Featured Resources

Volume 2, Issue 1 The POST:

Division of Teaching and Learning

English Language Arts 2

Mathematics 2

Science 2

World Languages 2

Social Studies 3

Visual and Performing Arts 3

Educational Technology 3

School Library Media 3

Bilingual/ESL 4

Further Reading 4

Upcoming Department Events 4

Inside this issue:

In this issue:

Grant Opportunities

Resources on Constitution Day

InnovateNJ iExchange

Professional Online Supports for Teaching

Dear Colleagues:

Welcome to a new school year and all the teaching and learning opportunities ahead for you, your students and their families. I want to offer a special welcome to new teachers entering the most rewarding career choice. You are joining a community of inspiring educators whose commitment and determination will be a powerful resource for your success and, ultimately, the success of your students.

I hope you continue to subscribe to The Post (Professional Online Supports for Teaching), the Division of Teaching and Learning’s monthly newsletter, to find online resources for educators. Your responses to our June survey provided our team with ideas for new features to help learning inside and beyond the classroom. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and valued.

Enjoy the first days of school, and thank you for all you do to grow and nurture young minds.

Dr. Laura C. Morana Chief Academic Officer Division of Teaching and Learning

September 2017

Department of Education’s Website Refresh

The Department’s website has been refreshed to better serve you with improved navigation and information organized for families, educators and districts.

Kars4Kids Grants

Kars4Kids Grants are awarded to individuals, as well as nonprofit organizations, including schools, for grant ideas that impact education and youth development. Grants typically range from $500 to $2,000.

Teach.com

This resource contains information on grants for professional development and classroom enrichment, as well as STEM projects.

The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources

Edutopia provides this comprehensive list of educational grants, contests, awards, free toolkits and classroom guides to support instruction. The list is updated weekly with the most current opportunities.

Grants for Teachers

This site offers ideas for education grants available nationwide, as well as by states, including New Jersey.

English Language Arts

Mathematics

Apps to Enhance Reading Skills

An elementary school teacher suggests low-cost and free apps to help young children develop foundational skills for reading success in this article on blended learning. She describes several tools parents and educators can use to enhance students’ phonological awareness and storytelling skills. Lessons on Poetry

The author of this Edutopia article, a poet and elementary educator, describes how he integrates poetry into the curriculum through mini-units to help students discover their creativity and writing “voices.”

Born with Mathematical Abilities

In this National Public Radio (NPR) interview, researcher Kristy vanMarle describes her work identifying innate mathematical skills in preschoolers. The research includes creating interventions for young students who are weak in cardinal reasoning and estimating, two skills deemed crucial to future academic success.

The POST: Page 2

Science NJDOE Science Education Webinar

The New Jersey Department of Education is hosting a series of webinars focusing on high-quality science education. The webinars will be held the second Tuesday of every month, beginning October 10, from 3p.m. to 4p.m. Teachers of science and supervising administrators can register online for each session. Next Generation Science Standards Newsletter

The August 2017 NGSS Newsletter is available online. Find various topics including curriculum challenges, eclipse coverage and new resources to use in implementing the NJSLS-Science standards.

New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy

At the start of this school year, educators may wish to familiarize themselves with an overview of New Jersey’s Seal of Biliteracy. Find information about student eligibility at the NJDOE site.

World Languages

Constitution Day

The Constitution Center website offers educators the opportunity to introduce students to materials written by “top constitutional scholars from across the political spectrum.” Find several interactive resources to recognize Constitution Day 2017 in the classroom.

National Video Documentary Contest

The theme for this year’s C-SPAN Student Cam is “The Constitution and You.” All middle and high school students are invited to choose a provision in the US Constitution and create a 5-7 minute documentary video demonstrating its importance to them. The kick-off for this annual contest is September 17, Constitution Day, and information is available online.

Social Studies

Page 3 The POST:

New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival

New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival 2018 will be held May 30, 31 and June 1. During the school year, students prepare and practice their chosen art presentations for critiques and critical analysis at County Teen Arts Festivals to qualify for the state-level competitions.

Visual and Performing Arts

Jersey Shore Makerfest

The Jersey Shore Makerfest is “an experimental, experiential, educational and free annual community event” for students, their families and educators. The date is Saturday, October 14, and this year’s event includes Jersey Shore Hackathon activities, as well. InnovateNJ iExchange

Create groups, post events and collaborate online with colleagues through a new platform, InnovateNJ iExchange. Register at the site and start exploring existing information, then add new resources and reasons for others to visit.

Educational Technology

Maker Meetup Ideas Shared

In Knowledge Quest, the online Journal of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a recent blog post describes the annual Maker Meetup of several school library media specialists, including Laura Fleming of New Jersey. Read about maker ideas and advice for engaging students in maker activities.

School Library Media

Page 4 The POST:

Bilingual/ ESL

ELL Law Podcast

There are now ten podcast episodes on the Bilingual/ESL website. The newest addition is an interview with Attorney David Nash on ELL law. Mr. Nash currently serves as Director of Legal Education for the Foundation for Educational Administration in New Jersey.

Further Reading

Five Questions to Jumpstart Student Learning

In this online blog post, principal and author George Couros suggests five essential questions to ask students at the start of school to help them and their teachers focus on important learning goals for the year.

NJ Italian Heritage Commission Events

Be sure to check the calendar at the NJ Italian Heritage Commission website for free events for students, their families and educators to learn more about Italian influence on New Jersey’s history and culture.

See you in October!

Before you go...

Calendar of Events-September

View the Calendar of Events for September to search and register for free, upcoming professional learning events offered by the Department. Seasons of Professional Learning

To receive a monthly list of professional learning opportunities provided by the Department, contact the Online Supports Team and asked to be put on the Seasons of Professional Learning mailing list. The list is updated and redistributed as new sessions become available.

Upcoming Department Events

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