Web Resources to Help Learn and Prepare

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of every January. NEA has prepared this list of resources to help teachers, parents, and community members honor Dr. King's life and works.

• This is a good time to read Dr. King's historic speech I Have A Dream (1963) and others. You can find them at Stanford University's Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project.

• The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of Dr. King's legacy. It was established in 1968 by his wife, Coretta Scott King.

• Thousands of Americans celebrate Dr. King's birthday by serving in their communities. Find out more and download a toolkit for designing a service project in your community.

• The Massachusetts Teachers Association has assembled a collection of resources to help teachers design learning activities about Dr. King. They include links to original material such as speeches and papers.

• The Seattle Times maintains a Web site devoted to Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement that includes a photo gallery, timelines, a quiz, and study guides.

• Looking for lesson plans, printable worksheets, quizzes, and classroom activities to mark the celebration? Familyeducation.com and Education World have extensive resources for teachers.

Sites that Deliver Again and Again

The Granddaddy of "Free Stuff" Web Sites
The U.S. Department of Education maintains Free—more than 1,500 lesson plans, primary documents, science animations, math challenges, and works of art, literature, and music from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives, National Science Foundation, National Gallery of Art, and many other federal agencies. Go to www.free.ed.gov.

Classroom Behavior
Instilling a sense of civility in class and helping students learn manners that will serve them in their personal and professional lives is an expected part of classroom curriculum. To help promote thoughtful, respectful behavior, NEA has created Do the Right Thing, a Web area with articles, tips, research, videos, discussion boards, and much more. Go to www.nea.org/dotherightthing.

Help with Math

• Webmath—Students of any age can turn to this site to solve specific math problems. A user types a problem into fill-in-forms. Powerful algorithms analyze the problem and, when possible, provide a step-by-step solution. Covered are basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and even life skills math. Go to www.webmath.com.
  
  
• RUReady?—The University of Utah built this learning and self-assessment site to help high school students gauge their readiness for calculus and intermediate algebra. The tools analyze student test responses and provide feedback on error patterns. Users can work at their own pace. Go to http://ruready.net.

Super Science Sites

• Extreme Science —Discover the biggest and baddest in the world of extremes and learn about the science that makes each the supreme example of its kind. (Think sharks, cyclones, superconductors.) Go to http://www.extremescience.com.
  
  
• Jonathan Bird's Blue World —Here's a beautifully filmed, award-winning underwater ocean exploration series with short, 7–10 minute video segments, each containing a complete story with an educational component. Go to http://blueworldtv.com.
  
  
• Educators National Science Standards Lesson Bank —Teachers teamed up with the Space Foundation to develop more than 200 science lesson plans for preK–12 that focus on space, science, engineering, math, and technology. Includes background materials and assessment criteria. Go to www.sciencestandardslessons.org.

For Teachers and Students of ESL
Behind this site's deceptively plain index page lie more than 1,000 ESL links to everything from articles to class handouts, lesson plans to pronunciation guides, vocabulary lists to classroom humor, and more. Students will find "culture guides," project ideas, speaking prompts, tips for coping with slang, and quizzes. Go to http://iteslj.org/ESL3.html.

On Exhibit: Everything
You expect the Louvre or the Smithsonian to have a Web site, but the Circus Historical Society? The Archive of European Aeroplane Silhouettes? The International Gallery of Matchbooks? Two meta sites contains links to hundreds of museums worldwide, large and small. Visit Museum Stuff at www.museumstuff.com and the Museum of Online Museums at www.coudal.com/moom.

Help Students Recognize and Respect Diverse Peoples

Tolerance.org
A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, this site provides free educational materials designed to promote respect for differences and appreciation of diversity; reduce prejudice; improve intergroup relaions; and support equitable school experiences for our nation's chidlren. You'll find curriculum materials, classroom activity guides, kits, and a downloadable magazine, Teaching Tolerance. The materials are beautifully designed and free for schools to order or download.

Disability Studies for Teachers
This site—sponsored by the Center on Human Policy, a disability research and policy institute in the School of Education at Syracuse University—contains lesson plans and materials designed to help teachers integrate disability studies into social studies, history, literature, and related subjects in grades 6–12. The materials focus on social, cultural, and political perspectives.

United Nations CyberSchoolbus
Part of the U.N.'s Global Teaching and Learning Project, this site contains curriculum materials on poverty, human rights, world hunger, indigenous peoples, ethnic and racial discrimination, and more. You'll also find information on participating in the renowned Model U.N. conferences, online quizzes and games, a world-wide student art gallery, a child soldiers-themed Web quest, and much more. But be patient—some pages load slowly.

Digital History
A joint effort among the University of Houston, the National Park Service, and other archives and museums, this site provides historical resources for teachers and students for free and without advertising. Included is "Ethnic Voices," an extensive section containing primary source materials, chronologies, and images from African American, Mexican American, Native American, and Asian American history. Includes learning modules, handouts, and more.

International Children's Digital Library
This site hosts a collection of online books from around the world for readers ages 3–13 so they can know and appreciate the riches of literature from the global community. Currently, there are 2,657 books in 48 languages. Free registsration allows users to select their preferred language, return to the last page they were reading, and save their favorites in a personal "bookshelf."

Resources for Plannning the School Calendar
Technically speaking, this is not a Web resource—it's a print publication—nor is it free. However, it could be the best $40 you spend on your classroom. This well-researched booklet identifies important anniversaries of historical events, special commemorative occasions, and ethnic celebrations, enabling you to plan your multicultural activities for the whole year. From Education Research Service. When you arrive at the ERS Web site, enter "Resources for Plannning the School Calendar" in the search engine at the top left of the page.

ServiceVote Engages Young People in the Political Process

ServiceVote is a campaign to engage young people in the political process, beginning with voting. Service Vote 2008 challenges youth to think critically about how they can affect issues by getting involved in the political process and provides opportunities to participate in the presidential election.

The Web site features:

• Up-to-date news and information on the various races, the presidential candidates, and the defining issues
  
  
• Opportunities for peer interaction and dialogue through a discussion forum where youth can post videos, images, and audio files
  
  
• Resources to take action through service in the election and in the policy process

Help youth get involved at www.servicevote.org.

With SchoolNotes, Students Always Know Their Assignments

SchoolNotes is a free service that teachers can use to post information online, such as homework assignments, resources links, and even "flash-card" quizzes. Parents and students can be notified automatically when the teacher updates the Web page.

SchoolNotes complements school sites by allowing teachers to share information on the Web without worrying about HTML or FTP because there is no programming required.

Always available, this free community service allows parents, teachers, and students to access school information from home, work, school, or anywhere the Internet is available. Find out more at www.schoolnotes.com.

Science Podcasts for Young Listeners

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has launched Bytesize Science, an educational and entertaining podcast for young listeners. Bytesize Science translates cutting-edge scientific discoveries from ACS' 36-peer reviewed journals into stories for young listeners about science, health, medicine, energy, food, and other topics.

New installmetns are posted every Monday and are available free of charge. The archive includes items on environmental threats to orcas, a scientific explanation for why some people love chocolate, unlikely new uses for compact discs, and a hairy tale about "hairy roots."

Don't have an iPod? Listen to episodes with your Web browser—just point it at http://feeds.feedburner.com/bytesizescience.

Jonathan Bird's Blue World

Use your classroom computer to explore the ocean with Emmy award-winning underwater cinematographer and naturalist Jonathan Bird.

Jonathan Bird's Blue World is an educational "magazine style" underwater adventure series with short, 7–10 minute segments, each containing a complete story with an eduational component. Segments include stories about marine animals, research and researchers, underwater exploration, and recent discoveries.

Current episodes explore the biology and behavior of blue sharks; the amazing sonar abilities and social lives of sperm whales; the intelligence and playful creativity of wild dolphins; the gentle "sea cow"—the manatee (a relative of the elephant!); the pelagic thresher shark, one of the rarest sharks in the wild; as well as others.

Each segment includes a downloadable study guide for teachers.

Visit www.blueworldtv.com.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was created to honor victims, survivors, and rescuers of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building—the most significant act of domestic terrorism on American soil.

The remains of the building, along with two damaged adjacent structures, were demolished and the entire 3.3 acre site dedicated to the Memorial & Museum, which educates visitors about the impact of violence, informs about events surrounding the bombing, and inspires hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected.

The Web site is a great companion to the museum in educating students about an important event in U.S. history and contains many resources for teachers, including professional development opportunities, curriculum ideas, and planning for visits. Take a virtual tour of the site, including the famed gates and empty chairs, to appreciate the beauty and serenity of this memorial.

Visit www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

Children's Programming Coalition Helps Parents Take Control of Family Viewing

NEA has joined forces with TiVo, National PTA, YWCA, Parents Choice Foundation, and other community groups in creating the Smart Television Alliance, a coalition devoted to promoting information about, and access to, quality children's television.

NEA President Reg Weaver says, "We have long been concerned about the impact of television, particularly violent television, on children. Studies show that the average child spends about 900 hours in the classroom during the course of a school year, but 1,023 hours in front of a television. Think about the level of violence to which they are frequently exposed. Thousands of studies have been conducted on children's television and violence, and according to a majority, kids who watch violent programming are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior. We are seeing all too often that aggressive behavior in how it hurts other students as well."

The group's Web site offers parental tips and programming recommendations to millions of subscribers to TiVo's digital video recording technology and anyone with Internet access. Expert recommendations and tips from organizations like NEA make it easier for parents to choose shows that are best for their families.

For more information, visit the Smart Television Alliance.

"PointSmart. ClickSafe." is a new multimedia initiative coordinated by the National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and Cable in the Classroom (CIC) to help families and children make appropriate choices and stay safe while using the Internet. The cornerstone of the effort, www.PointSmartClickSafe.org, provides a variety of materials—including an online "guidebook" and video vignettes—offering simple instructions, tips, and scenarios that can help parents and caregivers teach children to make good choices about Internet use. Educators may also find much of the site's information helpful.

Good courses require good teachers. Although online teaching shares much with face-to-face instruction, it also requires a unique set of skills. NEA's new Guide to Teaching Online Courses provides an overview of an effective online education system, focusing on the skills teachers need, professional development to get there, and models to evaluate and improve online teaching. And it's free!

Go to www.nea.org/technology/images/onlineteachguide.pdf ( 32 pp, 1,311 KB) to download.

In 2003, PBS aired a three-part series on race in society, science, and history. At the companion Web site, explore race and ethnic diversity through a variety of interactive tools. Take a quiz to guess someone’s race based on a photograph, or view a slideshow where people talk about how race affects them. This online resource will challenge you to examine your own assumptions, while educating you about human diversity.

Go to www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm.

Labor unions have a long and fascinating history in the United States. Delegates to NEA’s 2006 Representative Assembly voted to encourage all Association members to learn more about labor, and to participate in its ongoing history by contributing materials to institutions dedicated to preserving labor’s legacy.

The American Labor Studies Center collects and disseminates curricula and other related materials for K–12 teachers. Visit them at labor-studies.org/ and explore their many resources, including lesson plans, timelines, biographies, and more.

The American Labor Museum maintains a Web site at www.geocities.com/labormuseum. Take a virtual tour of the museum and shop online for labor-related apparel, posters, and other items.

Excellent Resource for Women's History Month

The National Women's History Museum (NWHM) provides a wealth of information about the history of American women. Elementary and high school lesson plans, women's history quizzes, and quotes from notable women are available in the Educational Resources section. Also included are over 125 biographical profiles of American women throughout history.

The museum's Cyber Exhibits are another excellent resource—nine separate exhibits provide quality material on topics including women's education, women in the Olympics, woman suffrage, and women in World War II.

Visit www.nwhm.org

The MarcoPolo Web site and the Verizon Literacy Network have combined to form Thinkfinity—a Web site of educational content created by renowned organizations who are experts in their fields, such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Content areas include arts integration, economics, geography, the humanities, mathematics, reading, language arts, and science. Lesson plans, reviewed Web sites, student materials, interactive activities, assessments, and training materials for K–12 educators and students can be found here at no cost, though registration is required.

Go to www.thinkfinity.org.

Find Humanities-Focused Exhibits Near You

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)—an independent grant-making agency of the U. S. government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities—supports a number of exhibits that travel across the country and, in some cases, around the world.

Teachers may find these exhibits useful as fieldtrip destinations, or, in instances where host museums maintain Web sites featuring the exhibits, as online enrichment opportunities.

During 2007, 26 traveling exhibits and 115 long-term exhibits funded with NEH support appear in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Germany, and Switzerland. Some may be near you. For example:

• A traveling exhibit on the changing social meaning and dynamics of ¡Carnaval!— the carnival festival—based on case studies from communities in Europe and the Americas, runs 6/23/2007 to 1/6/2008 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA.
• A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie, a traveling exhibit featuring artifacts recovered from an English merchant slave ship that sank in the Florida Keys in 1701, runs through 5/19/2007 at the University of Richmond Museums, Richmond, VA.

And there are many more. To find out about exhibits near you, visit www.neh.gov/projects/et-index.html. Click on the map to see what's happening in your state, or view an alphabetical list of exhibits and their itineraries.

Note: No links are provided to Web sites of host museums or institutions; you will need to conduct Web searches to find them online.

Resources for Educators and Students

On February 12, 2007, we celebrate the 198th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States. The U.S. Department of Education honors the life and legacy of one of our nation's most formidable statesmen.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809 and raised in Indiana. A self-made man, he taught himself how to read and write. Elected President in 1861 and again in 1865, Lincoln made significant strides restoring freedom and dignity to all Americans. Through the Emancipation Proclamation issued January 1, 1863, and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Lincoln was influential in ultimately abolishing slavery. On April 15, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln in Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. The following year marked the first time that Lincoln's birthday was nationally celebrated.

Free classroom resources:

• Abraham Lincoln Lesson Plan
• Additional Resources

[From the U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Initiative]

Campaign Informs Parents About TV Ratings System,
Content Labels, and V-Chip Guidelines

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Ad Council have announced an 18-month TV and radio campaign to inform parents about the TV ratings system, content labels, and V-Chip guidelines.

Their message: Television provides a wealth of fascinating and educational information. Help children take advantage of television with programs that teach, inspire, and instill values their parents find important. Media management—not elimination—means balancing television's advantages with other activities, and helping children learn how to make good tv decisions.

The campaign's user-friendly Web site provides instructions for blocking out certain programs, as well as instructions on how to restore programs for adult viewing

Visit www.TheTVBoss.org/ for more information.

Here are three categories of resources on classroom management: Articles, Quizzes, Tips; Books; and Web sites.

Articles, Quizzes, Tips

Behavior Control
These Works4Me tips are from teachers. Building a sense of order, respect, and trust in your classroom is essential. Without these underlying dynamics, the real business of teaching and learning cannot take place. Here are ways that some educators are meeting the challenge, and using positive reinforcement to transform undesirable behavior in their students. Try them and see if they work in your classroom! (NEA)
www.nea.org/tips/manage/behavior.html

Cheating, Plagiarism (and Other Questionable Practices), the Internet and Other Electronic Resources
This comprehensive article lists commercial and free term-paper sources, Web-based plagiarism detection tools, and, way down at the end, practical tips for discouraging cheating and plagiarizing from the Internet and other electronic sources in your class.
www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/plag.htm

Creating an Atmosphere for Learning
This article looks at the three major components of classroom management: the organization of the physical space and placement of materials, the rules that guide student behavior, and the need to gain and maintain the students' attention for instructional learning. From the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).
www.nea.org/classmanagement/envk030214.html

The Inclusional Classroom
The most important element in classroom management is to have a plan. Answer the questions in this article to see if you're ready for school. The About Education Web site offers many free articles and numerous items for purchase.
http://specialed.about.com/od/teacherstrategies/ a/management.htm

Laying the Foundation for Positive Classroom Behavior
Classroom behavior is one of the trickiest issues teachers face today. One key to nipping behavioral problems in the bud is to promote positive behavior before problems arise. This takes some planning, but these practical tips will help you lay a foundation for positive classroom behavior. Requires free registration. (Pearson Education Development Group)
www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-6400.html

Management Tips for New Teachers
Four areas to address to bring order to the classroom: establishing classroom climate, conducting class efficiently, reaching all students, and establishing discipline. (NEA)
www.nea.org/classmanagement/begtk030731.html

10 Approaches to Better Discipline
All discipline problems are not alike. Effective teachers match different approaches to different problems. Here are ten approaches from Merrill Harmin's Inspiring Discipline. From the NEA Professional Library 1995.
www.nea.org/classmanagement/disck021113.html

Top Clicks for New Teachers
Three areas to consider when organizing the classroom: general classroom management, student behavior, and learning environment.
www.nea.org/classmanagement/begtk030828.html

What Is Your Classroom Management Profile?
The intent of this quiz is to inform you and arouse your curiosity regarding classroom management styles. The styles are adaptations of the parenting styles discussed in Adolescence, by John T. Santrock.
http://education.indiana.edu/cas/tt/v1i2/what.html

Books

The Discipline Checklist: Advice from 60 Successful Teachers by Ken Kosier
Sixty elementary teachers--each recognized for highly successful efforts at maintaining discipline--share their secrets of classroom management and suggestions for motivating today's students. Practical and easy to read. (NEA Professional Library)
http://store.nea.org/NEABookstore/control/ productdetails?&item_id=2165700

Innovative Discipline by Judi Call et al.
Covers discipline strategies that work and can improve the whole culture of a school, peer mediation, self-help sessions, and TQM as a discipline strategy. New in this edition are a section on school safety and an extensive list of resources. (2nd ed., 2000) (NEA Professional Library)
http://store.nea.org/NEABookstore/control/ productdetails?&item_id=2916X00

Web Sites

Do the Right Thing
Every generation bemoans the rude behavior of young people. What's an educator to do? Find out how educators are helping students get along with others and "do the right thing." You'll find resources with a positive, proactive approach to instilling civil behavior in the learning environment: success stories, tips, strategies, grants, and more. From NEA.
www.nea.org/dotherightthing/index.html

Managing the Class Climate
Teaching Effectiveness Program (TEP) answers 10 Frequently Asked Questions, including what to do if you have a reputation for being boring or a blowoff. Ideas are applicable for K-16. From the University of Oregon.
http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/faqs/ managingclimate/managing.html

You Can Handle Them All
A reference for handling over 117 different misbehaviors at home and at school. (The Master Teacher)
www.disciplinehelp.com

Revised January 2007.

Art

Art Access
This Web site from the Art Institute of Chicago examines objects from the museum's permanent collection to provide site visitors with an understanding of the collection’s content, style, and historical context. It has Ancient Indian and African-American art, impressionism, post-impressionism, and modern art as well as a variety of online resources for teachers, parents and students, including lesson plans for the classroom and art projects for the home.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/artaccess/

Artcyclopedia
Part portal and part collection of articles about famous paintings and painters, the Artcyclopedia site indexes over a thousand museum and fine-arts-related sites from around the world, providing access to the most authoritative sites on the Internet. The site's "Top 30" feature provides the 30 most popular artists and 30 most popular works of art searched by users of the site. Has a glossary with hundreds of fine arts terms.
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/

ARTSEDGE
An excellent source of information on arts education, ARTSEDGE provides arts curriculum resources; look-listen-learn lessons; standards in dance, music, theater, and the visual arts; articles about how to teach the arts, and articles and reports on current issues in arts education. Developed by the Kennedy Center and the National Endowment for the Arts.
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/

A Century of Drawing
This site presents 50 of the 140 drawings on view in the "A Century of Drawing" exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibit charts the development of modern art and shows some of the most aesthetically compelling and intellectually intriguing works from the 20th century. The Web site includes works by Picasso, Klee, Matisse, Calder, Rothko, de Kooning, Dubuffet, Guston, Rauschenberg, Twombly, and others.
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/drawinginfo.htm

The Drama Teacher's Resource Room
This Web site is dedicated to drama teachers (grades 4-12) and includes a variety of resources: lesson plans, backstage activities/archives, production ideas, other drama links, and educator seminar information.
http://www.sasktelwebsite.net/erachi/index.html

Education at the Getty
Discover an interdisciplinary approach to using the Internet to help bring Los Angeles's worlds of art into the classroom. Teachers outside of Los Angeles can also use the lesson plans and resources to build connections between art learning and the art worlds of their own communities. The site offers lesson plans and curriculum ideas, image galleries, and discussion boards.
http://www.getty.edu/education/

Guggenheim Museum
Learning Through Art is an artists-in-the-schools program of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The program encourages teachers and teaching artists to design art projects that support student learning across the curriculum.
http://www.learningthroughart.org/

Joy2Learn
This Web site features e-presentations with internationally renowned artists. Each artist introduces his or her art form, discussing its history, background, and personal insights. Students can navigate through videos including performances, discussions, and quiz games. The Joy2Learn e-presentations were designed to support curriculum standards in areas of social studies, science, the arts, and English language arts and may also be used by general education teachers of elementary or middle schools class levels. 
http://joy2learn.com/

KinderArt, Art Lessons for K-12
This site boasts over 1000 free art lesson plans, covering art topics from architecture to drama, and folk art to sculpture. Also included are a free newsletter, an art gallery of children's art, profiles of young artists, information about contests for students, and many materials for purchase.
http://www.kinderart.com/index.html

Metropolitan Museum of Art
This site includes Explore and Learn (an area about artists and their works), Timeline of Art History, Educational Resources, and Museumkids (activities for kids to try). 
http://www.metmuseum.org/home.asp

PapaInk
This Web site is an international online gallery of children's art. The creators of the site provide no-cost archival services to organizations and individuals all over the world, enabling the set-up and building out of permanent galleries of children's art -- a great service with amazing images.
http://www.papaink.org/gallery/home/index.html

Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
The "What's New" link from the home page leads to five specialized interfaces of the museum's collections: diversity, uses, imagery, currently on view, and advanced.
http://africa.si.edu/index1.html

Music

Essentials of Music
This site for basic information about classical music  (created in cooperation with W.W. Norton, built around Essential Classics) includes overviews of the six main periods in music history (Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century); brief biographies of nearly 70 composers; and a glossary containing 200 definitions with numerous musical examples. RealAudio is required for sound clips.
http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/

San Francisco Symphony Kids' Site
The site offers a refresher course on The Instruments of the Orchestra and or an introduction to reading music in Meet the Notes.
http://www.sfskids.org/templates/splash.asp

Research

Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum conducted a three-year study to evaluate the impact of arts education on critical thinking skills and literacy among elementary school children. The study found that students in the program performed better in several categories of literacy and critical thinking skills — including extended focus, hypothesizing, and providing multiple interpretations — than did students who were not in the program.
http://www.learningthroughart.org/research_findings.php

Writing & Literature

Guide to Grammar and Writing
Whether it's run-on sentences, modifiers, punctuation, spelling rules, or essay writing, if you have a grammar or writing question, you can probably find the answer here.
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

International Children's Digital Library
The goal of this 5-year project is to create a digital library of international children's books for children ages 3-13, building an international collection that reflects both the diversity and quality of children's literature. The collection includes over 700 titles, all available for free. The ICDL is a public library for the world, and the collection reflects diverse cultures, perspectives, and historical periods. The ICDL searching and reading tools are now available in 9 languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Filipino/Tagalog, German, Hebrew, Persian/Farsi, and Spanish.
http://www.icdlbooks.org/

Media Literacy
The site provides background information and teaching materials on media literacy -- accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and creating media. Resources include a "how-to" program for teaching media literacy skills to K-5 students, with replicable structure, tools, and lesson plans; a downloadable classroom activity guide that provides 25 lesson plans for K-12 media literacy; over 350 online magazine articles; and a media literacy kit with materials for free and for sale, in English and in Spanish.
http://www.medialit.org/

PBS TeacherSource: Arts & Literature
Use the pull-down menus in the center of the page for access to hundreds of PreK-12 curriculum resources. Lessons are based upon PBS's on-air and online programming. Most lessons incorporate the use of video, but do not require it. The site also provides access to dozens of recommended arts and literature Web sites and books.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/arts_lit.htm

Perseus Digital Library
This site, produced by members of Tufts University's Classics Department, provides visitors with a wealth of information about the classical Western world. It includes an atlas, encyclopedia, introductory essays to ancient Greek and Roman life, English-to-Greek and English-to-Latin dictionaries, classic texts, and images of art and archaeology. Of special interest are the site's collection of electronic texts of Greek and Latin literature (from Aeschylus and Aristotle to Sophocles and Xenophon), The Bible, and the English Renaissance (Shakespeare, Philip Marlowe, and others).
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/

Poets & Poetry Video Biographies
Annenberg Media's "Voices & Visions" is a great way to learn about the most influential American poets and poetry. Hour-long biographies highlight the works of Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Sylvia Plath, William Carlos Williams, and nine other renowned poets.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series57.html

See the "Spotlight on Voices & Visions" Web site for brief videoclips from the series and links to extend the learning.
http://www.learner.org/catalog/extras/vvspot/



Updated June 2006.

Links to Sites That Show the Richness of Eastern Cultures

Preparing a unit on Asian history? Well, here are some Web sites that may help you.

Asia for Educators
This site offers rich content -- including interactive time lines, historical maps, an image gallery -- that can be explored by subject, file type, time period, or unit. Educators will find outlines and background readings and links to standards and other information to help develop lesson plans. (Additional materials are available for purchase.) Students will find content for research reports or other projects. Despite two big problems -- links "under construction" and videos with long loading times and frequent interruptions -- the site has much to offer. From Columbia University.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu

Ask Asia
This clearinghouse for K-12 Asian and Asian-American studies offers lesson plans, essays, maps, images, and more. This Web site serves as a resource from which teachers can pick and choose parts of essays, particular lessons, teaching ideas that suit their individual teaching purpose. From Asia Society.
http://www.askasia.org/

Smithsonian Institute Freer and Sackler Galleries
The Education Department of the Freer and Sackler galleries offers a wide variety of programs designed to foster better understanding of Asian art and culture. Materials for teachers were developed by classroom educators working with museum curators. These curriculum packets provide multidisciplinary activities to capture the interest of students and inspire their creativity.
http://www.asia.si.edu/education/default.htm

Elementary Students Through Young Adults

Best Bet Book Lists

Read Across America | NEA 
The Read Across America site has several interesting book lists, including Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children, Kid's Top 100 Books, Celebrity Book Picks, and more.
http://www.nea.org/readacross/parents.html

100 Favorite Children's Books | New York Public Library 
Listed by these categories: biography and history, fantasy, favorite animal stories, humor, mystery, poetry and song, science fiction, stories, survival/adventure, and today's kids.
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=60

Choices Booklists | International Reading Association 
Each year, thousands of children, young adults, teachers, and librarians around the United States select their favorite recently published books to be included in the Choices annotated booklists. Published annually by the International Reading Association, Children’s Choices, Teachers' Choices, and Young Adults' Choices booklists are used in classrooms, libraries, and homes to help young people find books they will enjoy reading.
http://www.reading.org/resources/tools/choices.html

Bimonthly Showcase | Children's Book Council 
Book recommendations are organized around themes, such as Spanish Cultural Heritage, Math and Counting, or Summer Reading. CBC is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to encouraging literacy and the use and enjoyment of children's books, and is the sponsor of Young People's Poetry Week and Children's Book Week each year.
http://cbcbooks.org/html/showcase.html

Book Awards

Caldecott Medal Home Page  | American Library Association
Named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, this medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html

Coretta Scott King Award | American Library Association
This award is presented to authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream."
http://www.ala.org/srrt/csking/index.html

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal | American Library Association
This award honors an author or illustrator whose books have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/wilder.html

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award | American Library Association 
Awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.
www.ala.org/alsc/batch.html

Newbery Medal | American Library Association 
Awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html 

Pura Belpré Award  | American Library Association 
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/belpre.html

Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award | Children's Literature Web Guide 
Presented for a work of historical fiction published by a U.S. publisher and set in the New World.
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/odell.html

Sydney Taylor Book Awards | Association of Jewish Libraries  
It is awarded annually to outstanding books of positive Jewish content for children. In some years, a special Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award is given as well.
http://www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/awards/st_books.htm

Articles & Newsletters

Hands-on English
A 16-page print publication for teachers of adult ESL students. The publication is mailed six times a year with practical teaching ideas, hints & tips, and copyable activities for the classroom. It's written by teachers for teachers and is 99% jargon-free!
www.handsonenglish.com/

Kidspeak: How Children Acquire Language
Book chapter on how children develop language skills. From The Language Web by Jean Aitchison, published by Cambridge University Press, 1997.
www.fathom.com/course/10701036/

Seeing English Learners Through New Eyes
This article demonstrates the value of using English learners' native languages in the classroom. From Essential Teacher (March 2005).
www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=824&DID=3403

Works4Me Tips on Foreign Language Instruction
Reviewing techniques for studying a foreign language. From NEA.
www.nea.org/tips/content/foreign.html

Curriculum Resources

Hispanic-American History
Curriculum resources about Hispanic Americans, their impact on this country, when parts of it were theirs, and now. From About Web site.
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/hispanicamerican/

Web Sites

Colorín Colorado
Colorín Colorado provides information, activities, and advice for Spanish-speaking parents and educators of English language learners (ELLs). The site's "For Educators" section offers research-based resources for teachers and paraprofessionals, including information to help them better understand and address the needs of Latino ELL students, tips on the placement and assessment of ELL children, and ideas to foster stronger parent-teacher partnerships.
www.colorincolorado.org

NCELA (formerly NCBE) - Language & Education Links
The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs (NCELA) site provides links to organizations and resources for effective education of linguistically and culturally diverse learners. The site also includes special pages for teacher training programs and bilingual parenting.
www.ncela.gwu.edu/resabout/

OELA (formerly OBEMLA)
The Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA) was established in 1974 by Congress to help school districts meet their responsibility to provide high quality education for limited English proficient students (LEPs). OELA's Web site is a source of contacts, organizations, grant news, and other information.
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/index.html?src=mr

ESLoop
Collection of sites relevant to English language teaching and learning on Web. Each site is linked to the next, so that no matter where you start, you will eventually make your way around all the sites and end up back at the beginning. The ESLoop was intended to give you a more linear way of browsing, to help with demonstrations, and to form a fun association of those with ESL pages on the web. ESLoop sites feature student projects and activities to scholarly papers to English for Science and Technology and job opportunities.
www.linguistic-funland.com/esloop/esloop.html

Updated December 2007.

Resources Available on NEA.org and Other Web Sites

February is Black History Month, and to help you celebrate African-American history and culture, we've put together a collection of Web sites that provide educational materials, lesson plans, and other helpful resources.

NEA.org Lessons & Activities

Three-Way Match: Famous Black Americans
Students learn about the accomplishments of famous African American men and women using a unique three-way matching activity.

Unsung Heroes of African-American History
Find two lesson ideas and dozens of online (and on air!) curriculum resources.

Famous African Americans ABC Book
Grades K-12 create an ABC book of famous African Americans in history.

Rosa Parks Changed the Rules
Students complete a diagram of the Montgomery bus that carried Rosa Parks into the history books. Work sheet included.

The Black History Rap
Invite students to write a rap or hip-hop lyrics about the life of a famous Black American.

Build a Black History Database/Timeline
The simple Black History timeline students create can be sequenced, sorted, and searched.

The African-American Population in U.S. History
Charts, graphs, and maps help students learn about the growth of the African-American population throughout history.

Melba Pattillo and Ruby Bridges: Two Heroes of School Integration
Put your students in the shoes of those who integrated Little Rock High School in 1957-58.

MLK Day Curriculum Resources
Teachers will find a collection of curriculum resources to help students put in perspective Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.

Other Lessons & Activities

• Black History Month Printables & Lessons (TeacherVision)
• Black History Month Lessons and Teacher Resources (The Lesson Plans Page)
• Black History Month Lessons and Activities (The Teachers Corner)
• Lesson Plans, Thematic Units, Printables, Worksheets, and More (A to Z Teacher Stuff)

Other NEA.org Resources

African-American Booklist
This reading list from NEA's Read Across America presents 100 books that celebrate African-American heritage, tradition, and achievement.

Minority Community Outreach: Blacks
Introduction to NEA's program of outreach to Blacks.

NEA Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
In the historic Brown v. Board decision, the Supreme Court declared that racial segregation in public schools deprived students of equal educational opportunities. Background information and classroom lessons are featured.

American Teachers Association: Welcome to a History of the American Teachers Association
As early as 1926, NEA and the American Teachers Association (ATA) began working together on issues of educational equity. Four decades later, as racial desegregation advanced in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, ATA and NEA united to create an even greater organization—the modern National Education Association. The presidents of the two organizations signed a merger agreement in 1966.

Other Online Resources

African Americans (FREE - Federal Resources for Educational Excellence)
Sixty-six resources including historic places of the Civil Rights Movement, documenting the American South, African American history resources, and North American slave narratives.

Black History Month (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia's entry on the Black History Month provides information on the history and purpose of the holiday and how it was created. Links to other, related Web sites may prove a useful resource.

African American Lives (PBS)
Building on the program theme of searching for lost history, the Web site for African-American Lives 2 provides information about the PBS television series, background on the research, scholarship, and science, and resources for people to learn more about their own family history and genealogy.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a national research library devoted to collecting, preserving, and providing access to resources documenting the experiences of peoples of African descent throughout the world.

African American World (PBS)
Explore the history and culture of African Americans and browse through educational resources, including lesson plans for grades 3-12.

African American World for Kids (PBS)
This Web site for young children explores African American history with games (match African American heroes with the events that made them famous), e-cards (choose from among 14 e-cards kids can send to their friends and family with information and facts about African American history), and "Kid Talk," where kids aged 8-11 share their thoughts on African American history.

African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship (Library of Congress)
This exhibition showcases the incomparable African American collections of the Library of Congress. It displays more than 240 items, including books, government documents, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, plays, films, and recordings.

Slavery in America
The PBS series Slavery and the Making of America premiered on the Public Broadcasting Service in February 2004. It drew very strong audiences across America, and reviews were very positive. The series is part of a broader educational initiative that includes this Web site. See the Web site for more information on the four one-hour programs of this series.

African-American Freedom Fighters: Soldiers for Liberty
Learn about African Americans' participation in 11 wars from the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War. An exhibit from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

Legends of Tuskegee
This online exhibit highlights Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and the Tuskegee Airmen and their affiliation with the Tuskegee Institute, site of African-American achievements for more than 100 years.

The African-American Mosaic (Library of Congress)
"A Library of Congess Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture," this site covers colonization, abolition, migration, and the WPA.

Black History Month (The History Channel)
The history of the Civil Rights struggle plus more than 60 biographies of African Americans are featured on The History Channel Web site. Video clips, speeches and related exhibits can be used in the classroom use.

Updated January 2008

Economics, Entrepreneurship, & Financial Literacy

Here are three Web sites for teachers that offer business and finance resources for the classroom.

Teaching Economics As If People Mattered

United for a Fair Economy (UFE) offers 5 learning modules for teaching economics: Defining Economics, The Ten Chairs (distribution of wealth in the United States), Savings Accounts & Stocks, Born on Third Base (acquiring wealth), Signs of the Times (gauging economic success).

Each module includes learning objectives, key concepts and terms, a downloadable lesson, an animated presentation, articles and resources, a mapping to standards, and a place to offer feedback about the lesson.

To learn more, visit the Teaching Economics As If People Mattered Web site.

NFIB Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Young Entrepreneur Foundation (YEF) developed NFIB Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom programs to bring real-life stories of entrepreneurs into the classroom, enabling students to learn first-hand about the risks and rewards of operating a small business.

The three-module curriculum helps teachers create classroom laboratories where high school students can learn about operating a small business. All three modules contain teaching notes, overheads, activities, and quizzes. Access to the curriculum materials requires free registration.

To learn more, visit the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Web site.

JumpStart: Financial Smarts for Students

JumpStart offers some materials that can be downloaded for free -- "12 Principles that every young person should know” provides short lesson plans on teaching students about money. Their Clearinghouse offers materials that you can order by written request and a few that you can download.

Their financial curriculum materials are available for purchase only. They have two "money savvy" curriculums -- one for teaching personal finance to kindergarten through fifth graders and the other for teaching early high school age students. Please note that these materials are totally scripted for the teacher.

For more information, visit the JumpStart Web site.

Here are some resources that describe the academic achievement gaps and provide strategies to close them.

NEA Materials

C.A.R.E.: Strategies for Closing the Achievement Gaps 
This guide helps educators reflect on the causes of disparity in student achievement and explore ways to improve academic success by using innovative, research-based instructional strategies.
http://www.nea.org/teachexperience/careguide.html

Focus On: Learning About Each Other
NEA series helps educators know their students.
http://www.nea.org/teachexperience/focuson0711.html

Focus On: Learning About Each Other's Culture
NEA series helps education employees better serve students.
http://www.nea.org/teachexperience/focuson0607.html

Focus On: Closing the Achievement Gaps for Six Groups 
This series identifies barriers to learning for six groups -- American Indian and Alaska Native students; Asian and Pacific Islander students; Black students; Hispanic students; women and girls; and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students -- and offers resources to break down the barriers. 
https://www.nea.org/teachexperience/achievgapfocus0405.html

Closing the Gap
Academic success still eludes thousands of students -- and the fault lines between those who achieve and those who don't show up in multiple places: around race, gender, income, and more. This NEA Today cover story offers some innovative solutions that educators are bringing to the problem.
https://www.nea.org/neatoday/0501/coverstory.html

Closing the Achievement Gap for AAPI Students
Discussions of closing the achievement gaps often overlook Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students. Because most people believe AAPI students always do well in school. But a groundbreaking report debunks the stereotype that all AAPI students are succeeding in schools.
http://www.nea.org/teachexperience/api05.html

Materials from Other Web Sites

ECS: Closing the Achievement Gap
This education policy issue site provides readings, research summaries, and statistical information on the causes and effects of the achievement gap and offers a look at some of the strategies and reforms that states, districts, schools, philanthropic organizations, and others are using to help boost the achievement of ethnic and racial minority students. The Education Commission of the States.
http://www.ecs.org/html/issue.asp?issueID=194

The resource list below has Web links and contact information for national organizations that provide educators with curriculum resources for subject areas including arts, theatre, and social studies.


Alliance for Curriculum Reform
The Alliance for Curriculum Reform is a collaborative, non-profit organization that brings together the leaders, insights, and resources of more than twenty national educational associations concerned with P-16 curriculum and school reform.
http://www.acr.uc.edu

1208 Springfield Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45212
(513) 556-2006

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) is an umbrella organization that focuses on health/physical education and physical activity. 
http://www.aahperd.org/

1900 Association Dr.
Reston, VA 20191-1598
(800) 213-7193

Center for Civic Education
The Center for Civic Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation dedicated to fostering the development of informed, responsible participation in civic life by citizens committed to values and principles fundamental to American constitutional democracy. Today, the Center administers a wide range of critically acclaimed curricular, teacher-training, and community-based programs.
http://www.civiced.org

5146 Douglas Fir Road
Calabasas, CA 91302-1467
(818) 591-9321

Dance Educators of America
Dance Educators of America (DEA) is a prestigious dance professionals’ organization dedicated to improve the quality and teaching abilities of its member teachers and to enhance their education of students, as well as further the professional and ethical standards in the performing and stage areas and dance in all its forms.
http://www.deadance.com

P.O. Box 607
Pelham, NY 10903
(914) 636-3200
(800) 229-3868

Educational Theatre Association
Educational Theatre Association (EDTA) provides a broad range of professional services and support to theatre educators and their students. Through the International Thespian Society, its student honorary branch, EDTA has been recognizing work in school theatre for more than seventy years.
http://www.edta.org

2343 Auburn Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45219
(513) 421-3900

National Art Education Association
Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association’s purpose is to promote art education through professional development, service, advancement of knowledge, and leadership. To this end, the Association holds public discussions and publishes books, journals, reports, surveys, flyers, and other materials.
http://www.naea-reston.org

1916 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1590
(703) 860-8000

National Association for Music Education
Formerly known as Music Educators National Conference or MENC, the National Association for Music Education with its nearly 90,000 members advances music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all.
http://www.menc.org/information/members/factsheet/factsheet.htm

1806 Robert Fulton Drive
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 860-4000
(800) 336-3768

National Association of Schools of Theatre
Establishes operational and curricular standards for schools and programs; trains and coordinates volunteer evaluators; provides a forum for discussion of policy issues concerning theatre and other arts in higher education; disseminates basic information to the public about accredited theatre schools and programs; recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for accreditation of theatre educational programs.
http://nast.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp

Suite 21
11250 Roger Bacon Drive
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 437-0700

National Association of Teacher Educators for Family and Consumer Sciences
Serves as a forum for discussion on issues and concerns confronting family and consumer science educators; assists with research; participates in policy debates.
http://www.natefacs.org/

Purdue University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
1442 Liberal Arts and Education Building
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1442
(765) 494-7291

National Association of Vocational Education Special Needs Personnel
Unifying association for the development and operation of programs for special vocational education; promotes and maintains leadership in vocational, career, and occupational education; monitors and participates in the decisions of vocational legislation.
http://www.specialpopulations.org/

Penn State -- McKeesport Campus
101 Ostermayer University Drive
4000 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132-9065
(412) 675-9065

National Center for History in the Schools
Conducts research on the status of history teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools, including the development of improved approaches and resources for history teaching.
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/nchs/

University of California -- Los Angeles
Department of History, 6265 Bunche Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1473
(310) 825-4702

National Council for History Education
Serves as a resource to help members improve the quality and quantity of history learning; assists states and local school districts with curriculum revision; advocates history in school and society.
http://www.history.org/nche/

Suite B-2
26915 Westwood Road
Westlake, OH 44145-4657
(440) 835-1776

National Council for the Social Studies
Since its founding in 1921, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) has grown into the largest association in the country devoted to social studies education by engaging and supporting educators in strengthening and advocating social studies.
http://www.socialstudies.org/about/

8555 Sixteenth Street
Suite 500
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
(301) 588-1800

National Council of Teachers of English
Works to improve the teaching and learning of English and language arts at all levels of education; produces and disseminates information and aids for teachers on formulating objectives, creating and evaluating curriculum guides, and planning in-service programs for teacher education; provides reference and referral services.
http://www.ncte.org/

1111 West Kenyon Road
Urbana, IL 61801-1096
(217) 328-3870
(800) 369-6283

National Earth Science Teachers Association
Strives to promote, extend, and support earth science education at all levels.
http://www.nestanet.org/

P.O. Box 2194
Liverpool, NY 13089
(315) 867-2034

National Geographic Society Education Foundation
Provides support, professional development opportunities, and materials to K-12 teachers through "geographic alliances" (partnerships between universities and K-12 teachers); offers activities such as annual grant making for graduates of geographic alliance workshops and residential training institutes, education outreach campaigns (such as Geography Awareness Week), and special programs on a variety of topics (such as technology or assessment).
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/foundation/

1145 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036-4688
(202) 857-7000
(800) 647-5463

National Health Information Center
Identifies health information resources; links health professionals and consumers who have health-related questions in touch with organizations that are best able to provide answers; develops publications on health-related topics.
http://www.health.gov/nhic/

P.O. Box 1133
Washington, DC 20013-1133
(301) 565-4167
(800) 336-4797

National Humanities Institute
Promotes research, publishing, and teaching in the humanities, with emphasis on the ethical preconditions and purposes of culture and society, the centrality of personal freedom and creativity, and the historical nature of human existence.
http://www.nhinet.org/

P.O. Box 1387
Bowie, MD 20718-1387
(301) 464-4277

National Science Teachers Association
Seeks to improve all aspects of science education at all grade levels.
http://www.nsta.org/

1840 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201-3000
(703) 243-7100
(800) 722-6782

World History Association
Promotes scholarship and teaching in world and comparative history; serves the needs of secondary, college, and university faculty with the award-winning Journal of World History, the World History Bulletin, and regional, national, and international conferences; gives its members the best of current research, innovative pedagogy, and opportunities to confer with others; committed to transcultural and comparative analyses of the past.
http://www.thewha.org/

2530 Dole Street
Sakamaki Hall A203
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-7688

 

The above organizations do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the National Education Association or its Affiliates.

Union Communication Services
Publishers of communications and education tools for activist union leaders. Site features a news service, book catalog, weekly cartoon, and song.
http://www.unionist.com/

Alliance for Lifelong Learning's Academic Directories -- Labor History
Leading academic Web sites concerned with historical U.S. social movements, labor in particular, are reviewed and catalogued by university experts. Use as perspective freshener or for lesson planning.
http://www.allianceforlifelonglearning.org/

NetAction's Virtual Activist Training Reader
This guide includes tip sheets, checklists, sample alerts, and resource lists. Available in html, MSWord, and PDF.
www.netaction.org/training/versions.html  

Wisdom Quotes: Labor Quotations
"He who says it cannot be done should get out of the way of the one who is doing it." -- Chinese Proverb
Site provides a compendium of quotes on labor subjects for use by those involved in labor-related struggles -- a useful resource when preparing literature, publications, speeches, and everything that has anything to do with organizing.
http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_labor.html

Here are some resources to help educators implement a curriculum aligned with standards and assessments.

Greece, New York, Curriculum Mapping (Grades 6-12)
Explore this Web site to find out more about curriculum maps -- typically organized by month or marking period to help teachers chart a course for the entire year. Read about outcomes, rubrics, themes, and templates.
http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/6-12/Curriculum%20Mapping/Index.htm  

Marysville,Washington, Curriculum Mapping (K-10)
Check out these sample curriculum maps for grades K-10. These maps were developed to determine a comprehensive, clear, cohesive, and consistent curriculum.
http://www.msvl.k12.wa.us/Curriculum/mapping/curriculummapping.htm

NCREL Curriculum Mapping Web Site
The interactive Web site was designed to assist districts in their efforts to map out new mathematics and science curricula. (Free registration is required.) Available to users for comparisons are rich international mathematics and science curriculum maps from top-achieving nations. The Web site is a joint effort between the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory and the U.S. Third International Science and Mathematics Study National Research Center at Michigan State University.
http://currmap.ncrel.org/default.htm

Notes & Reflections (NCREL, Spring 2003 issue)
From a free electronic newsletter on professional development, this issue on Curriculum Mapping supports teacher discussions about implementing a curriculum aligned with standards and assessments and provides a step-by-step guide to the curriculum mapping process. Case examples drawn from the experience of North Central Regional Educational Laboratory's (NCREL) staff illustrate the process.
http://www.ncrel.org/info/notes/spring03/index.html

Utah Education Network (K-2)
This article addresses why educators should use curriculum mapping, offers examples of curriculum mapping and unit planning, and provides sample curriculum mapping forms.
http://www.uen.org/k-2educator/currmapping.shtml

The Civil Rights Project
A synthesis of the research on key civil rights and equal opportunity policies that have been neglected or overlooked.  From Harvard University.
http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/research/diversity/diversity_gen.php

Culturally Responsive Teaching
Information and strategies for adapting teaching to meet the needs of all students. From Brown University.
http://www.lab.brown.edu/tdl/tl-strategies/crt-principles-prt.shtml

Diverse Schools: "Skewing Myths About Diverse Schools"
Education columnist Jay Mathews discusses how author and parent Eileen Gale Kugler debunks seven myths that scare smart parents away from diverse schools. From the Washington Post (August 2004).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36327-2004Aug3.html

Diversity Calendar
Monthly listings of ethnic, national, and religious days. From the University of Kansas.
www3.kumc.edu/diversity/

Diversity Web
This is a resource hub for higher education, part of an initiative is designed to create new pathways for diversity collaboration and connection, via the World Wide Web and more traditional forms of print communication. It is part of a larger communications initiative entitled Diversity Works.
www.diversityweb.org/

Educating Teachers for Diversity
This article addresses the critical issue of preparing future teachers to promote "meaningful, engaged learning for all students, regardless of their race, gender, ethnic heritage, or cultural background." From North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL).
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/presrvce/pe300.htm

Equity and Diversity Resources
Articles, self checklists, stories, and more on the issues of equity and diversity in the classroom. From the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse.
http://www.enc.org/topics/equity/?ls=sn

Glossary of Terms Related to Judaism
This resource provides the origin and definitions of hundreds of people, places, and things. Prepared initially by Robert A. Kraft, University of Pennsylvania.
philo.ucdavis.edu/zope/home/bruce//RST23/gloss.html

Multicultural Education and Ethnic Groups: Selected Internet Sources
A mix of Web resources on multicultural education and diversity, including background articles, Web sites for K-12 teachers, bibliographies, biographies, ethnic cooking, religion, and more. From the California State University-Stanislaus Library.
http://www.library.csustan.edu/lboyer/multicultural/main.htm

Reading Resources: Celebrate Reading 365 Days a Year - Multicultural Web Resources
These Web resources promote multiculturalism through literature. They provide a window on the world for your students.
http://www.nea.org/webresources/readmulticult0509.html

Tolerance.org's Resources for Teachers, Administrators, and Counselors
This Web site (a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center) encourages people from all walks of life to fight hate and promote tolerance. Two classroom resources are available free for the asking:
  » Teaching Tolerance magazine subscription (one copy per issue)
  » Responding to Hate at School booklet (available in bulk)
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/index.jsp

Updated September 2005.

Below is a list of resources, including lesson plans and ideas, Web sites, and free materials, compiled by NEA.

Event

April Is Alcohol Awareness Month
April is designated Alcohol Awareness Month to recognize the serious problem of alcohol abuse. Free publications are available online. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
http://www.health.org/seasonal/aprilalcohol/ 

Free Stuff

Back to School Drug Prevention Program
NIDA Goes Back to School is a source of FREE information about the latest science-based drug abuse publications and teaching materials. Specific curricula and other teaching aids are available. Hard copies of the materials are free. Curriculum materials are reserved for teachers. From The National Institute on Drug Abuse.
http://backtoschool.drugabuse.gov/

Freevibe.com Drug Facts
This site had downloadable drug information resources including articles, books, brochures, banners, postcards, and posters.
http://www.freevibe.com/Drug_Facts/free-resources.asp

Lesson Plans and Ideas

Addiction
Lesson plans with standards, vocabulary, and discussion questions for grades 6-8. From DiscoverySchool.com.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/addiction2/

Deadly Highs: Substance Abuse
Lesson plan and concise fact sheet for grades 6-8. Also includes academic standards, discussion questions, and extensions. From DiscoverySchool.com.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/deadlyhighs/

Red Ribbon Week
Check out these educator-tested ideas for Red Ribbon Week, a "Just Say No to Drugs" program that is held the last week of October.
https://www.nea.org/tips/manage/prevent.html#drugs

Smoking: Pressures and Responsibilities
Materials are suitable for grades 9-12. Also includes academic standards, adaptations, and suggested readings. From DiscoverySchool.com.
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/smoking/

Video

The Teen Files and The Truth About… series
At the AIMS Multimedia home page, Search for The Teen Files and The Truth About… To order The Teen Files, call 1-800-367-2467.
http://www.aimsmultimedia.com

Web Sites

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Reports, events, research, fact sheets, and tobacco statistics by state are available on this anti-tobacco site.
http://tobaccofreekids.org

The Centers for Disease Control – Health Topic Tobacco
This area of the CDC site focuses on tobacco education and offers information about programs, initiatives, statistics, tips, and free materials.
http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec802346d8

Drug Facts
This section of the ONDCP Web site provides such information as fact sheets on the available research, resource highlights, the truth about marijuana, and street terms. From the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Web site.
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/index.html

Drug Prevention Resource Center
This site provides community resources to increase awareness -- through prevention and education -- of the dangers of drugs. It lists outreach programs, articles, books, videos, and many links to substance abuse prevention education Web sites.
http://www.drugpreventionresource.org 

Freevibe
This site was created for teens. It has drug facts, real stories about friendships and drugs, action guides to help friends doing drugs, news, expert advice, a list of activities to do instead of drugs, and free resources.
http://www.freevibe.com/Stepup/Index.asp

Get It Straight: The Facts about Drugs 
A drug prevention book in which each chapter has information about a specific drug. Written in hip, readable language. From the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Web site.
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/straight/cover.htm

Narconon Drug Prevention Campaign
This Web site was created to focus public attention on the dangers of drugs and to prevent so many young people from plunging into the miserable world of drugs.
http://www.narconon.ca/narconon_drug_prevention.htm

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
Publications section of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site. 
www.health.org/govpubs/prevalert/v3i25.htm.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
This site provides medical science information about drug dependency. Its content includes interviews with experts; fact sheets, booklets, brochures, and videos (for purchase); and links to related organizations.
http://www.ncadd.org

The National Institute on Drug Abuse
This site provides information about the science of drug abuse and addiction—by category of drug. It offers free downloadable fact sheets, research reports, articles, and brochures (printed versions for sale). Materials in English and Spanish.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign Web Site
Aimed at parents and youth, this Web site includes news, ads (TV, radio, print, banner), fact sheets, and links to parent information in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, and English.
http://www.mediacampaign.org/

Prevention Online
This site provides drug and alcohol information about the research, news, publications and videos (free and for a small charge), resources, and special events. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site. 
http://www.health.org/

Tobacco Free
A site devoted to motivating youth to stay tobacco-free and empowering smokers to quit. Site includes tips, research, and videos for purchase. From The Foundation for a Smokefree America.
http://www.tobaccofree.org/  

Updated November 2006.

Materials for PreK-2 Educators

These Early Childhood Education Resources are broken into the following categories: Articles, Booklets & Books, General Resources, Web Sites, and Research.

Articles

From the Start: A Ready to Learn Resource for PreK-2 Educators
Best practices in the classroom, both general and by subject area; research and standards; and online resources. From PBS TeacherSource.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/prek2/issues/issuearchive.shtm 

Articles from Kidsource.com
Activities, suggestions and background information to help children learn during these formative years and to help them develop a life long love of learning.
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/pages/ed.early.html

Booklets & Books

Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers
Early childhood pedagogy, standards, individual and cultural variations, assessments, and findings, conclusions, and recommendations. From the Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. National Academies Press, 2000. 443pp.
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309068363/html/

Full-Day Kindergarten:  Exploring an Option for Extended Learning
Important considerations for educators, policymakers, and parents assessing their kindergarten options. The final section of the booklet profiles several full-day kindergartens already in place in schools. From Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
http://www.nwrel.org/request/dec2002/incontext.html

Transition into Kindergarten
The effectiveness of commonly used transition practices.From Early Childhood Research & Policy Briefs. Winter 2002. U.S. Department of Education. 4pp. (pdf 696KB)
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncedl/PDFs/TranBrief.pdf  

General Resources

Early Childhood Education | NEA
Information on the issue, the research, and resources in early childhood education. From National Education Association.
http://www.nea.org/earlychildhood/index.html  

Early Childhood Center | Educationworld.com
Resources for teachers, parents, aides, and administrators and discussion areas to share ideas for working with young children.
http://www.educationworld.com/early_childhood/

Games Kids Play
Instructions and rules for traditional children's games such
as tag, jump rope, rhymes, and marbles.
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/

Web Sites

Child Trends Web Site
Research and science-based information to improve the decisions, programs, and policies that affect children and their families. 
http://www.childtrends.org/_catdisp_page.cfm?LID=124

Earlychildhood.com
Resources for teachers and parents of young children, age-appropriate activities and curriculum, and a newsletter.
http://www.earlychildhood.com/

Foundation for Child Development 
National, private philanthropy dedicated to the principle that all families should have the social and material resources to raise their children to be healthy, educated and productive members of their communities.
http://www.fcd-us.org/index.html

National Association for the Education of Young Children
Information on accreditation, conferences, early childhood issues, public policy, and publications on the education of young children.
http://www.naeyc.org

NIEER Web Site
News, publications, facts and figures, events, and policy briefs on early education. The National Institute for Early Education Research Web site is supported by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
http://nieer.org/

Teacher QuickSource
Curriculum activities and learning materials for Head Start child outcomes. Materials include legislatively mandated domain elements and indicators for language, literacy, and mathematics. From Excelligence Learning Corporation.
http://www.teacherquicksource.com/  

Children's Literature Web Guide
Internet resources related to books for children and young adults.
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/index.html

Kidsource.com
Information about newborns, toddlers, preschoolers, K-12, education, health, recreation, parenting, discussion forums, organizations, and products as well as a list of rated articles.
http://www.kidsource.com/ 

Research

Para Nuestros Niños: Expanding & Improving Early Education for Hispanics (2007)
The authors say "The most promising opportunities for raising Hispanic achievement are in the early-childhood years." National Task Force on Early-Childhood Education for Hispanics. Entire publication (PDF, 4632 KB, 76pp).
http://www.ecehispanic.org/work/expand_MainReport.pdf 

Pre-Kindergarten Study (2005)
Includes Pre-K education in the States; who goes to Pre-K and how are they doing; who are the Pre-K teachers; what are Pre-K Classrooms like; how is the Pre-K day spent. From National Center for Early Development and Learning (http://www.fpg.unc.edu/ncedl/index.cfm) publications. Spring 2005, vol. 9, no. 1. (PDF, 1.5MB for entire publication)
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/ncedl/PDFs/ED9_1.pdf

Preschool Policy Matters (2002)
High quality preschool: Why we need it and what it looks like. By Linda M. Espinosa. From the National Institute for Early Education Research.
http://nieer.org/resources/policybriefs/1.pdf

Quality Counts 2002: Building Blocks for Success (2002)
Examines what states are doing to provide early-learning experiences for young children; to ensure that those experiences are of high quality; to prepare and pay early-childhood educators adequately; and to measure the results of early-childhood programs. From Education Week on the Web. www.teachermagazine.com/sreports/qc02/ templates/article.cfm?slug=17exec.h21

Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers (2000)
Educating children ages 2 to 5, focusing on programs provided outside the home, such as preschool, Head Start, and child care centers. From the Department of Education.
http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/educators_early_sum.html

School Involvement in Early Childhood (2000)
Insights about public school involvement in early childhood. Examples of how states and communities are designing programs to expand and improve preschool care and education. Raises questions about the role of public schools with preschool children and the effects of public pre-Kindergarten on children and on Head Start and private preschool care and education programs. From U.S. Department of Education, July 2000.
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/schoolinvolvement/index.html

Is Full-Day Kindergarten More Stressful on Children? (1997)
Summarized findings a 1997 study by James Elicker of Purdue: a full-day developmentally appropriate kindergarten reduces stress on children compared to half-day programs. Also produces greater parent satisfaction.
www.purdue.edu/UNS/html4ever/9711.Elicker.kindergarten.html

Information to Help Educators and Policymakers Make Decisions About Public Schools

SchoolMatters.com, a new Web-based national education data service, provides in-depth information for educators and policymakers about public schools, districts, and state education systems.

In addition to student achievement information, financial data, and demographic breakdowns, the service includes powerful analytical tools and objective analyses provided by Standard & Poor's.

With this Web site, education leaders will have the analytical tool they need to help them make the decisions they face. Educators in a given school will be able to find schools that have similar demographics with higher academic performance. This can be a useful starting point for schools and districts that are looking for promising practices to develop comprehensive school improvement programs.

To access SchoolMatters, go to www.SchoolMatters.com.

SchoolMatters.com is a free public service of the National Education Data Partnership, a collaboration among the Council of Chief State School Officers, Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services, Achieve, Inc., and the CELT Corporation (previously the Center for Education Leadership and Technology). The National Education Data Partnership is funded by a $45 million investment by The Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Education Support Professionals (ESP) Resources 

Here are some resources for Education Support Professionals (ESP) that include Web sites, articles, and career information. To find resources for a specific ESP group, click on the group below.   

Clerical Services                                               Paraeducators
Custodial and Maintenance Services               Security Services
Food Services                                                  Skilled Trades Services
Health and Student Services                           Technical Services  
Higher Ed                                                        Transportation Services

Clerical Services

This group includes secretaries, stenographers, typists, word processors, administrative and office assistants, bookkeepers, accounting and financial assistants; as well as data entry, statistical, payroll, file, general office, and computer workers; registration and records assistants, attendance technicians, receptionists, telephone operators, couriers, and nonmanagerial supervisors.

» Contributions of School Secretaries
Read an article at this site about the many contributions made by school secretaries. Listed at the bottom of the page are reader responses to the article.
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/al/21/parent 

» Microsoft Office Online
This site is a source of clip art, media and templates for Microsoft Office products.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx

» National Association of Educational Office Professionals
The association offers information on professional development, leadership, and training opportunities for education employees. A specifically designed certification program is featured.
http://www.naeop.org/

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Custodial and Maintenance Services

This group includes building and grounds maintenance staff, custodians, housekeepers, mechanics (except vehicle), repairers, laborers, helpers, warehouse personnel, non-managerial crew leaders.

» Greening Schools
This project is a joint effort between the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Waste Management and Research Center. The purpose of the project is to help schools provide a safe and healthy environment that can save money, improve learning conditions, and increase efficiency.
http://www.greeningschools.org/about/project_overview.cfm

» Identifying and Reducing Toxic Substances and Safety Hazards
This area of theMassachusetts Public Health Association Web site provides tips, guidelines, and articles to help school workers to avoid, reduce, or eliminate the use of toxic or hazardous products in their buildings in an effort to promote healthier indoor environments.
http://www.mphaweb.org/pol_schools_toxins.html

» Conducting a Security Evaluation |National Association of Independent Schools
Learn what maintenance staff and other ESP can do to help keep school buildings and parking lots safe from hostile intruders, student vandals, and others.
http://www.nais.org/resources/article.cfm?ItemNumber=145404

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Food Services

This group includes cooks and food preparation workers, cashiers, dieticians and dietary technicians, food service workers, and nonmanagerial supervisors.

» Food and Nutrition Information Center
More than 40 journals, newsletters, and electronic publications are featured. Articles cover health and dieting, medical news, and nutrition. 
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/etext/000041.html

» Food Preparation Guidelines
The Kewaunee School District (Wisconsin) offers six food preparation guidelines that promote and protect the health of students and staff. The information is geared toward people handling, preparing, wrapping, and serving food within school buildings and outside events.
http://www.kewaunee.k12.wi.us/Food%20Prep%20Guidelines.htm

» National School Lunch Program
Every aspect of this federally assisted meal program is explained. From menu planning and after-school snacks, to food distribution programs and the preparation of nutritionally balanced meals.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/default.htm

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Health and Student Services

This group includes licensed practical nurses, nurses' and health aides, medical technicians, family and parent service aides, community welfare services workers, and nonmanagerial supervisors.

» American Association of School Librarians
See the top Internet sites for families as selected by the Families Connect Committee of the school librarians association. The site has information about promotional events and other resource ideas for ESP who work with students and families.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/schlibrariesandyou/parentsandcomm/parents.htm

» National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education
This advocacy group promotes the involvement of parents and families in their children's education while fostering relationships between home, school, and community. It provides an extensive listing of resources and partner organizations (see gray box mid-page).
http://www.ncpie.org/

» National Association of School Nurses
From the organization that calls itself the "voice of expert information on school health" comes a  Web site with information on school health programs, health services, and news about school nursing.
http://www.nasn.org/

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Higher Education

There are more than 300 job categories of ESP positions in higher education, most of which are included in the following nine job groups: paraeducators, clerical services, custodial and maintenance services, transportation services, food services, skilled trade services, health and student services, security services, and technical services.

» National Clearinghouse Educational Facilities
Custodial issues and procedures on college campuses and K-12 school buildings are the focus of more than 50 Web links, books, and journal articles. Topics on maintenance staffing guidelines, building needs assessment, and training are also featured.
http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/custodial_staffing.cfm

» Career