VUSD Hot Links for Teachers

The links below are intended as a helpful resource for staff. To suggest a bookmark or report a dead link email Barry Rico.

Grants and Workshops

GRANTS
The Board of Education should be informed when grants are being worked on or approved. Teachers should notify a site administrator when applying for all grants.
VPEF - Vacaville Public Education Foundation
VPEF teacher mini grants are being accepted through November 5, 2008. Grants should be for $500 or less per applicant for transportation costs on educational field trips. The grant application is in a Word file. For more information download the Mini Grant Information page.
Best Buy Teach Award
Best Buy Teach Awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be granted to programs that engage K-12 students by creatively integrating interactive technology into the curriculum. (Applicants submitting programs or projects that serve 9th grade students may submit a budget for a $10,000 award.) Money is intended to strengthen a program that has been in place for at least one full school year at the current school. All awards are in the form of Best Buy Gift Cards. Application must be submitted electronically by October 12, 2008.
Staples Foundation for Learning
The Staples Foundation for Learning will provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Proposals must be submitted between June 2 and June 16, 2008 for September 2008 consideration; October 10 and October 24, 2008 for January 2009 consideration. Schools are eligible if they apply through a 501 (c)(3) fiscal sponsor such as a PTA or local education foundation. Awards from $5,000 to $25,000
Airborne Teacher Trust Fund
Airborne Teacher Trust Fund is offering grants from $200 to $10,000 to help schools implement art and music extracurricular programs. Open to elementary and middle school teachers. Apply before July 31, 2008
Dreyer's (Ice Cream) Foundation Grants
The Foundation makes small grants ($3,000 or less) and donates ice cream products and gift certificates/auction items to bona fide nonprofit organizations for events. Grant is ongoing; mail in requests at least 8 weeks prior to an event.
National Science Teachers Association
Various grant and (cash) award recognition opportunities for teaching sciences (including elementary) or the innovative use of technology (such as data collection) in classrooms.
National Council of Mathematics Teachers A wide range of grant programs to support classroom math teachers and the teaching of mathematical knowledge. Various deadlines.
CTAP Region IV Funding Alert - collection of current tech funding opportunities from California Tech. Assistance Prog. in Alameda County.
Olympus Classroom Grants and contests - Three contests with varying deadlines, thirty five winners. $50,000 in awards.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Classroom Learning 2.0
Offered by the California School Library Association (CSLA), it is a self-paced, online learning program to familiarize teachers and librarians with Web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis. The program is free, but for $200 Fresno Pacific offers 2 continuing education credits for completing it. Web 2.0 is a phrase that was coined in 2004. It refers to the fact that the Internet is now an interactive medium rather than a 'place' to go to get information.
VUSD Summer Technology Courses
Fun, low stress courses designed for K-6 teachers, taught at the Country High computer lab by VUSD teacher Tari Carolle-Makowski. Sessions are $20 each, or $100 for the full series: Basic computers July 14-15, PowerPoint July 16-18, Word July 21, Publisher July 22-24, Excel July 25, and Internet July 28-29. Download the flyer through the link above for more information and to register.
CTAP3 Workshops - technology classes in the Sacramento area.
CTAP4 Workshops - technology classes in the Bay Area.
The Conference Calendar - search for upcoming (mostly tech-related) workshops in the state or country.

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