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The Flow of History

is sponsoring a number of upcoming professional development opportunities. Visit their Web site for more information and connections to resources that support the teaching of US and Vermont History. VRP teachers are developing curriculum units which are available on this site.

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NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS


Vermont Rural Partnership's Annual
Learning in Place Conference—May 7th, 2010
Vermont College of Fine Arts, in Montpelier

At this our ninth annual VRP Learning-in-Place conference we shared our work and expanded our vision of schools which prepare students to become caring, competent and involved citizens, including:
* The power of youth as central players in school and community change
* preserving our cultural heritage
* being “localvores”
* linking learning to life

We were supported by the Vermont Department of Education, The Bay and Paul Foundation and the Vermont Principals’ Association.
view conference wrapup w/ photos

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Foodworks bread oven work at Newark and Walden schools.
We continue to move towards school community food system education
and use Quebec bread ovens as another
vehicle for hands-on food based curriculum and
local entrepreneurialism.
[photo at right]

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Fund for Teachers Fellowships: A total of 5 VRP teachers applied for these grants. Nationally 35 applications came in and 11 teachers received funding. Three of the VRP group were awarded Fellowships. [www.fundforteachers.org]

Tina Fearon, a first grade teacher from Barnet will be working on ways to improve her teaching of geography and geology by taking a trip this summer to a number of US National Parks. Tina's first graders will be helping to plan her trip. She will be taking along a stuffed mascot from Barnet who will write a blog/ journal of events and post regular pictures of himself from various locations. Tina will be sharing her learning with the teaching team in Barnet and incorporating her learning directly into her curriculum.

Donna Stone and Lynn Talamini, grade 1/2 teachers from Cabot will be traveling to New Zealand to improve their teaching of math and literacy. They will visit 3 different schools who will be in session during the July/August. The schools, one of which is rural, all have exemplary math and literacy programs. Lynn and Donna have been implementing NZ stategies in their classroom for the last several years, seeing these schools first hand will have a direct impact on their teaching of both subjects.

Other teachers who have been awarded fellowships will also be taking exciting trips such as traveling to South Africa to volunteer for CARE, developing a photographic journey through Ireland or going to the Galapagos Islands to improve the teaching of science.

We hope that next year, with a longer application timeframe, we will have a larger number of applicants and be able to award more fellowships to Vermont teachers. We wish the 3 of you exciting journeys ahead and we encourage those of you who did not receive funding to reapply. Download Flyer

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A PREMIER NATIONAL EVENT!
Community Works' Institute on Service-Learning
at Shelburne Farms, Vermont

July 19-23 2010
Monday thru Friday

"I feel empowered! Thank you!
It was wonderful to see and feel the sincerity of the faculty for service-learning."
Kathleen Harte,
Kindergarten Teacher
The Gillispie School
La Jolla, California

Join with colleagues from across North America and beyond, working
to enhance their teaching practice.
Call 909-480-3966, or email us with questions.
more information

"Super! Incredibly useful to hear the ‘voice’ of others. Having this experience not only enriches myself and my practice, but will also enrich the practice of my coworkers as we share these ideas back home."
Elliott Lax, Science Teacher
City Works Coordinator
City High School, Tucson, Arizona

Brochure & Registration Form (PDF)

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Shelburne Farms Summer 2010
Professional Development Opportunities

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VRP NEWS
Across the country, states are concentrating efforts to meet the requirements and the spirit of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The implementation provisions and timelines are demanding and challenging for all districts, but NCLB is particularly daunting for rural and small districts. This paper, written as part of a series on NCLB for the Education Writers Association (available at http://www.ewa.org/infocenter/topics/), outlines the characteristics of rural schools and districts that create special problems in implementing the legislation and summarizes the major challenges of the NCLB for these districts. Download "Special Challenges", in PDF format from the Rural School and Community Trust. Visit the RSCT on the Web for additional resources

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Vital Results Through Service-Learning:
Linking Students and Community in Vermont Schools
This publication from Community Works Press includes work from Vermont Rural Partnership schools. Vital Results is a moving testament to the power and significance of service-learning. Included are firsthand stories, narratives, photographs and interviews with students, educators and community members who have been involved in service-learning at these schools. At a time when the need to develop civic and social responsibility in our youth has never been greater, Vital Results provides both strategies and evidence that students involved in service-learning can make a difference in their schools and their communities. NOTE: Special publication rates available to Vermont schools. More General information

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Deepening and Spreading the Work The VRP publication, Deepening and Spreading the Work [Portfolio Entry 3] is now available. The document is an engaging narrative on VRP's work, divided into four component areas: Impact on Instruction and Student Leadership; Engaging the Community; Supporting Structures; New Ideas, Resources, Connections. The document includes evidence to illustrate and support each area. For a downloadable PDF file of this publication, go to: VRP Reports