If you will be in Austin this weekend, we hope you will set aside time to join us for a TweetUp, sponsored by WeAreTeachers and Dell.  Come kick your weekend off with complimentary drinks, snacks and a chance to make new connections and meet your ” tweeps”  in real life amidst breathtaking panoramic views of beautiful Austin, TX.

When and Where?

Friday, March 12  from  2-4pm at Terrace59 at Speakeasy, Austin TX

What is a TweetUp?

A tweetup is a networking function that incorporates Twitter. It’s a way to meet people you have connected with on Twitter, and also a way to meet new friends that you can keep up with via social media like Twitter or the  WeAreTeachers community.

Who Will Be There?

Join your fellow teachers as well as these distinguished attendees from Dell and WeAreTeachers:

@lpt
@lionelatdell
@richardatdell
@kerryatdell
@fgasquet
@tallgamer
@weareteachers
@sandy5coat

What Do  I Wear?

Dress is “Austin appropriate,” think cool and casual. Jeans are fine.

How Can I Find Out More?

You can see more about the TweetUp, find our hashtags and reserve your spot at the Tweetvite.

Come kick off your weekend with your friends from WeAreTeachers and Dell. We promise a great time will be had by all as we announce some exciting news with Dell! See you there!

Did you know that disorganization is ranked as one of the top reasons that students fail? Finding the best strategies to keep your students organized is a cornerstone in creating a successful learning environment. This month we are teaming up with School Specialty Planning & Student Development, the leading providers of student planners, to offer our “Little Steps Make Big Things Happen” microgrant to help you fund your best ideas for keeping your students organized and on track.

We have compiled a list of 27 ideas for reaching your disorganized students. We also thought you might be interested in this research-based white paper titled, “Why Plan?” We hope this gets your creative juices flowing and inspires you to take the five minutes to apply for the “Little Steps Make Big Things Happen” microgrant. Five teachers will be receiving $200 and a Flip video camera or iPod nano with video to put their plan into action. So, take a look at our list and then a take a minute to apply for the microgrant-you will be so glad you did!

1. Use social media to reach today’s digital learners-post calendars and due dates in an online blog or website.

2. Create a take home class calendar with all due dates filled in.

3. Do a monthly binder check, offer extra credit points for organized binders.

4. Have students create a “homework file” where all the assignments that need to be returned can go.

5. Send out email reminders to students.

6. Encourage students to exchange phone numbers and email addresses with their classmates, and to remind each other about up coming tests and papers.

7. Get parents involved! Ask them to follow you on Twitter and post reminders that assignments are due!

8. Use a color coding system.

9. Set aside time every month for students to clean out their binders and book bags during class.

10. Make sure they are getting enough rest at night.

11. Encourage parents to have a set place at home for students to do homework.

12. Teach students how to make an effective to-do list.

13. Create a “Organization Checklist” to give to students and parents with tips for things they can do at home to keep everyone on track.

14. Help students make the connect between being organized and reaching their goals by having them make a list of their long term goals and what they need to do to achieve them.

15. Emphasize time management by having students track what they do in a day and identify where they could better use their time.

16. Instead of fighting students’ reliance on their smart phones, encourage them to use the calendar or download a good calendar application and use it.

17. Have a list on your blackboard of what students are expected to bring to class with them tomorrow.

18. Have a “Cleanest Locker” contest and give the winner a special prize.

19. Have students fill out a monthly supply list to take home to parents so they don’t run out of paper, pencils, etc.

20. Use popular shows like “Hoarders” and “Clean House” to illustrate the importance of getting rid of clutter.

21. Have students write a “to-do list” at the end of each day to take home with them.

22. During brainstorming time, ask students to share their best organization tips.

23. Give out little treats when you see a student modeling good organization.

24. Have a “MTV Cribs” type video contest, asking students to put videos of their designated study areas at home on YouTube and then take a class vote to see who has the coolest place to study.

25. Have students brainstorm how your classroom could be better organized.

26. Encourage parents and students to have a place to set everything that they need to take to school the night before.

27. Get your students excited about your organization projects by rallying them and having their parents vote for your microgrant submission online. Voting begins March 9!

Of course, we know that you have your own ideas for how to get your students organized and we want to hear them! The deadline to apply is March 16, so don’t wait-apply now!

Teachers, what do you think of when you hear the word “intervention?” For some, it means a guessing game of trial and error, loads of record keeping and paper work, uneasy meetings with parents, and trying to find the right method to approach a potential learning disability. But we are hearing from many of you that navigating the RTI and  intervention process can be easier-it just takes a little outside-the-box thinking. This month WeAreTeachers is teaming with Pearson for our “Measurable Improvement, Meaningful Progress” microgrant, and asking you to tell us your best intervention ideas to win cash and a Flip or iPod Nano video camera. To commemorate this exciting new microgrant, we have compiled the three best tips we have heard from you on how to run a successful intervention.

Tip One: Assess with the Best

Whether you are seeking to find the best way to reach a student with some behavioral issues or one that may have exceptional educational needs, the first step is to locate the best assessment resources.

“I had the best counselor at my school,” said Gretchen S, from Tyler TX. “She really helped me figure out why a student I had was struggling. ..I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Some schools or districts have a whole team devoted to RTI and intervention, while others prefer you work with the special education teacher or school psychologist. Your school has probably provided you with the detailed information to assess a student, but sometimes it can be reassuring to talk with someone who knows the ropes. Talking with another teacher or even outlining the general situation in an online forum can be helpful in giving you the support you need to press on in the intervention process. WeAreTeachers has devised a microcommunity, sponsored by Pearson, on intervention and Response to Intervention to help you communicate areas that you may be stuck in or for you to share your best practices with others.

Tip Two: Do Your Own Research

Don’t rely on anyone else to tell you what is going on with your student-go out and find the materials to help you understand. There is a wealth of RTI information on the internet and through published works. Taking time to find out as much as you can about the process will make it easier for everyone. Your student will feel like he/she has an advocate in you, you will be better able to communicate with everyone involved, and you can feel a sense of  ownership in helping your student get the resources he/she needs.

Tip Three: Get Creative!

Once your student has been assessed, it is time to deliver an intervention that is specific to his/her needs. Those helping you with the assessment may have already given you some ideas, but given that you know the student personally and have a feel for what he/she may best respond to, you might have some great ideas of your own.

“I didn’t care for the way our district handled approaching the parents for evaluation,” said Lauren G, of Oviedo FL. “It was so flat and there were so many confusing terms. RTI? How do I explain that to parents who are scared to death? So I created some aids to help and changed the dialogue to find words that they could relate to. It made the process so much easier.”

What do you love about your RTI process? Do you have a “best practice” for approaching parents to tell them you want to evaluate their child for a learning disability? Or do you have an idea you’d love to try to but you might need a little extra funding first? Why not apply for the “Measurable Improvement, Meaningful Progress” microgrant and share your idea?

Intervention can be difficult, be it can also be one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. Finding the best way to reach a struggling student can make a difference not only in your classroom, but in that student’s future as well. We want to help you make that impact with your students. Take a minute to apply for the microgrant, then shoot an email out to your colleagues, friends and family and tell them to vote for you! The ten ideas that garner the most votes will win $200 in cash and Flip Video camera.

Look no further than a classroom full of squealing second graders, equipped with goggles and a homemade baking soda and vinegar volcano to see why it’s so exciting to bring an element of wonder into your classroom. You probably have found that the lessons you remember most from your days as a student were the ones that best illustrated the magic of the living world: creating a  butterfly habitat or growing a plant from a seed.

It may have been years since you made that memory, but we are all still on the look out for one thing: that elusive “x-factor” that will bring a lesson to life for our students, that will have them sitting up in their seats, totally engaged and enthralled by what is going on in front of them. Music teachers are able to do it by doling out instruments and letting their students get creative, art teachers can use clay and paint, but what about those teachers that are charged with showing the workings of the world around us, what can they use to create special, exciting lessons for their students? How can natural and social science teachers reach their students in new and innovative ways?

That is the very question we are asking this month with our new “Worlds of Wonder” microgrant, sponsored by KIDS DISCOVER. We want to hear your best ideas for bringing wonder into the classroom, and in exchange, we will provide the top five submissions with $200 and a Flip Video camera or iPod nano with video to show the idea or project in action.

After you’ve applied for a microgrant, the real fun can begin as you rally your own students (and colleagues, friends and family) to vote for your microgrant submission. We can’t wait to hear the ways you want to inspire your students, and to help you meet that goal with a microgrant.  The application deadline for this microgrant is February 16^th so don’t wait, apply now!

We would also love to hear about a special teacher or lesson that opened your eyes to the wonders of the world around us.  Here is your chance to give a “shout out” to that special teacher that went above and beyond to get you excited about the mysteries of nature or the intricacies of  the social sciences. Who knows, you may see your own name mentioned!  Simply leave us a comment letting us know the name and approximate location of your teacher and what he/she did to inspire you and give you the gift of knowledge in a fun way.  Then take a minute to fill our the quick and easy microgrant application to keep the cycle of wonder going.

Every few years, an article comes out pointing out to the public that the average teacher spends roughly $400 each year on their classroom, with first year teachers usually spending twice that amount. Couple that with the well known fact that teachers salaries are not typically align to the value they provide, and it’s easy to get disheartened.

But fear not, loyal educators, your sacrifices are not being overlooked!  Across the country, thousands of foundations and companies have heard your pleas for funding and are standing at the ready with grant money just for you. In fact, there are so many grants out there, it can be overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.

To that end, the WeAreTeachers team has ten foundations or companies to share with you that offer grant money for teachers like you. These foundations were chosen by our team for their innovative nature, their pool of resources, and the ease of the application process.

1. WeAreTeachers’ Microgrants

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our fantastic (and fantasically easy)  microgrant program, which allow teachers to submit their best ideas on a given topic (currently there are two on literacy and professional development) and then compete for online votes to be one of the ten teachers awarded $200 and a flip video camera or iPod nano with video to document your project. (And, every idea is available online to inspire you!) New microgrants are available all the time, so check back regularly!

2. Digital Wish

If you are looking for a list of grants, this non profit is the place to start. Sponsored by Olympus and Flip Video, Digital Wish provides a long list of grants for various subjects.

3.  Kids In Need Foundation

This is an excellent organization that promotes creativity and innovation in the classroom through grants. According to their website, “Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The Kids In Need Foundation helps to engage students in the learning process by supporting our most creative and important educational resource — our nation’s teachers.”

4. Sprint Character Education Grant Program

Last year, Sprint gave out more than $450,000 in grant money to support character education initiatives in the classroom.  Grants are open to all US public school (K-12) and school districts nationwide.

5. P. Buckley Moss Foundation

This foundation awards five $1,000 grants to teachers who need money to keep their program goals afloat, with preferred emphasis on helping students with learning disabilities.

6. Toyota TAPESTRY Grant Program

Each year, Toyota supports innovative student projects by awarding fifty large grants and twenty small scale grants for projects that focus on science education.

7.  ING Unsung Heroes Grant Program

Since 1995, the Unsung Heroes program has been awarding 100 innovative, forward thinking teachers with $2000 each, usually with at least one winner from each state. Additionally, the top three winners win between $5000 and $25,000.

8. American Honda Foundation

Not to be outdone by Toyota, the American Honda Foundation has awarded $25 million dollars in grant money for science based projects since it’s inception.

9. Inspiration Software Inspired Teachers Scholarships

Twenty five teachers are awarded with $1000 towards professional development or new technology for their classroom through Inspired Teacher Scholarships.

10. Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams Grant

If you’ve got a group of inventive students and a great idea, look no further than the Lemelson-MIT grant program for a little prestige and a lot of dough. InvenTeams receive up to $10,000 for their best inventions.

Have you had any experience with these foundations? Know of an awesome grant that you think we missed? We want to know about it! Let us know your best grant secrets and don’t forget to apply for our microgrants for a quick and easy way to get yourself a little extra money!

Regardless of what subject or grade they teach, the goal of teachers is basically the same: to put their students on the road to being successful adults. But in the world of the special education teacher, that road can be paved with potholes, speed bumps and outright road blocks. Everyday, special education teachers around the world strive to peel the ”disabled” sticker that society can sometimes place on their students and reprogram them to see themselves not as “disabled” but “differently-abled.”

WeAreTeachers and our partner, PCI Education, a leader in special education learning, see the groundbreaking work taking place in classrooms all over the world and we want to inspire more of it.

We are now accepting submissions for our “Individual Attention, Collective Impact” microgrant, which enables special education teachers to share their best practices for reaching individual students. Additionally, all of the ideas will be posted in an online gallery to educate and inspire other teachers.

Kim G., a special education teacher in Arlington, TX feels her heart swell with pride every time she shops at her local grocery store where David, a former student with Downs Syndrome, works as a bagger. Friendly and affable, David is well known and liked amongst store patrons as well as one of the store’s most valued employees for his reliability and positive attitude. Kim remembers when David was one of her students, he was sweet and gentle, but frightened and sometimes picked on by the mainstream students.  “David was scared to talk to anyone because he wasn’t sure how he would be treated,” Kim explained, “it was heartbreaking because you knew he wanted to engage people, but he had some bad experiences and now was very leery and withdrawn.”

David’s parents were also afraid to encourage their son to shine, they themselves were so traumatized from hearing David tearfully, desperately recount the day a boy had frightened him in the school cafeteria with a lit match that they had curbed their urging that David participate in regular school functions.

Kim and her special education colleagues worked hard with David and his parents to draw him out and make him more assertive and self-determined and lo and behold, after years of gentle pushing and inspiring, David applied at the grocery store where he has worked since he finished school.

Special education teachers everywhere can relate to David’s story. Along with their special learning needs, students often come in with a special set of concerns: ridicule, fear, and uncertainty about the future. But special education teachers face these needs each day with a bold determination to help students, and sometimes parents, get to a place where they can be appreciated for their individual skills and talents.

The following video talks about how teachers at the O’Hearn School of Massachusetts are working towards this goal through the technique of full inclusion teaching.

Just as the O’Hearn School is using innovative techniques, teachers all over the world are finding and tailoring special solutions to their students individual needs.

Do you have a great special education idea that you would love to share? It’s not too late! The deadline for submissions is November 13th, so apply now! You could win $200 in cash and a flip video camera to capture the implementation of your idea and share with the WeAreTeachers community. And don’t forget to sign up to be a part of our Special Education microcommunity to stay connected with important news, blogs, and people in the special education field.