The second post for this week is intended to provide information about teaching awards. Before everyone starts saying, "I am only a 2nd year teacher." or "I could never win an award." HALT! CEASE! First of all, you do not know that, or have you decided that you will settle for a mediocre career? Second, you may feel so strongly about the ability of someone you work with that you want to nominate them. I am sharing the application for the International Reading Association teacher award and the blog that last year's winner has. As the old saying goes, "Reach for the stars." Remember also, every time you reach up and do something you thought you couldn't, as a teacher, you have no idea how many children's lives you will impact. Please make any response comment you would like about what I have shared.

IRA's Weekly Reading Eleanor M. Johnson award for 2012 is Gary Wellbrock
His blog address is:

 http://www.followingyourbliss.blogspot.com/

Next year's application is due in November. The application form is below.

The International Reading Association will recognize a clearly outstanding elementary classroom teacher of reading/language arts with a US$1,000 (sponsored by the Weekly Reader Corporation) award.  The recipient of the award must be a classroom or reading teacher who works directly with students on a consistent basis in an elementary classroom setting.  In addition to daily classroom teaching, the applicant/nominee must have taught for five (5) full years and be nominated by at least four (4) persons. Applicants/nominees must be Association members. Deadline for submission is November 15, 2012.

Criteria:

1. The nominee must complete an application form and provide an one-page personal statement of your beliefs about education and how these beliefs align with your practices.   A copy of your resume/vitae is suggested but not required. 
2. There must be a nomination letter from each of the following: a supervisor/evaluator, one other administrator (e.g. superintendent, principal, vice principal, or director of curriculum), a fellow teacher, and a teacher, parent of a student, or a student. 
3. The nomination letters should include the following information: knowledge of reading/language arts; teaching effectiveness; willingness to share ideas and methods; impact on colleagues; and demonstrated enthusiasm for reading/language arts.
4. Objectivity, factual data and specific examples are important.  No pictures or scrapbooks should be included. 
5. Nominee must give approval to release materials from personal files to supply supporting data.  The winner will be notified by March 1 and is expected to attend the IRA Annual Convention.  All expenses for attending the Convention will be borne by the winner.
6. Nominee will grant permission to have their nomination remain under consideration for two years. 

Nominee Information

* First Name

Middle Name or Initial

* Last Name

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State/Province/Region

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Home Phone Number

Cell Phone Number

E-mail:

Confirm e-mail:

* IRA membership number

* Teaching Position  Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Middle School High School 

Name of School:

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State/Province/Region

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Employer Phone Number

Employer Fax Number

Employer e-mail address

To upload your statement of education philosophy, résume (optional), and example files click on 'browse' to locate your document in your files than click on 'upload' to attach to form.

Statement of Education Philosophy

Résume (optional)

Examples

The following information is to be included in all the nomination letters. 

I hereby nominate ___________________ for the 2013 IRA/Weekly Reader Eleanor M. Johnson Award and submit the accompanying data in support of this nomination.

Nominator's nameAddress
E-mail

Name of NOMINEEAddressE-mail
IRA Membership Number of Nominee
Present Position of Nominee

Please comment on each of the following areas:                                                                                                     

1.    Knowledge of reading/language arts
2.    Teaching effectiveness   
3.    Willingness to share ideas and methods
4.    Impact on colleagues
5.    Demonstrated enthusiasm for reading/language arts

This information must be received from each of the four (4) nominators. Please upload the nomination letters below (click on 'browse' to locate your document in your files than click on 'upload' to attach to form.) If you are unable to upload, please send them via:
Mail (regular or express)International Reading Association
IRA Weekly Reader/Eleanor M. Johnson Award
800 Barksdale Road
Newark DE 19711

First Nomination Letter

Second Nomination Letter

Third Nomination Letter

Fourth Nomination Letter

Additional Information

* The nominee gives permission for the committee to contact people who have provided documentation should additional information be required.

Yes

No

* Has the nominee/applicant been nominated for or applied for another IRA award this year?

Yes

No

Checklist

Use this checklist to be sure you have completed and submitted all sections of your application correctly before clicking on 'Submit'.

Application form completed by nominee.

Resume (optional).

Statement of education philosophy.

Nomination letters completed by four nominators and uploaded.

Objectivity, factual data, and specific examples.

Submit information to IRA by November 15, 2012.

* Indicates Response Required

Well, we are continuing our discussion about grants this week.  I am asking you to look at and respond to three grant related items.  There will be more than one post also. The first item relates to funding for travel. It is an International Reading Association travel grant application. Now, the catch is that you have to be traveling to a conference out of the country, but then again, how can that be something you wouldn't want to do!? You have to be a member of the International Reading Association to apply and applications won't be accepted until next June.

Here are just a couple examples of places you could travel to conferences:

http://www.ukla.org/conferences/event/the_48th_ukla_international_conference/   England 


http://www.rasa2012.ukzn.ac.za/   South Africa 


Here is a copy of the form that is found on the IRA website. Please read through this and consider what you could gain from going to a conference focusing on literacy that is held in another country. Consider how much work you feel would be involved. Post your responses.

Travel Grants for Educators provide support to educators from any country in attending Association Sponsored Meetings that are held outside the educators own continent. Applicants must be members of the Association or one of its affiliated groups.

Completed applications must be received by June 1 for meetings between July 1 and June 30 of the following year.

General Information

* Name 

* Mailing Address 

Mailing Address Line 2 

Mailing Address Line 3 

* City 

* State/Province/Region 

* Postal Code 

* Country 

Telephone Number (include country and area code/city code) 

* E-mail Address 

* Confirm E-mail Address 

IRA Membership Number 

Council or Affliliate Membership Number 

Curriculum Vita
(Click on 'browse' to locate your document in your files than click on 'upload' to attach to form)

 

Employment Information

* Place of Employment 

* Mailing Address 

Mailing Address Line 2 

Mailing Address Line 3 

* City 

* State/Province/Region 

* Postal Code 

* Country 

Telephone Number (include country and area code/city code) 

Fax Number (include country and area code/city code) 

* E-mail Address 

* Confirm E-mail Address 

Association Sponsored Meetings Information

* Meeting/Conference you wish to request partial funding

April 21 – 24, 2013 San Antonio, TX

* Number of Days you plan to attend 

Have you submitted a Proposal for a Presentation?

Yes

No

Proposal Accepted

Would you discuss a proposed or ongoing project with specific groups or members of the International Reading Association? If yes, please list the area(s) of discussion below.

Yes

No

Area of discussion 

Would you make international contacts for the development of new affiliate organizations in your area? 

Yes

No

Estimated Cost

Transportation US$ 

Transportation US$ 

Registration US$ 

Accommondations US$ 

TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FROM IRA US$ 

Please provide a list of all sources of other funding available with specific amounts from each source (including personal contributions).
(Click on 'browse' to locate your document in your files than click on 'upload' to attach to form)

 

Additional Information

Please describe your reasons for attending this meeting and how your attendance will benefit your work and the teachers with whom you have contact. Also, include a brief describe of your contact with teachers, school administrators, deans of education, and/or teacher educators.
(Click on 'browse' to locate your document in your files than click on 'upload' to attach to form)

 

Please attach a sign letter/statement of support from a representative of a recognized institution (e.g. university). The letter must include the individual's name, position, address, telephone number, and your professional relationship with them.
(Click on 'browse' to locate your document in your files than click on 'upload' to attach to form)

 

Please provide any additional information relevant to your application (e.g. training, experience, etc.). 

* If your application is approved, you will be required to provide a follow-up report with four weeks after the meeting has taken place. You will get specific instructions when you are notified of the Board of Directors' decision.

Please note by clicking on 'Agree' or 'Disagree' this becomes your electronic signature.

Agree

Disagree