What comes first in a recipe for successful schools? The teacher, the leader, or society?

A former teacher candidate student shared this article on facebook today. I've always been at a loss for how to respond when future classroom teachers ask me what the key differences are between countries with great educational achievement, like Finland, and those that are not seeing great success for all, like the United States. While reading this article, my belief that 'great teachers make great schools' was challenged. I will definitely need to re-read this article and maybe invite my colleagues to a happy hour discussion about it... 

What if Finland’s great teachers taught in U.S. schools? http://goo.gl/hLa1b
"In many under-performing nations, I notice, three fallacies of teacher effectiveness prevail...

• The first belief is that 'the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers.'
• The second fallacy is that 'the most important single factor in improving quality of education is teachers.'  
• The third fallacy is that 'If any children had three or four great teachers in a row, they would soar academically, regardless of their racial or economic background, while those who have a sequence of weak teachers will fall further and further behind'."  

Everyone is both a teacher and a learner.

This TED talk by Stanford professor and leading computer scientist, Peter Norvig, reminds us to continue to be both teachers and learners.

Grant Writing for Literacy Leaders

Grant proposal writing tips:

• Research the funder.  Visit their website, review their IRS 990 (Form 990 is an annual reporting return that certain federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. It provides information on the filing organization's mission, programs, and finances.)
•  Make sure your project fits funder’s priorities. If you can’t find enough info through research, call or email the funder for guidance.
• State your specific request at the beginning of the proposal
• Allow yourself ample time to write the grant and have others look over it
• Be clear/concise (avoid “academic” writing)
• Avoid using terminology/jargon funders may not understand
• Describe the issue you’re trying to address in a local context (early literacy in MN as opposed to nationwide)
• Be clear about the impact your project will have
• Provide quantitative data/results if possible
• Make sure you can deliver on what you say in the proposal.  If funded, you should submit a report one year after receiving the grant – make sure you can report on progress/results!
• If funded, send a thank you letter/tax receipt right away, and call to thank the funder.

Links for finding grants: 

Teaching like it's 2999: This teacher blogger describes her process in acquiring a technology grant.

Grant Wrangler: Search for available grants for particular projects

School Grants at Grants Alert: Several specific grants listed including a handful specifically for literacy-related projects

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant: Next deadline is February 15th, 2013!

Target Grants: Target Corporation offers grants for field trips and early childhood reading grants along with others. 

Your district's community foundation: Teachers in my district fund projects like artists in residence and boys' book clubs. Links to these grant applications can usually be found somewhere on your district's website. 

Minnesota Reading Association: Grant deadline is February 1st, 2013!

Minnesota Council of Foundations: Although you have to pay a fee to have access to these grants, this link will take to the Minnesota Common Grant Application Form. Even if your grant maker has their own form, this form includes questions you are likely to see on others. 

Scholastic's Grant Resources: Another link to a list of grants

Education Minnesota: Although the deadline for this year has passed, this site has links to tips for writing grants along with 'do's and don'ts' of grant writing.