From the SDE

The State Department of Education is excited to announce the launch of a yearlong statewide lesson plan award to showcase innovative practices in the classroom. The Department will award more than $108,000 in gift certificates over the course of a year from March until February of next year to teachers who develop exemplary lesson plans across all academic subjects and grades. The best examples will be showcased in the statewide instructional management system, known as Schoolnet, which provides lesson planning tools and access to Idaho's content standards online. More information on this contest is available online at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/digitalLearning/.


INL OFFERS CLASSROOM GRANTS TO ENHANCE STEM FOR STUDENTSIdaho National Laboratory (INL) has announced two grant programs for 2012 in support of excellence and innovation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

Applications are currently being accepted for INL Classroom Mini Grants and the INL Extreme Classroom Makeover Grant. Funding for the grants comes from Battelle Energy Alliance, which operates INL for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The 2010 INL STEM Mini Grants will provide funds to enhance public and private elementary, middle school and high school programs. Teachers can apply for up to $1,000 to fund technology, lab equipment, classroom resource, and material for special projects. This grant cycle has $54,000 available for teachers statewide.

The INL Extreme Classroom Makeover Grant will provide funding to a teacher or school to transform a classroom into a 21st century STEM learning environment. The $10,000 award will support classroom instructional resources, materials and laboratory equipment used to integrate STEM concepts across all disciplines. INL will award one Extreme Classroom Makeover grants.

Grant applications are available online at: https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt/community/education/679/k-12_stem_classroom_grants. Completed applications must be received by March 31, 2012. A panel of judges will evaluate the applications based on specific criteria. Teachers are required to provide information on how learning objectives and curriculum concepts will be enhanced and how the project or program will improve student interest and achievement. Grant recipients will be announced in May 2012.


IDAHO AND INDIANA PREPARE FOR MATH STATE SHOWDOWN
Apangea Math, a web-based adaptive math solution supporting grades 4-12, has launched an exclusive state-duel motivational contest during the month of February to get students excited to “do” math, encouraging students to have fun developing their math skills. Apangea Math will be working with 70,000 kids in both Indiana and Idaho to actively participate on Apangea Math during the math contest.

Idaho students can enter the Doodle 4 Google 2012 contest – Google invites student artists in Idaho’s grades K-12 to use their creative imaginations to redesign the Google our logo through the Doodle 4 Google 2012 contest. This year's theme is "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..." The lucky D4G winner will not only see their artwork on Google’s homepage for one day, but they will also receive $30,000 for college and $50,000 for their school. As an added bonus, their winning artwork will appear on a special edition of Crayola's iconic 64 box! Additionally, all the Idaho finalists will see their artwork displayed at an exhibit at the Boise Art Museum. The deadline to enter is March 23, 2012. Visit www.doodle4google.com to learn more.

Apply now for CapEd Teacher Grants – CapEd is offering a grant program in an effort to help teachers and students explore additional educational opportunities they might not otherwise enjoy. Each month during the school year (October – April), CapEd awards outstanding teachers with grants to pay for programs, materials, field trips, or special projects for the students in their classrooms. $2,250 is awarded monthly, with a $750 maximum per individual grant. To apply or to learn more, visit http://www.capedfcu.org/resources/teacher-grants/. Only teachers in certain regions of the state are eligible.