This edition of the newsletter will focus on two topics that few people have the answers to…grant writing and bullying.  The reason why I am putting the spotlight on these two topics is to express my gratitude to two members of the newteacher.com team.  These two gentlemen will be regular contributors to the site, and are extremely knowledgeable in their areas of expertise.

 

It isn’t hard to figure out why few people are willing to teach others in the educational profession how to write a grant…the fewer people that know, the bigger the potential payday for people and districts that DO know how the grant writing process works.  Luckily for you (and me!), I have found one of the best grant writers in the nation to share the secrets of grant writing with everyone.  Dr. Douglas Brooks, Professor of Teacher Education at Miami University (Ohio) not only tells us how to write successful grants, he published his latest grant writing project on newteacherhelp.com word-for-word so that you can see what a winning grant looks like.  You are not going to find that kind of knowledge anywhere else!  Not only has Dr. Brooks developed “Grant Success”, his easy-to-use grant writing software, he is also one of the preeminent authorities on new teacher induction and training!  His research, titled “The First Day of School”, was published in 1985 and is highlighted in detail in Harry Wong’s legendary book called “The First Days of School”.  Once Dr. Brooks solves all of the mysteries of the grant writing process for us, he has agreed to shift gears and contribute articles about the obstacles facing first-year teachers.  My wife asked me why I was so excited to have Dr. Brooks on board, and I decided to use an analogy to explain my joy…I told her that this was the equivalent of me starting my own basketball camp, and having John Wooden show up and ask if he could help out.  My wife answered by asking, “Who’s John Wooden?”  I tried again…I said that it was like starting my own cooking and home decorating website, and being able to convince Martha Stewart to contribute weekly articles.  “Wow, that’s big”, she said.  I agree.

 

As if that wasn’t enough, I also convinced an emerging authority on bullying and conflict resolution to sign on as well.  Sean Brooks is a middle school Health teacher in southern Florida who is following in his father’s sizeable footsteps.  He has deciphered a way to significantly reduce conflict, violence, and bullying behaviors at his middle school.  Anyone who teaches at the middle school level knows what a gigantic issue bullying is among teens, and Sean cuts to the heart of the matter by utilizing his greatest resource – his students.  Sean’s research is among the first of its kind in the United States, and his technique of recruiting students to participate in videotaped lunchtime discussion groups is genius.  Mr. Brooks will show you how to build momentum for your school’s anti-bullying crusade, and use “The Roundtable” to establish new norms of behavior on your campus.

 

As for me, I am going to keep on reading your emails, and writing articles to address your biggest needs as new teachers.  I take requests…so if you are at your wit’s end because a student won’t stop sleeping in your class, let me know and I will post an article outlining some strategies to keep that from happening.  I also love performing “live”, so you know I am looking forward to my “Spring Speaking Tour” which begins on February 16^th in Manhattan, Kansas.  I will be dispensing some of my knowledge to Kappa Delta Pi on the campus of Kansas State University, followed by a visit to Missouri State in Springfield on March 1^st and 2^nd.  I will return to Springfield, MO on April 21^st to address a large gathering of student teachers at their district S-MSTA meeting.  I am tentatively planning on being in St. Louis, MO on March 19th to give college students some last-minute interview tips at the University of Missouri - St. Louis Job Fair.

 

Thanks to all who have purchased the “New Teacher Survival Kit”, and to those who have helped me improve the site through their great input!  I read every single one of your emails (and try my best to answer them all) because I know that it is YOU that has made newteacherhelp.com what it is today.  Next month’s topic will be “Misspellings & Mispronunciations That May Kill Your Chances at a Job”.  I think I will work on shortening the title before next month as well!

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