Thank you for all you do to support students, staff, families, and the community. As you spend your time pouring into others we encourage you to make time for self-care.
This year you can share your examples of character, leadership, and service by sending photos, videos, articles, websites, etc. to Justyn.Knox@dpi.nc.gov with a brief explanation of an activity or project that exemplifies good character. Selected exemplars will be placed on the Character Matters website. To receive the Character Education Update please sign up here. Character Matters is now on Facebook. To like and follow our page click here.
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UPDATE INCLUDES:
OPPORTUNITIES and AWARDS
- SELf Care: Meeting the SEL needs of Adults through the Arts (For ALL NC Educators!)
- National Service-Learning Conference: April 14-April 15, 2021
- Global Youth Service Day: April 23-25, 2021
- Webinar Opportunities
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Grant Opportunities
INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES
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Free Service Learning Resources
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Open Now: SDI within an MTSS for Gen. Ed
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Creating A Culture Of Kindness
- Resources For Virtual Service-Learning
SELf Care: Meeting the SEL needs of Adults through the Arts (For ALL NC Educators!)
We all know that we cannot serve students from an empty cup. Every educator has been repeatedly told to put on their own oxygen mask first but for most, virtual, hybrid, and in-person teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic has been overwhelmingly stressful. Many adults do not know where or how to begin to address their own SEL needs, but are charged with leading these efforts for children. We are here to help! ALL educators are welcome to join in this 8-session series to learn practical techniques to manage stress, rekindle daily joy of teaching and learning through the arts, and explore how to apply lessons learned in this series to the classroom through Arts Integrated SEL lessons for students. We look forward to sharing this valuable content with you and know that your students will be better served when you engage in a little SELf Care!
In 2015, our amazing predecessors created the ArtsR4Life conference to meet the social and emotional needs of adult educators of every content while simultaneously providing arts integration, arts education, and arts exposure through meaningful experiences. In this webinar series, specifically meant to overcome the challenges associated with social distancing and a year of change, you will be able to:
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Renew yourself with small shifts to “Teach Happier”
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Rekindle your passion for joy, creating, and education with a variety of sessions offered in different arts disciplines
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Reflect on how meeting your SELf Care needs helps you teach better
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Reconnect with your peers, your content, and the SEL Competencies to empower your students to have their SEL needs met
- Rediscover the joy of education
Sessions include:
Read session descriptions and find registration links HERE. Please forward this information to any educator who might be interested in learning more about SELf Care and how to empower themselves and their students to meet their SEL needs!
Check out the NCDPI SEL Resources
Share out on Social Media with the hashtag #NCSEL
OPEN TO ALL EDUCATORS OF ANY SUBJECT!
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National Service-Learning Conference
April 14-15, 2021
Register
The National Youth Leadership Council is honored to host the 2021 National Service-Learning Conference, now in its 32nd year. This conference is more than workshops and keynote addresses; it is an extension of the classroom, allowing for the youth and adult attendees to be part of a national movement. Throughout the conference, youth plan programming, emcee plenary sessions, inspire attendees through keynote addresses, and lead workshops for youth and adult peers from around the world. Youth are given the opportunity to create something so spectacular that it changes how adults perceive all young people — as solutions to real problems.
The conference’s multiple-day, concurrent session format offers adults a self-directed, facilitated learning environment with education sessions, discussion groups, and interactive workshops designed specifically for all levels of attendees engaged in service-learning and focused on current and emerging issues, best practices, and the challenges facing us today. Both youth and adults come out of the experience with the tools and resources, ideas, and inspiration to return home to improve their practice, their schools, and their communities. This year's Conference will be entirely virtual and feature both live and on-demand sessions.
Topics range from social-emotional learning and civic education to youth leadership and international service-learning. Whether you are new to service-learning or an experienced practitioner, this conference has something for you.
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Global Youth Service Day is the largest youth service and civic action event in the world and the only one that celebrates and builds the capacity of all youth ages 5-25 to help our communities and democracy thrive by working together for the common good. On Global Youth Service Day, we call on everyone to engage all young people and adult champions to serve, advocate, join, celebrate, or build capacity.
As we mark the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, it's important to remember that around 4 million people will turn 18 this year, so it’s always a good time to register and educate new voters! And, of course, increasing voting requires building an ongoing culture of civic participation, so it’s also always a good time to connect volunteering and service to voting and advocacy on the issues youth care about; and to call on our leaders to increase youth voice and leadership in public decision-making.
Choose from 20 GYSD Activity Ideas in the Advocate category:
- Voter Registration – Register to Vote
- Voter Registration – Organize a Voter Registration Drive
- Voter Registration – Make a Plan to Support Student Voter Registration
- Voter Registration- Start a Future Voters Club or Voting Squad
- Voter Education – Teach About Voting and Civic Participation
- Voter Education – Organize a Community Dialogue
- Voter Education – Create Issue Guides and Develop Policy Proposals
- Voter Education – Volunteer with a Local Campaign
- Get Out The Vote – Host a GOTV Event or Celebration
- Get Out The Vote – Create a GOTV Plan for Election Day
- Get Out The Vote – Host a Mock Election
- Get Out The Vote – Recruit Poll Workers
- Issue Advocacy – Host a Youth Activism Training
- Issue Advocacy – Create Media and Become a Citizen or Student Journalist
- Issue Advocacy – Connect with Local Public Officials
- Issue Advocacy – Participate in an Advocacy Campaign
- Increase Youth Voice – Advocate for Automatic Voter Registration
- Increase Youth Voice – Create Formal Youth Voice Systems
- Increase Youth Voice – Participate in Student Voice Campaigns
- Increase Youth Voice – Advocate for a Lower Voting Age
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 Webinar: Evidence-Based Practices for Equity in Social and Emotional Learning
Tuesday, April 27, 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET
The National Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety at WestEd (CISELSS) released a compendium of evidence-based resources to support the integration of social and emotional learning in school systems last year.
This webinar will build from that compendium, with panelists Eric Moore, Angela Ward, and Rose Prejean-Harris sharing their insights and expertise as district leaders who implement evidence-based practices and data-driven continuous improvement processes for social and emotional learning, school climate, and other whole person initiatives in their districts. The session will specifically delve into effective practices for using data to advance equitable outcomes.
Register for the webinar here.
The compendium of evidence-based resources can be found here.
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March 31, 3-4 pm : Equity in Education: Introduction on Race and Racism in Schools
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April 28, 3-4 pm : A New Type of Instruction: Teaching SEL and Navigating Sensitive Conversations with Students.
Register
Grants
Whole Kids Garden Grant Program - Deadline: March 31
Through the Garden Grant program, schools and non-profit organizations can apply for $3,000 grants to turn outdoor spaces into powerful hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with food, spark their curiosity and support classroom curriculum.
Read more
www.wholekidsfoundation.org
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Riley's Way Foundation Call for Kindness - Deadline: April 7
30 teen-led projects that use Riley’s Way values to inspire kindness and strengthen communities will receive up to $3,000 each. Winners will join a cohort of youth leaders and participate in our Leadership Development fellowship.
Read more
www.rileysway.org
T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge - Deadline: April 8
Ashoka is looking for changemakers ages 13-18 in the U.S. with new or pre-existing ideas to create positive change in their communities. Selected teams will receive $5,000 in seed funding and on-going mentoring. One winner will receive $15,000.
Read more
challenges.changemakers.com
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Free Service Learning Resources
Each month's tool will illustrate at least one of the eight K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice as well as the "IPARD" process of investigation, planning & preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration. With this tool, we suggest ideas for Taking Action that help you tap into the skills and passion of young people.
If you would like to access additional service-learning resources including previous teaching tools, and connect with the larger service-learning community, consider joining NYLC's membership program today.
Download the Resources
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Open Now: SDI within an MTSS for Gen. Ed
Now available in NCEES is Course 1: Foundations of Specially Designed Instruction within a Multi-Tiered System of Support. This course will guide participants through the core beliefs and foundational concepts that will allow for equitable access of students with disabilities to the core curriculum. Additionally, an introduction to evidence-based practices for the delivery of Specially Designed Instruction within a Multi-Tiered System of Support and the necessity of frequent progress monitoring of students' IEP goals is provided throughout this course. The intent of this course is to provide participants with information and resources to support the deeper learning that will occur in the Specially Designed Instruction: Design, Delivery, and Decision-Making course.
Check out the flyer for the registration link to join the self-paced course
Create a Culture of Kindness
Free Spirit Publishing has a great lesson from Create a Culture of Kindness in Elementary School by Naomi Drew about helping kids define what it means to be kind. For more resources on creating a positive learning environment for all students, read on for related books. Also check out the free, on-demand webinar “End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy: Create Safe, Caring, Inclusive Learning Climates.” Dr. Michele Borba offers proven, practical teaching practices that mobilize student empathy.
Resources for Virtual Service-Learning
Use the link below for various trainings and resources to help you plan virtual volunteer, community service, or service-learning projects.
Read more
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Disclaimer Statement
The links in this newsletter will bring you to third party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy and security. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.
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