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GEP - Professional Development Email Updates
Issue date - March 1, 2010
Dear Educator:
Enclosed is the latest issue of World Savvy's Professional Development Announcements, posted once a month, featuring opportunities about grants, events, workshops for teachers, and new curriculum and resources for educators.
In this issue (quicklinks):
- Grants and Awards and Travel
- Opportunities and Events for Teachers
- Opportunities for Youth
- New Curriculum/Resources
World Savvy Announcements
Sign up to volunteer and/or judge for the 8th Annual World Affairs Challenge in San Francisco, CA!
On April 17, 2010, World Savvy will coordinate the Eighth Annual World Affairs Challenge at San Francisco State University. This year’s theme is “Water around the World”. Deadline to register as a judge or volunteer is March 12, 2010; please contact Regina Ingabire, Program Associate for the WAC, at regina@worldsavvy.org.
Teacher Workshop: European Union, Saturday, March 6, 2010!
This workshop, sponsored by ORIAS and the Institute of European Studies at Berkeley and co-sponsored by World Savvy, will explore Migration and Labor in the European Union. The second annual EU teachers' institute invites educators to explore migration and labor issues, key components of the CA Social Studies curriculum, through case studies of the European Union and how contemporary political arrangements have fundamentally changed migration and labor processes. Registration required; go to: http://orias.berkeley.edu/2010/EULaborHome.htm.
Special Call to Action
Support the US and the World Education Act!
Urge your representatives to support H.R. 3359, the US and the World Education Act. This important piece of legislation recognizes the need for today’s youth to learn about global issues, and calls for $200 million per year in new federal funding for professional development of teachers in international education. The bill was sent to committee in fall 2009 – please contact your representatives to ask them to support this important legislation! http://thomas.loc.gov/.
Grants & Awards & Travel
Toyota International Teacher Program
The Toyota International Teacher Program is offering a fully-funded, program that aims to environmental studies and global connectedness in schools and communities. The trip this year is to the Galapagos Islands and will take place November 20 – December 4, 2010. Applications are due May 19 and can be found here.
Captain Planet Foundation Grants
Grants are available for school projects that promote understanding of environmental issues through hands-on activities and group collaboration. To learn more or to apply for a grant please visit http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/grants.html. Grant applications are due by March 31.
World View Study Tours
World View is offering educator tours to both Brazil and Costa Rica over the summer. The application deadline has been extended until each study tour is full. Click here for questions or information regarding application deadlines or trip details.
US State Department Seminars Abroad
Educational Seminars provides opportunities for teachers and principals to participate in fully funded, short-term educational exchanges to Argentina, Brazil, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Thailand, and Uruguay. While in the host country, participants shadow their international peers' schedules, network with educational leaders in the country, and develop joint classroom projects and school partnerships supportable through the program's grant funds. Additionally, the program brings approximately 80 international teachers and principals for 2-3 week programs to be hosted by schools across the U.S. Applications to participate in the program to one of the above countries, due March 12, 2010, can be accessed at www.americancouncils.org/es.
Opportunities and Events for Teachers
The National Endowment for the Humanities
NEH has many summer seminars and institutes for K-12 teachers that take place both in the U.S. and abroad. One this year is on "The Arabic Novel in Translation." For more information on each opportunity and for applications, go to: http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html
Choices Program
The Choices program is holding their annual summer institute for secondary teachers. This year's topic is "Competing Visions of Human Rights," and it goes from July 6 - 9, 2010. The cost of the program and room/board is covered. Travel expenses to Rhode Island may also be subsidized. For more information and an application, go to: http://www.choices.edu/pd/institutes_7_2010.php.
Indiana University's International Studies Summer Institute
Open to teachers across the country – a great summer institute on global issues. To find out more about this year's program, held from July 7-15 in Bloomington, IN, go to: http://www.indiana.edu/~global/issi
For specific events and opportunities in San Francisco, click here.
For specific events and opportunities in Minnesota, click here.
Opportunities for Youth
Concordia Language Villages
Summer 'Villages' combine language immersion, cultural activities, and fun camp activities, and are offered for students aged 7-18 in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Programs are one, two and four weeks long, with the four-week program offering one year of high school language credit. Sign up now!
Free the Children: Youth Action Summit
All California youth, ages 10-19, are invited to attend this global issues and leadership conference in San Francisco on Saturday, March 13, 2010. The summit will run from 10 AM to 4 PM (registration starts at 9, lunch will be provided), and will take place at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St., 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA. Register here.
Concern’s International Writing Competition
Concern Worldwide is holding its third annual international writing competition and is asking students to imagine addressing the United Nations General Assembly to deliver a speech that could change the world. What would you say to them about global poverty, the environment, health, gender equality or education? What stories would you tell them, what facts would you present, what actions would you insist they take? For more information please click here. The deadline for entries is March 21, 2010.
Disney’s Friends for Change
Disney is encouraging kids everywhere to take steps together with their friends to help the planet. The Friends for Change Grants will fund kids' projects that help the environment and will look to engage children ages 5-18 as leaders in their communities. Projects will need to be done any time during 2010 and should include one service or celebratory component on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25. Disney, working with YSA, will award 150 $500 grants throughout 2010. Click for more information.
Global Citizen Year
Nominate a high school senior to participate in a year of learning a new language, participating in meaningful service projects around the world and developing important global competency skills. Global Citizen Year is a nine-month program bridging high school and college with an immersive educational experience abroad.
For specific events and opportunities in San Francisco, click here.
For specific events and opportunities in Minnesota, click here.
New Curriculum/Resources:
The Persian New Year (No Ruz)
Nowruz, the major holiday of Iran, is celebrated not only in Iran but also in a number of other neighboring countries. It's an upbeat, secular holiday with a lot of the same symbolism as Easter. This lesson on Nowruz was created by Safiz Safizadeh of Pierce Middle School in Milton, Massachusetts. You can access it on Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies website.
2010 Winter Olympics
The Vancouver Olympics have just wrapped up, but there are a number of great connections that can still be made in the classroom! See below for links and resources:
- New York Times Learning Center: Includes links to various New York Times articles regarding the Olympics as well as ideas to interweave the competition into various subjects.
- PBS NewsHour: This site includes an article relating the Winter Olympics to the greater theme of international relations as well as an accompanying lesson plan.
International Education Planning Rubric
A new rubric that was designed by the Longview Foundation and the Asia Society’s Partnership for Global Learning in order to provide guidance for planning and assessment of state level strategies to promote international education and global competence. Examples of states’ efforts are included throughout the rubric to serve as guides. To view the rubric and accompanying examples please click here..
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8)
March is Women’s History Month, and March 8 has been designated as International Women’s Day.
Below are some resources for you to use in the classroom:
- World Savvy Monitor: Global Status of Women.
- UN Cyberchoolbus: Intl Women’s Day.
- Concern Classroom Guide on Women’s issues.
- Amnesty International: Stop Violence against Women.
The views expressed in this posting are not the views of World Savvy, and do not constitute an organizational endorsement. They are listed here as resources for educators but do not necessarily reflect the opinions and priorities of World Savvy.