K12> [edresource] MUSEUMS DEV. PROG. FOR KIDS/FAMILIES, NEA PICKS TOP
Gleason Sackman
[mailto:trip...@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de]
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 6:17 PM
To: Education Resource Listservs
Subject: [edresource] MUSEUMS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES,
NEA PICKS TOP 100 , CHILDREN'S BOOKS,etc.
Dear EdResource Members,
NEA PICKS TOP 100 CHILDREN'S BOOKS
The National Education Association (NEA), representing 2.4 million
teachers, has compiled a list of the top 100 children's books as
recommended in a survey of 1,000 NEA members. The book list is part of
"Read Across America," a nationwide NEA initiative to promote reading among
children. Thirty percent of eighth grade students and 40 percent of fourth
grade students have serious trouble reading independently, according to the
National Assessment of Educational Progress, an on-going effort to measure
academic skills. Private research shows that children ages 6-8 rank reading
lowest among such after school activities as watching TV, playing outside
and doing homework. Read Across America was started last year to mark the
birthday of late author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
(Editor's note: The list of books can be found in the article and on the
NEA Web site at http://www.nea.org/readacross/favbooks.html).
Lawrence Muhammad, "Teachers pick 100 kids' books to Read Across
America, USA Today, February 9, 1999, D3, (http://www.usatoday.com)
MUSEUMS DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
Museums are adding more family-friendly exhibits, free or low-cost art
classes, and admission-free days in hopes of drawing more families and
children. In many museums children can take painting and drawing classes,
learn about art history, or take tours where guides talk, on a kid level,
about techniques, famous painters and the history behind the art. The Frye
Museum, in Seattle, recently added a two-story wing with studios for
painting, drawing, and pottery classes. The Tacoma Museum has a program
called "Artworks", where families can drop in any time the museum is open
to make art. The museum also features storytellers and music activities.
"The whole idea is to get families excited about art and give them reasons
to keep coming back for more," says Beverly Harding, director of the Family
and Art Studio programs for the Seattle Art Museum, which offers a Family
Festival, "Modern Madness" this April.
Cathy Reiner, "Young at Art"
The Seattle Times, February 6, 1999, D1
(http://www.seattletimes.com)
MASACHUSETTS USING SIGNING BONUS TO RECRUIT TEACHERS
The Massachusetts Department of Education is advertising a $20,000 signing
bonus to attract the best teachers. While most school districts typically
hire local candidates, Massachusetts has gone national to pick 50 aspiring
teachers for the state's new bonus-paying program. The bonus program and
the national recruitment drive have put Massachusetts on the cutting edge
of teacher hiring, according to Michelle Rhee, partnership director for the
New York-based New Teacher Project. Rhee believes school districts and
states should be chasing new teachers as aggressively as any major
corporation recruits its employees. Massachusetts has placed
advertisements in 48 college newspapers and is hosting information sessions
in more than a dozen states, including California, Colorado, Florida,
Georgia, Maine and New Jersey. Signed into law with a $60 million endowment
last summer, the bonus program was designed to recruit new teachers for the
state's neediest urban communities, where teacher shortages are the
greatest.
Robin Estrin, The Associated Press
February 2, 1999, Yahoo! News
(http://dailynews.yahoo.com)
Kind Regards
Arun Tripathi