mexico, it's politics with a difference: by electing an education-friendly governor, NEA and AFT state affiliates gain pro-education legislation--and money to make it work.(neft Report)
February 1, 2004... New Mexico is fast becoming a textbook example of the positive things that can happen when supporters of public education come together to elect good politicians--and then work hard to make sure these leaders keep their campaign promises. ...

Florida State Faculty give union landslide victory: a 150-member organizing committee turns out the votes and turns up pressure for an end to 'political interference' on campus.(neaft Report)
February 1, 2004... A recent vote by faculty and professionals at Florida State University (FSU) to elect the United Faculty of Florida (UFF) as their collective bargaining agent reaffirmed UFF chapter President Jack Finrito's conviction that his colleagues at...

Saving the joy: reading proficiency may be the cornerstone of the federal Elementary and Second Education Act, but educators say testing proficiency--and very little fun--may be the real order of the day. How some NEA members are pushing against the tide.(Celebrate Reading)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... At New Stanley Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas, reading is nothing short of an adventure in wonder--and it's apparent as soon as you walk through the school's great big door. Kindergartners imitate geese to learn a letter sound....

Going global: want to see the world--and help kids at the same time? These NEA-Retired members are continuing a lifetime of public service--while seeing the world with new eyes.(Retirement Opportunities)
February 1, 2004... It was the baby boomers--fresh from college and full of idealism--that John F. Kennedy called to service when he launched the Peace Corps in 1961. Four decades later, boomers looking to reinvent retirement are once again trekking across the...

Lights! Camera! Learn! A favorite storybook character, and a little star power, help North Carolina second graders reconnect with reading.(spotlight)
February 1, 2004... Second-grade teacher Brian Freeman was worried. In a year, his students would face North Carolina's state tests for reading comprehension and math--and Freeman wasn't sure they were ready. What could he do to motivate them to become voracious...

Should we ban cell phones in school?(Debate)
February 1, 2004... YES Cell phones should absolutely be banned from school, no questions asked. My philosophy is that we lived a hundred years without them and we can live another hundred years without them if we chose to do so. They are nothing but a...

Is your job beyond description? Ohio ESPs develop job descriptions that clarify their roles--and contributions to public education.(esp)
February 1, 2004... Too often, individual education support professionals (ESPs) are given few details of the job duties expected of them. Many work without job descriptions, or with descriptions so vague or outdated that they are useless--leaving ESPs without...

How do you respond to religious intolerance among students?(Dilemma)
February 1, 2004... Teach Diversity I Intolerance usually starts from ignorance. One way to fight this s to educate the children about the different customs some people have. When I taught early childhood special ed, I would do a unit in December about the...

Keys to motivation.(Bulletin Board)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... I have been assigned to teach a high school alternative special ed class of very unmotivated students. For most of my time, I teach at the elementary level but hold a K-12 certificate. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I might possibly...

Effective silent reading.(Bulletin Board)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... My junior high is returning to a daily silent sustained reading period. We have used it before with variable success. Does anyone have any successful ideas to share on using reading periods at this level? KAREN GODFREY English and French...

Scrubbers' corner: what's the best stain remover out there?(Bulletin Board)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In November we asked this question. You answered: During the school year, I have the students donate several items for classroom use. Items that are particularly handy are boxes of baby wipes. These are excellent for wiping hands after...

Seeking sci-fi.(Bulletin Board)
February 1, 2004... I teach 6th grade science in a middle school and I am looking for a good science fiction novel to read with my students. I especially would be interested in anything dealing with the environment. Any suggestions? CHERYL Colorado

Beat the motivation blues! If you're among the hundreds of educators taking the NEA Fitness Challenge and your zeal is starting to fade, take heart: There is a way to stay psyched and keep those pounds rolling off. How? Just ask your colleagues (and a few experts, too!).(Health & Fitness)
February 1, 2004... A pound shed is a triumph shared for the F-D-S Challenge team at West Center Area Secondary School in Barrett, Minnesota. The team--officially, Five Dedicated Scholars--joined the NEA Fitness Challenge nine weeks ago with this goal of shared...

Honky tonk girl: listen to the uplifting harmonies and foot-stomping beats of Karen Collins' music, and you'll know that not all cowgirls get the blues.(People)
February 1, 2004... COLLINS, A COMPUTER PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTOR at Blair High School in Montgomery County, Maryland, sings and plays fiddle for two country music bands that perform in the Washington, D.C., area. Collins grew up a reluctant listener of her...

Lifetime winning streak: almost 50 years ago, Robert Hughes' college basketball coach at Texas Southern University told him that he "had it in him to coach.".(People)
February 1, 2004... AT THE TIME HUGHES BLEW HIM OFF, saying he would only accept a coaching position if he could call the shots. A few days later, the coach called back with three offer--each as a head coach. Hughes accepted one and never looked back. Now, 45...

Teaching's golden years.(People)
February 1, 2004... "First grade is my first love," says Lucille Decker, reminiscing about her 59-year tenure as an elementary school teacher at Elgin and Princeton South Elementary Schools in Minnesota. FOR DECKER, TEACHING students to read is not just a...

Painful experiences, powerful lessons.(People)(Brief Article)(Biography)
February 1, 2004... When retired California member Amy Tsubokawa was nine, her family--like thousands of Japanese-American families--was sent to an internment camp for the duration of World War II. WHILE CONFINED TO A BARRACKS in Poston, Arizona, where...

Improving Comprehension: Ten Research-Based Principles.
February 1, 2004... NEA Success in Reading Series Gerald Dully, Editor 72 pp. $10.95 NEA Members, $12.95 nonmembers NEA Professional Library, www/nea.org/books (BOOK EXCERPT) TEXT IS MORE THAN BOOKS We tend to think of text as books. While...

Help with reading.
February 1, 2004... FROM "SAVING THE JOY" ON PAGE 24 WORD POWER: WHAT EVERY EDUCATOR NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT TEACHING VOCABULARY Steven Stahl and Barbara Kapinus NEA SUCCESS IN READING SERIES A good vocabulary is critical for success in reading,...

Grants, awards, and competitions.(Resources)
February 1, 2004... IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE NEA FOUNDATION Do you have an innovative idea that will improve student achievement, but lack the funds to implement the project? The NEA Foundation's Innovation Grants can help. Do...

In print.
February 1, 2004... SERVING PROUDLY African-Americans have played a large role in many American conflicts from as early as the Revolutionary War all the way up to today. American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert...

Diversity calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 1-29--BLACK HISTORY MONTH Started by Carter G. Woodson in the 1920s as Negro History Week, the commemoration was expanded to a month to reflect on the culture and accomplishments of Blacks in America. For more, go...

On TV.
February 1, 2004... MIGHTY TIMES: THE LEGACY OF ROSA PARKS HBO Family, February 8, 7 p.m., ET/PT. You might think you know her story, but this documentary peels away one more layer. "Mighty Times" shows us Rosa Parks as part of a strong community that...

Heads up from member benefits.
February 1, 2004... OUR NEW SITE?--"OUTTA SIGHT" is what people are saying about the revamped NEA Member Benefits Web Site. Introduced in December, the Site sports a sleek, new design that makes products and services easy to locate, eliminates multiple layers,...

Cooking up reading resources at OWL.org.(OWL.org.)
February 1, 2004... This year's Read Across America (RAA) on March 2 will be the biggest and best celebration yet--and OWL.org is helping to make it happen! Members looking for ways to participate in RAA activities can log on to OWL.org and find fun-filled...

Black history biographies.(On the Web)
February 1, 2004... Brush up on your African-American history on this Biography.com site that includes biographies ranging from George Washington Carver to Tiger Woods. Many of the life stories also come with video clips, as well as related links to the person...

A journey through slavery.(On the Web)
February 1, 2004... America's journey through slavery is presented in four parts in this site designed by PBS. For each era, you'll find a historical narrative, a resource bank of images, documents, stories, commentaries, and a Teacher's Guide for using the...

History scavenger hunt.(On the Web)
February 1, 2004... Send students on a Black history scavenger hunt at www.educationworld.com/ a lesson/lesson052.shtml. Students can learn about famous Black Americans while polishing their Internet surfing skills. For students of all ages, the site organizes...

Take the ocean challenge.(On the Web)
February 1, 2004... "Clean Water for the 21st Century," part of the Wyland Ocean Challenge, is the first interdisciplinary art and science educational program for grades K-6 that addresses these issues. Developed by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD)...

Meeting the Math Standards with Favorite Picture Books: Lessons, Activities, and Hands-on Reproducibles that Help You Teach Essential Math Skills and Concepts.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... Bob Krech This book tells how to teach math through good literature--books and stories that inspire, amuse, and provoke kids into making connections and building skills. The collection includes math activities connected to 25 favorite...

Free Gondola Ride: a Summer with the Men Behind the Mystery.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... Kathleen Ann Gonzalez Learn about the history of the gondola and at the same time, take a "free ride" with the author, a high school English teacher, as she uncovers the true lifestyles of Venice's gondoliers. Originally intending to...

Tundra Teacher: a Memoir.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... John Foley Becoming a schoolteacher in a remote Eskimo village on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea is not what John Foley imagined. He finds out what it's like to be in the racial minority. His wife feels isolated, lost, and...

Inquiry & the Literary Text: Constructing Discussions in the English Classroom.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... James Holden and John S. Schmit Secondary and college practitioners Holden and Schmit offer theory-grounded, classroom-tested approaches for literature study in this book, which includes a primer on discussion-based classes and...

For custodians.(Resources)
February 1, 2004... CMM Online, provided by Cleaning and Maintenance Management magazine, contains news and feature articles on carpet and floor cleaning, environmental issues, industry trends, and legal and government compliance issues. The site also offers...

What's up at HIN.(Resources)
February 1, 2004... RESILIENCY FOR GRADES 6-12: NEW ANIME POSTERS Want a creative, educational way to help students cope with adversity? The NEA Health Information Network introduces a new resiliency poster series for grades 6-12. Each colorful, anime-style...

Are your reading hats ready?(Resources)
February 1, 2004... March 2nd is almost here--are you ready to celebrate NEA's Read Across America and the joy of reading? In Florida, NEA student members are preparing a Seuss-apalooza, acting out Seussian style in honor of Dr. Seuss's 100th birthday. In...

For the love of kids.(Last Bell)
February 1, 2004... TEACHING IS MY SECOND CAREER. I am a corporate retread. I spent 20 years in industry after graduating from college with a master's degree in nuclear engineering, progressing from an entry-level engineer to senior vice president. I must...