Teacher Resources & Events

Baseball Brings the Community Together
For centuries baseball has captured the imagination of Bostonians. Think Cy Young, Teddy Ballgame and Johnny Pesky. How about Yaz, Tony C, Jim Ed Rice and Morgan’s Magic? Or Big Papi, Pedroia and Youk? Baseball unites – and celebrates – a diverse group of people and teaches our community important life lessons. The Boston Herald In Education program offers the guide “Baseball Brings the Community Together”, a guide that uses compelling and unique baseball history and facts to teach character skills, language, communication, math and science. To request this guide, please email mmcsheffrey@bostonherald.com or call 617-619-6556.



“The Art in Earth” … New ways to celebrate Earth Day with kids
There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day in April, but one of the most fun for kids is art. In a special school and family package titled “The Art in Earth”, Hollister Kids Publications uses the beauty of nature to teach environmental science, art and math. This teaching package was inspired by the fact the middle three letters in the word EARTH spell ART. With beautiful photographs and hands-on activities, it explores ecology, wildlife, and the delicate features of nature while teaching about artistic shapes, patterns, textures, color, light and perspective. For a free copy of this art and environmental teaching package, contact us at orders@bostonheraldineducation.com.



Between The Lions

A recent study conducted at child care centers in Mississippi showed that preschoolers at risk for reading failure made significant gains in reading skills after using the Between the Lions educational curriculum. This same curriculum is currently being used in Little Sprouts learning centers in Boston and throughout Eastern Massachusetts. The PBS KIDS® series is a puppet, animated, and live-action show designed to help kids ages 3 to 7 learn to read. The series is based on a detailed and rigorous literacy curriculum, which is offered on the screen and through classroom-based lessons as part of the Between the Lions Preschool Literacy Initiative. Parents and teachers can find out more about the curriculum by visiting the show’s website at:http://www.pbskids.org/lions



Application Deadline for 2009 Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education April 3
This spring, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Ian Bowles will honor Massachusetts teachers and students who are involved in school-based programs that promote environment and energy education.

The application deadline for the 15th Annual Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education is Friday, April 3.

“As part of a global community facing mounting challenges like global warming and loss of wildlife habitat, the Commonwealth is pleased to honor teachers and students who are committed to learning about energy and the environment,” said Secretary Bowles. “I look forward to learning about their efforts to raise awareness and serve as examples for environmental stewardship in their communities.”

All Massachusetts schools (K-12) that offer energy and environmental education programs are eligible to apply for the Secretary’s Award. In 2008, 25 schools participated in programs that covered topics ranging from renewable energy, recycling, energy conservation, water testing, climate change, conservation ecology, and Atlantic salmon egg-rearing. The Secretary’s Advisory Group on Energy and Environmental Education will review applications through mid-April. Qualified entrants are invited to attend a formal award ceremony with Secretary Bowles at the State House later in the spring.

Click here to apply online or contact Meg Colclough at 617-626-1110 or meg.colclough@state.ma.us.



Walter Dean Myers' Second Chance Initiative
The initiative is an effort to motivate teens to overcome life's challenge, move beyond mistakes of the past, take advantage of the second chances they are given, and make better choices in the future.

Walter Dean Myers began writing poems and short stories in the fourth grade. For a boy with a severe speech impediment, writing became a wonderful form of self–expression. Drawing from his own experiences growing up in Harlem, Myers often writes about the challenging realities that face today's urban youth.

The award-winning Myers has a new book coming out in February called Dope Sick. His goal in writing this tale of second chances, redemption, and the promise of hope was to reach teens that need to change direction. With his publisher HarperCollins, he’s made the first three chapters of Dope Sick available to download at AdLit.org.

The entire book will be available online for free reading for 2 weeks beginning on its February 10 publication date. AdLit.org has also pulled together resources for adults to help them get discussions going about how to influence the choices young people make and will provide online opportunities for students to interact with Myers.
Visit http://www.adlit.org/second_chances for more information.