Help Spread the Word!
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Inspired Teaching has begun recruitment for the 2010 class of Inspired Teaching Fellows. You can learn all about our innovative teacher certification program on its website.
Starting today we're looking for exceptional candidates who want to become teachers in Washington, DC and we need you to help us spread the word.
Please click on the image above and forward the linked electronic flyer wherever you see fit. Don't hesitate to contact us should you have any questions about this program.
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Inspired Teacher Blog:
My Service Learning Birthday Present
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My birthday just so happens to fall on April 25, and on this particular day in 1992 Berkeley, CA was celebrating Christmas in April. But this celebration turned out not to be about presents.
Read More.
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Give More Get More
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From November 10 to December 1, Center for Inspired Teaching will participate in Global Giving's new fundraising campaign: Give More, Get More. Any contribution up to $500 will be matched by the Give More, Get More campaign on a gradual scale. To make a donation please follow this link!
As a special bonus, donors will receive 1 ticket per $150 increment to Chocolate Inspiration!, Inspired Teaching's annual gala, as a thank you for your support!
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BECOME A FAN OF INSPIRED TEACHING
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Check out our Facebook page and become a fan of the organization.
Inspired Teaching is now on Twitter as InspireTeach. Follow us to get regular updates! These are new ways you can stay connected to Inspired Teaching and, even better, a way we can stay connected to you!
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Is "service learning" in my curriculum?
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"No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the sould of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure." - Emma Goldman
School is for teaching the academic subjects essential for success in life. But success in life depends on much more than raw intellect. Even if you are the smartest person in the world, you can do little with your genius if you do not also know how to relate to and empathize with your fellow human beings.
Creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment can go a long way toward building these skills. But learning to give your time and attention to people you don't know, who need something you can provide - is the sort of education that radically transforms individuals and societies. Sadly, it's not something most young people experience in school.
Planning for "service learning" takes time. It requires an already busy teacher to step outside of her classroom and look for learning opportunities in the wider community. It means fostering relationships beyond the school walls and finding those critical links between the content of the academic curriculum and the content of civic engagement.
But it's not exactly rocket science, and if implemented correctly, the long-term effects more than make up for the short-term planning headaches. As you enter into a little break from the daily grind, perhaps the resources in this newsletter will be a catalyst for trying something new!
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Is Service Learning for Me?
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We've tried to answer some questions you might have about this topic by providing links to useful resources on the web.
What is "service learning" anyway?
I teach a single subject, how can I connect service learning to my content?
How do I bring the "outside" experience back into my classroom?
Does service learning help with academic learning? YES!!!
Is there research backing this up that I can share with my principal?
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Great Service Learning Resources
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FreeChild.org
The mission of The Freechild Project is to advocate, inform, and celebrate social change led by and with young people around the world, especially those who have been historically denied the right to participate.
SoundOut
SoundOut promotes student voice in school through research, training, and resource-sharing. Our systemic approaches to whole-school reform emphasize practical, considerable and holistic roles for students as partners in learning and leadership throughout education.
Through Whose Eyes: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement from Culturally Diverse Perspectives
Designed as a guide for community college service learning projects - also quite relevant for teachers in other settings.
Service Learning Planning Toolkit
Free PDF resource guide download with everything you need to get started!
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Grant Opportunities
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Inspired Teachers are encouraged to apply for two upcoming grant opportunities worth up to $2,500 through the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
1. Artists in Schools - Grants that encourage creative arts education projects in DC Public Schools (DCPS) and Public Charter Schools and support the development and implementation of innovative teaching strategies aligned with DCPS Arts Content Standards.
2. Arts Teacher Fellowship - Funds arts teachers within DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools to support the development and implementation of innovative arts teaching strategies according to DCPS Arts Content Standards.
You can access application details at this link.
Samuel Miranda, Arts Education Coordinator for the Commission, is happy to answer questions and provide assistance. He can be reached at samuel.miranda@dc.gov or by phone at 202 724 5613. Please let him know that you learned of these opportunities through Inspired Teaching!
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Center for Inspired Teaching is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that exists to ensure schools make the most of children's innate desire to learn. We do this by investing in teachers. Please visit our website to learn more about our philosophy, programs, and results.
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We send you our best wishes for a holiday filled with good company and good cheer. In the spirit of the occasion we also send you our gratitude for the vitally important work you do every day. 
