High school data The national High School Center at the American Institutes for Research has launched its Web site to serve as a central source of information on high school improvement. The mission of the High School Center, www.betterhighschools.org, is to identify research-supported programs and tools that can help improve practice in high schools. Among the organizations assisting in content development are Clemson University, the National Center for Educational Accountability and the National Dropout Prevention Center.

NEH Workshop The National Endowment for the Humanities will offer “Landmarks of American History and Culture” teacher workshops this summer at 26 historic and cultural sites around the country. The application deadline for K-12 teachers is March 15 for these weeklong workshops, which bring together nearly 2,000 K-12 teachers and 350 college instructors for intensive study associated with each site. Locations vary from Independence Hall in Philadelphia to the Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. Those selected receive a $500 stipend for transportation, books and living expenses. For details or to apply, visit www.humanities.gov/projects/index.html.

Teaching Stars The U.S. Department of Education once again is honoring outstanding teachers through the Stars of Teaching program. All nominations must be completed by April 15 at www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html. The Stars of Teaching program, a part of the department’s Teacher-to-Teacher initiative, honors teachers across all grade levels and disciplines who exemplify outstanding practice through their use of innovative strategies in the classroom. One teacher, or team of teachers, will be honored in every state and the District of Columbia.

Science stories Vernier Software & Technology is looking for teacher stories that showcase labs or classrooms that have used the company’s science products to improve teaching methods, increase students’ passion for science, or make difficult concepts easier to understand. Teachers whose stories are selected for publication will receive a $300 Vernier gift certificate. The project is part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebration. To submit a story or to read other teachers’ contributions, visit www.vernier.com/celebration/stories/index.html.

Use Your Noodle Many valuable free resources for research projects are available at NoodleTools, www.noodletools.com.
The site offers help for online research that ranges from selecting the right search engine to citing sources in MLA or APA style. There is also an easy-to-search database of “how to” information to answer tricky citation questions. Many of these free resources are geared for grades 1-5.

Labor Road Map Highlighting the important contributions of organized labor to society just got easier for classroom teachers. The American Labor Studies Center now offers “A Short History of American Labor” that includes a lesson guide created by former AFT vice president Paul F. Cole. The guide highlights goals and objectives, key concepts and terms, important labor legislation, and questions for classroom discussion. The free resource is available at www.labor-studies.org in the “Lessons” section for teachers.

Oh Say, did you Know? March 3 marks the 75th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner’s adoption as our national anthem. One organization that is promoting a better understanding of the song is the National Association for Music Education, http://the
nationalanthemproject.org. The site offers lyrics, sheet music, tips for helping singers hit the high notes, and background information on the protocol for performing the national anthem in public.

Building dreams March is Women’s History Month, and the National Women’s History Project offers a number of free resources to help teachers commemorate the month. The theme for 2006 is Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams and will honor the role of women in public service. To spur participation in classrooms across the nation, the project’s Web site has compiled relevant links in the “Learning Center” section. Visit them at www.nwhp.org.

Weather wise The Weather Channel has expanded its list of online resources to make the science of meteorology come alive for students in grades K-10. Visit www.weatherclassroom.com for such interactive multimedia as “Forecast Earth,” which investigates global climate changes and their effects on daily lives; “Look Up!”, an exploration of the sky with cross-curricular ties to math, visual arts, music and language arts; and “SafeSide,” a collection of weather-related safety and preparedness materials.

You go, girls The Women’s Sports Foundation offers grants to support activities tied to the GoGirlGo! curriculum. The curriculum promotes programs that combine athletic instruction with information aimed at reducing health-risk behavior in girls in grades 3-8. Grants, which range from $1,000 to $25,000, are for programs lasting eight weeks or longer that reach economically disadvantaged or underserved students. The deadline for grant applications varies by city. For details or to apply, visit www.womenssportsfoundation.org and look under the “Grants & Scholarships” section.