TeacherDrivenChange tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1584344 2012-01-06T10:36:02-08:00 California Teachers Association Institute for Teaching TypePad 2012-2013 Grant Program is Open tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55064508c88340167601521a8970b 2012-01-06T10:36:02-08:00 2012-01-10T17:19:44-08:00 The 2012-2013 Grant Program is open and IFT eagerly awaits applications from CTA members and chapters for projects and programs that demonstrate the efficacy of the strength-based, teacher driven approach to school change. Individual grants up to $5,000 and Chapter... Yale Wishnick

The 2012-2013 Grant Program is open and IFT eagerly awaits applications from CTA members and chapters for projects and programs that demonstrate the efficacy of the strength-based, teacher driven approach to school change. Individual grants up to $5,000 and Chapter grants up to $20,000 are available for next school year. The deadline to submit a grant application is April 30, 2012.

Applications will be reviewed in May by the IFT Grant Selection Committee, composed of teachers from around the state. Awards will be announced in June. In the fall (and again in the spring), members of the Grant Selection Committee will join IFT staff to visit each project location and to meet with team members to discover their learnings.

Project grants are awarded directly to CTA members, although the funds are administered by their local Associations in order to avoid any tax liability to grant recipients.

The IFT Grant Program emphasizes the importance of teachers in school change from a positive, strength-based perspective. Grant proposals are judged based on a strength-based matrix that includes the following seven factors:

  • Factor One: Future Oriented - Students have a dramatic, positive image of the future.
  • Factor Two: Work Oriented - Work is valued, purposeful, and relevant to students.
  • Factor Three: Student Centered - Emphasis is placed on learning over teaching.
  • Factor Four: School Family Relations - Parents as strong partners in the teaching and learning process are encouraged to be involved in their children’s education.
  • Factor Five: School-Wide Relations - All school stakeholders are responsible for the education of each student.
  • Factor Six: Student Relations - Students view other students as supportive and interested in their well-being.
  • Factor Seven: Results Oriented - Students understand strength-based thinking increases capacity and resilience to achieve goals.

The CTA IFT Grant Program is for CTA members, teacher teams, and CTA local Chapters. Below are important links for the CTA IFT Grant Program.

 http://www.teacherdrivenchange.org/teacherdrivenchange/2012/01/2012-2013-grant-program-is-open-.html Teachers Shaking Up the Conversation tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55064508c88340162fe1d3a61970d 2011-12-20T19:01:52-08:00 2012-01-08T06:47:30-08:00 CTA IFT Teacher Think Tanks are being formed around the state to focus on what's working in public education and what changes teachers believe should take place in our schools. Specifically, think tanks will provide teachers the opportunity to voice... Yale Wishnick

CTA IFT Teacher Think Tanks are being formed around the state to focus on what's working in public education and what changes teachers believe should take place in our schools.  Specifically, think tanks TeacherTTwill provide teachers the opportunity to voice their ideas on the teaching profession, public education, and the teaching and learning process.  Think tank conversations will build on what’s great about our public schools with the goal of making them even better.  Think tank participants will also have the chance to discuss factors believed to be important to the creation of a culture of success for students.

Factors Driving Success - The CTA IFT has identified seven factors supporting student success.  Grounded in student and parent interviews, teacher focus groups, and school-community forums, each factor emphasizes strengths over deficits, creating a teaching and learning environment where student, parent, and teacher assets drive the school change process. 

Think tank participants will help the IFT gain valuable information in support of a strength-based approach to school improvement.  The knowledge gained will not only help students but also provide practical examples in support of authentic school change.

Click on the links below to find out more about the IFT and the Think Tank Program.

  • Summary of Current IFT Program
  • Shake Up the Conversation
  • Teacher Driven Strength-Based Change Model
  • Teacher Driven Strength-Based Change Model: Description of Terms