wide-eyed

The D.U.C. Program distributes books on contemporary art and culture free of charge to rural and inner-city libraries, schools and alternative reading centers nationwide. The program aims to actively further a more egalitarian access to contemporary art, and is committed to fostering partnerships between publishers, non-profit organizations, librarians and readers to enrich and diversify library collections. The D.U.C program offers well over 490 titles by 90 different publishers. The program reaches readers in all 50 states and has placed well over 200,000 free books in public libraries, schools, and alternative pedagogical venues.

I got some amazingly beautiful books for our library through this program!

D.U.C. is run by A.R.T. Press, which:

primarily publishes books based on artist to artist conversations. The conversation format permits a thorough and at the same time informal investigation of the artists’ practice and the larger social issues that inform it. By virtue of their clarity, personal focus, affordability, and innovative method of distribution, these books make possible the presentation of contemporary artists and their work to a wide readership.

Contact them at artpress@artresourcestransfer.org.

With the open market hitting the NYC Department of Education site in the next couple of weeks, it’s time to ponder transition. If you’re interested in teaching in a small school, register now for the New Visions Job Fair at Pace University on March 26, 2007 5:00-8:00 p.m. While you’re at it, read up on the concept of small schools and New Visions, explore their schools and create your profile and upload your resume. They’ll keep you posted on openings.

You can also check out openings in charter schools at U.S. Charter Schools. For more ideas, check out Educating Tomorrow’s Opportunities in Education.

Earthwatch, a leading environmental organization, has a fellowship, Live from the Field, taking educators on a journey of action professional development with lead scientists. During their expeditions, teachers share their learning experiences directly with classrooms at home through web posts of journals, photos, lessons, suggested activities, and teleconferencing. Sometimes they’re able to accommodate requests to be placed with another awarded educator or paying volunteer (note your interest on both applications). The application deadline for NYC Fellowships was March 1, but they accept applications until the positions are filled.

If you want to be involved, but can’t get into the field, consider being a host. Fill out an application indicating your curricular interests and scheduling preferences. Based on your application, Earthwatch will match you with a field research site and Fellow who’ll respond to your students’ questions via the web and teleconferencing. Check current field sites recruiting host classrooms.

If you want to organize a group expedition with your students, friends, families, clubs, etc., they offer customized group expeditions for educators or volunteers. You can even get your students, age 16 and up, into the field with their Teen Teams program. There’s a student scholarship program for all student teams. Nominate a high school student by emailing scap@earthwatch.org.

Teachers have a wonderful opportunity during the summer to step back, reflect and recharge before beginning the cycle all over again. If possible, summer becomes a door to the world and teachers can refocus their interests; some sublet their apartments and live from their backpacks, some take courses, or both. And if you’re one of those genuinely selfless spirits found among teachers, you extend your service by volunteering. Now is the time to design a rich summer - one opening into a new reality that nourishes and encourages depth, all of which is brought back and helps take students beyond the classroom.

Consider the Planet Drum Foundation. They’re seeking volunteers for their Ecological City projects in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador willing to contribute at least a month. Volunteers work re-vegetating the landscape by planting and maintaining native plants that reduce erosion and create habitats for birds and other animals. You’ll join neighborhood efforts to learn and use ecological practice, and help in renewable energy development. Your teaching mojo will come in handy as you teach bioregional environmental education groups for children and adults.

Benefits include free accommodation in a large shared apartment, extraordinary beach and wilderness recreational activities, and opportunities to improve Spanish skills as well as experience tropical Ecuadorian culture.

A background in environmental education and activities, Spanish language speaking ability, and cooperative living experience are desirable. However, willing hands and a desire to help restore our damaged biosphere are most important. Check it out, commit, and send a description of your qualifications and interests to Clay Plager-Unger, Field Projects Manager, planetdrumecuador@yahoo.com.

Looking for a change? Want to be an English missionary? Well, somebody’s going to do it if you don’t - the word is getting out. The Costa Rican government is starting a major English teaching initiative, mandating the English language education of 25,000 students, in part in response to the growth of call centers (and surely because of its booming tourist and retirement industry). They’re still in the primary stages of planning, so they’re just starting to advertise. One organization, Instituto Daza LTDA, is on the hunt for 30-40 teachers. They might be able to connect you with others schools too, in case you have your heart set on a location. You could always teach English by day, and estudie español por la noche so you’re prepared for the Spanish-language takeover of the U.S. by 2025.

They’re looking for applicants with a BA in the field of English teaching or similar, but not necessary, and English teaching certificate (you can arrive early and get TEFL certification there). Contract range from 6 months to 2 years, and are starting as soon as possible. The salary hasn’t be determined, by they’re saying it’ll probably be around $1000 - $1200 a month, including one time tickets back and forth from the U.S. or Canada to Costa Rica. A home stay might be included. Find out more and email: David Hansen, Zaida Gutierrez, Insituto Daza LTDA, ipedcr@racsa.co.cr.

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb

If there’s one teachable moment you don’t want to miss this year, it’s Earth Day. If you weren’t able to book Bash the Trash, consider putting together a field trip to EarthFair Inside, on April 14th and 15th. It’s a free two-day educational expo in Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall with key environmental organizations, children’s activities, and green companies. ELLE magazine will host the “ELLE Green Room” featuring eco-fashion and holistic beauty products.
You could also make some recycled art with Materials for the Arts (go to them or they’ll come to you).

Get some more ideas on what to do from the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you want to make it a week long event, or you just can’t get out of the classroom, consider something simple, like reading the Lorax by Dr. Seuss, or showing the film (great for any age). By ordering through the following links, you’re supporting my project, Educating Tomorrow:

• “The Lorax (Classic Seuss)” (Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel)
• “Seuss Celebration (The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat / The Cat in the Hat/ Green Eggs and Ham / The Lorax)” (Hawley Pratt)

If your students can work with heavier material, give Gore and An Inconvenient Truth their well-deserved airtime:

• “An Inconvenient Truth” (Davis Guggenheim)

Connect your students to the Earth! I’ve got loads of other ideas, so if you want to brainstorm or share information, email me at coquille@houshour.com.

Teaching Matters’ DigiDocs Institute and Student Film Festival will showcase videos created by NYC elementary, middle and high school students June 8, 2007. The Festival brings history and arts alive with documentaries focused on topics as varied and meaningful as Brown vs. Board of Education and bullying in school.

According to an Principal as Technology Leader in Principal Leadership this February, technology expenditures and usage in schools have increased 300% in the last three decades. Over 92% of U.S. elementary and secondary schools and classrooms were connected in 2004. Sounds great, but there is often a lack of professional development on how to integrate and absence of coordination to ensure its equitable use and maintenance. We better do good with what we can get our hands on - get into those vaults, dig your way around the closets, write a grant, and get digitized! In 2004, 83% of homes with children aged 17-21 have computers and around 78% of those were online. Guide your students’ digital experience by facilitating their project. As the web weaves itself immense, meaningful surfing and contribution becomes a learned skill and teaching must-do.

Check out documentaries from previous festivals. Use them to inspire your entry, (register to save a spot now, submissions due Friday, May 25) or supplement any lesson with this peer production.

Creating Balance in an Unjust World, a conference on Math Education & Social Justice brings together educators, students, and activists from around the world for a 3-day conference. Come figure out where you fit in the equation by exploring the connections between math education and social justice. How is math literacy a gatekeeper to future educational and financial success? How can math educators ensure equity in the classroom? How can issues of social and economic justice be integrated into math curriculum? What is Ethnomathematics?

Add to the power of numbers while gathering to listen to these cool speakers:

• Bob Moses, Founder of The Algebra Project
• Rico Gustein: Author of “Rethinking Mathematics: Teaching Social Justice by the Numbers”
• Marilyn Frankenstein: Founder of the Critical Mathematics Educators Group
• Luis Garden Acosta: Former member of the Young Lords and Founder of El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice
• Cathy Wilkerson: Math Education Professor at Bankstreet College

The conference, April 27th – 29th, is sponsored by Long Island University College of Education, Math for America, and Teachers Unite. Register online (sliding scale $25 - $200) and receive a DVD featuring conference highlights, lesson plans and other documents distributed at the workshops. Check out the ways you can support the project, even if the Conference happens minus you!

Last week I went to an amazing benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, thanks to my good friend and Robert Thurman groupie, Helen. Laurie Anderson, Ray Davies (The Kinks!), Philip Glass, Ben Harper, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Sigor Ros, Patti Smith, Michael Stipe and crowd gathered to support the Tibet House, Tibetan cultural survival and PEACE! Patti Smith reading Ginsberg with her deep vibrato and a song Michael Stipe had performed only once before to his accompanying guitarist earlier in the day were especially sensational.

NYC is lucky to have the Tibet House, who is dedicated to preserving and promoting the wisdom and the arts of the distinctive and endangered Tibetan civilization. Robert Thurman, co-founder, is a popular professor in the Religion Department of Columbia University, author of numerous books, and gives frequent talks, on Buddhism at the Tibet House (all proceeds support the mission). If you miss one, you can listen to his videos and podcasts. He’s a beacon of wisdom - intellectual, spiritual, practical - and people say his talks can be life-changing! His next talk in NYC is “In Homage to His Holiness the VI Dalai Lama”, March 8, 2006 7-9 p.m. at the Tibet House.

“Operation Respect: Don’t Laugh at Me,” an anti-bullying/peace-building training program for educators, brings together two anti-bullying leaders in NYC this month:

1. Peter Yarrow, author of the curriculum “Don’t Laugh at Me” on character education, conflict resolution and diversity education. It’s designed to promote constructive conflict resolution and positive inter-group relations, free of bullying, ridicule and violence.
2. Mark Weiss is the Education Director of NYC-based Operation Respect. He’s the founder of the first alternative high school in the Bronx in 1979, and founded the School for the Physical City.

Program materials, including the curriculum, guide and a video will be given to each participant. It’s free for PHI Delta Kappa members - not sure if there is a fee for non-members. If you want to participate and want the materials, don’t push and don’t shove. Just register by March 14, 2007 by emailing i.igodlin@verizon.net. Include your name, address, telephone number and grade level you work with. (If you can’t make the gathering, you can sign up for their free DLM materials on their site. (And while you’re at, check out their Educator’s Ave.)

Date: Saturday, March 24, 2007
Time: 8:30 - 12:30 p.m. (Continental Breakfast)
Place: Pace University, One Pace Plaza, Multi-Purpose Room

Remember: be nice and give peace a chance!