Whiteboard

Use this page to post information or questions that request input from nanuet adminstrative colleagues. Format: Date of post, person's name, then the nformation or question.

1/27/08 by Ed: Colleagues- FYI and sharing with others. Is there a teacher you would like to nominate?

2009 Teacher of the Year Application Now Available On-Line
The 2009 New York State Teacher of the Year Award are now available online at: [|http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/TEACHING/toty/2009teacheroftheyearapplication.html] The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and celebrates outstanding teachers throughout New York State. It is run in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year program. To be eligible, a teacher must be appropriately credentialed within his or her current teaching area, working directly with students (pre-kindergarten through grade twelve) in a State-approved public, private or charter school and have a minimum of five years teaching experience. A teacher may be initially recommended for nomination by any person within the school or community including parents, students, business leaders, school administrators or colleagues. The formal nomination should involve a collaborative decision-making process indicating the support of all the groups concerned with the quality of teaching within a school. A complete portfolio including letters of support is submitted for each nominee. Support from the school community may include several days of release time to fulfill the obligations of the Teacher of the Year.

Summer Institutes for Teachers of Mathematics and Science in Grades Five through Eight
2008 State funds in the amount of $5,000,000 are available from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for grants to New York colleges and universities offering teacher education programs in partnership with school districts. These grants are intended to improve teacher professional content knowledge and pedagogy, enhance their competencies in the use and application of technologies for improved student achievement, and where practicable, align and integrate with programs offered to Excelsior Scholars pursuant to section 100.14 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The RFP may be found at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/deputy/Documents/funding-opport.htm

The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, 2007
MetLife has been sponsoring surveys on educational issues since 1984. This edition was focused on "The Homework Experience." The executive summary includes the following findings: - "More than eight in ten parents believe that their child's teachers assign the right amount of - or even too little- homework, and three-quarters of students report that they have enough time to do their assignments." -"The majority of parents do not see homework as getting in the way of family time or as a major source of stress and disagreement in the family." -"Most parents, as well as students and teachers, believe in the value of homework." -"Overall, most parents (and teachers) report that the quality of homework assigned by their school is less than excellent." -"Most engage in other activities while doing homework." -"Half or more of teachers frequently use homework to help students practice skills or prepare for tests, develop good work habits, develop their critical thinking skills, motivate them to learn, and develop students' interests." -"Highly experienced teachers (21+ years of experience) are more likely than new teachers (5 years of less experience) to believe that homework is important: that it helps students learn more in school or that it helps students reach their goals for after high school." -"New teachers are less likely than highly experienced teachers to provide students with feedback on homework or to review completed assignments during class discussions." -"New teachers feel less prepared to create engaging homework assignments." (Submitted by Steve, 3/19/08)