World Fellowship (January 2022)

Did you know that since its inception in 1960, the International World Fellowship Fund has grown exponentially?  From an initial award of $2500, a total of 1,029 women from 122 countries have received World Fellowship grants totaling $3,739, 250. Many of these women are Fulbright Scholars who apply to graduate schools in the United States and Canada. Total contributions as of June 30, 2021, to the World Fellowship Fund reached $4,158, 974.75. In the academic year 2021-2022, there have been nineteen awards for $4,000 given; four received $2,000 extensions and two received $1,000 extensions for a grand total of $83, 500 in grants awarded to 25 women from 23 countries. During the 1958-1960 biennium the current World Fellowship program began to take shape.  Since then, an agreement with the Institute of International Education allows IIE staff to review the candidates who meet our criteria and forward their applications to the World Fellowship Committee to select recipients for DKG grants to supplement their Fulbright stipends.

How can you help? Contributions and bequests to the International World Fellowship Fund determine the number of awards available each year from DKG International. To find out the names, email addresses and birthdays of this year’s WF recipients, log in to the DKG International website. Look under the RESOURCES tab. Find the link for Brochures/Flyers.  There is a PDF file that can be downloaded with the contact information for these accomplished young women. An encouraging email, a birthday card, a care package by mail—all would be appreciated as they continue their education with the goal of returning to their home countries to make a greater impact on the lives of others. Although some are future TESOL or special education teachers, others are studying nursing, law, neuroscience and civil engineering. World Fellowship grants are one way that Delta Kappa Gamma sisters fulfill our mission as leading women educators who are truly impacting education all over the world.

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Physical, Social, and Emotional (February 2022)

Exploring Ideas for Physical, Social, and Emotional Well Being

Finding your Hygge: With the bustle of the upcoming holidays and the stress of wrapping up a semester, the need to slow down and enjoy the moment is more important than ever.  Zeta members embraced this concept by engaging in a language lesson icebreaker focusing on the word “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah), a Danish term meaning “the ritual of enjoying life’s simple pleasures.”   Zeta sisters reflected on their personal hygge and shared the little things that they enjoy most.  Some hygge practices shared were forest bathing, having the first sip of hot coffee, journaling, sitting by a fire, and hand-writing notes to loved ones.

 

        Focus on the Arts (March 2022)

Kris Light is an elementary school science teacher and science outreach instructor for the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. Making jewelry from photographs of snowflakes was what Kris was inspired to do many years ago. She enrolled in a workshop 101 jewelry class and ordered $2000.00 worth of equipment. Her passion was making raw metal into jewelry. Kris stated that she enjoys working with copper but in order to put patterns on the copper she must hammer and get the copper real hot. The heating is only done if the copper is going to be bent and folded. Putting the patterns on is done with stamping or running it through a rolling mill with material. She does this for fun and enjoyment.

Kris also enjoys taking photos of snowflakes and uses photo prints to make cards. Her classes include: geology, weather, fossils, botany and insects, which incorporates her photography through her outreach classes. Ms. Light and her husband recently visited Mexico in 2020 to observe the Monarch Butterflies. In order to see the presentation on The Migration of Monarch Butterflies either use the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=8BFGgF1z9BU or Virtual Events. To view Ms. Light gallery work (where her pictures and information are located), visit her website www.EastTennesseewildflowers.com  and click on “Search all Galleries” link.

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Focus on Literacy (April 2022)

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting booksf ree of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Republic of Ireland. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over 1 million free books each month to children around the world. Dolly talks about her childhood in the following manner, “When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.” Several of the TNSO chapters participate in the program in one way or another or donate funds. Beta Beta Chapter focuses on The Imagination Library in their December meeting each year. From Judy Cross, Beta Beta Chapter: “Our December meeting focuses on the Imagination Library with updates on its status by one of our members who is the Chair of the Imagination Library for Morgan County. Members also share how this program is helping children in their classrooms. Afterwards, our annual Christmas Ornament Auction begins. Members bring in Christmas ornaments (one or more) that are store bought or handmade. One member serves as our auctioneer, bidding paddles are distributed, and the fun begins! We all enjoy this time of fun and laughter while raising money for a wonderful project. This past Christmas we raised over $500 in one night!

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Focus on Legislation: Dr. Krystal Kennedy (May 2022)

“Proposed bill to fill teaching gaps with high school students.” Have you ever read a catchy headline such as this and wondered about the source, how the author ended up with misconstrued information, or how you can change such a silly proposal? Media outlets often report legislative information in a way that focuses on out of context components and sometimes there truly are wacky proposals. The best way to avoid being tricked by the headlines is to know where to find direct information regarding legislation and being involved. There ways to be informed and involved on both a State and National level. Tennessee’s General Assembly website https://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/ includes all information concerning Tennessee’s current legislation. From the website, you can find your House and Senate representatives’ contact information by searching your area code; watch livestream and recorded legislative sessions; review calendars and agendas; search the Assembly directory and view Committee information; and browse bills (by subject or index). The website also has a feature that allows you to “track” a bill. The Education Committee’s website, https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Senate/committees/education.html, allows viewers to see bills that are to be discussed by the Education Committee along with their calendar. Keeping up with legislation on the National Level requires quite a bit more investigation. Thankfully, DKG’s United States Forum provides information relevant to education topics in the US. You can find more information by visiting the US Forum website https://www.dkgusforum.com/ and you can also join their Facebook page @DKG.US.Forum. Knowing your legislators and who to contact is an important step to taking action. Our Legislative Committee will be hosting their Symposium, Pep Rally, and Day on the Hill soon. This informative event will update members and encourage communication with representatives (see Leadership Links for more information). The US Forum is hosting a National Legislative Seminar March 6-8 in Washington, DC to allow members to ask questions and discuss concerns on a national level. Visit the US Forum’s website or Facebook page for more information.

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Focus on Early Career Educators (June 2022)

One facet of the EEC is the support of Early Career Educators. You can find several excellent chapter programs and projects in the EEC Corner on the state website. At an upcoming meeting, Beta Upsilon Chapter will be hosting three Early Career Educators who were the recipients of $200.00 mini-grants in 2022. These educators will each give a presentation on how they used the money for classroom projects, books, manipulatives, or other learning initiatives. The awards are funded by a chapter pecan sale. Beta Upsilon members are always excited to see the creative uses of the funds, and pictures of the children using the new supplies and materials. The chapter has also gained some members with the grant program. What is your chapter doing to support Early Career Educators?

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Focus on Community (July 2022)

One of our Nashville chapters demonstrated service to the community by partnering with The Pregnancy Care Center in Old Hickory, TN. The center provides pregnancy tests, pregnancy options information, incentive-based parenting education programs, maternity and infant supplies, and support for relationships. As a Christmas project, Beta Upsilon Chapter donated baby wipes, diapers, children's sleepers, learning toys, books, and a handmade baby quilt to the center. Over $250.00 was also collected to purchase more items to be used as incentives for women who attend the educational programs and to fill baby bags given to expectant mothers as they go to the hospital.

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The DKG International Emergency Fund (August 2022)

Recently at the DKG International Convention in New Orleans, LA, over $15,000.00 was collected for the Emergency Fund! What is the Emergency Fund? Following a 1948 flood that destroyed Vanport, Oregon, a plea for help in the DKG NEWS resulted in more than $3000 that became the Emergency Fund. The fund continues as natural disasters affect members. Contributions demonstrate the Society’s “genuine spiritual fellowship.” Members who sustain major losses from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and other natural disasters may be recommended by their chapter and state organization presidents to receive U.S. $500 from the DKG Emergency Fund. I am sure that many of you know members in your communities that have been recipients of the DKG International Emergency Fund.  Chapters can receive points toward the Maycie Award for Chapter Excellence by making a contribution to the Emergency Fund, along with other causes that fall under the DKGIEF.  This is just another way that our Society offers support to members worldwide. 

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Early Literacy: 5 easy things parents can do to support early literacy (September 2022)

Listed below are some good tips for parents to help their children with reading and learn to enjoy the benefits reading can provide for positive learning outcomes. 

Talk it up: Children begin acquiring language skills at birth, so parents should talk to children as much as they can, telling stories and cracking jokes. Children from lower-income homes may hear 30 million fewer words by age 3 than children from higher-income homes, (Stanford Study), so this could be a key way to close the kindergarten readiness gap.

Bedtime story: Reading aloud to children is a critical way to plant the seeds of literacy. Cuddling together with parents over a book every day helps children associate reading with warmth and happiness. Make this a special, fun time that everyone looks forward to. Ham it up with funny voices. Engage children by talking about the characters and getting their opinions on what makes a great yarn.

Don’t push it: Keep it fun and don’t put pressure on kids to sound things out before they are ready. Try to pick out books they like, even if that means books about farting or poop, and be prepared to read them over and over because children love repetition. Conversely, put the book away for a while if your child loses interest in the story or is having trouble paying attention.

Be arty: Try setting up an art and writing space somewhere with paper, markers and crayons where children can feel free to scribble or draw or color. This helps develop hand/eye coordination and motor skills that will be vital to later development.

Get messy: Toddlers may have more fun learning their letters if they can trace them out with their finger in shaving cream or whipping cream. Then they smooth it out and do it again. You can also use popsicle sticks to cut down on the mess. 

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  Leadership as a Component of Educational Excellence (October 2022)          

One of the topics that falls under the umbrella of Educational Excellence is leadership.  Our state organization does an excellent job planning and facilitating leadership development.  The current Leadership Development Committee, chaired by Dr. Linda Eller, has held two Beginning Leadership Seminars this biennium and is planning the Advanced Leadership Seminar for March of 2023.  Chapters may encourage members to participate and promote leadership opportunities for future leaders. The following information may be found on the DKG International Website under blogs for committees: While many of you are familiar with the leadership training that DKG offers through pre-conference training for incoming state officers and The DKG Ignite: Leaders Empowering Leaders Program did you know there is more? Yes, just by going to the international website (www.dkg.org) you will find information to help you to further develop your leadership skills. Once you are on the website go to Resources/ Leadership Lab. Here you will find hyperlinks to noted leadership experts like Susan Leahy, Mike Figliuolo, Sarah Sladek, and Amanda Gore. You will also find hyperlinks to webinars created by the international leadership development committee as well as parliamentary leadership information, advice for leaders on how to analyze problems from Gallup and their leadership blog, and self-publication insights from Gail Goolsby. Check out some of these resources for leadership development!  

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On Legislation (November 2022)

Legislation is one of the topics that falls under the EEC umbrella. Our Tennessee State Organization has an outstanding Legislation Committee that is active in providing forums to educate members and hear their concerns about educational issues. Ultimately it comes down to each individual vote. Voting is a simple action that carries much power. Women had to fight for the right to vote in our country and have overcome many obstacles. You can find informative programs in the EEC Corner Spotlight on this subject. Please participate in this important freedom by exercising your right to vote in the election coming up on November 8. Your choices can affect our democracy!

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Debut of the International EEC Newsletter

(December 2022)

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The International EEC Committee has created a newsletter called “The EEC Umbrella”, and contains information on educator tips, recent activities, mentoring moments, global facts, EEC Booklist, Featured Blogs and Articles, and International EEC Committee Member contact information. To view the EEC Newsletter, look at pp. 14-15 or go to the EEC tab on our state website. More information may also be found at www.dkg.org under Blogs and EEC.

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Focus on Mentoring

(February 2023)

Mentoring DKG members at all levels is critical for the sustainability of the Society. No one comes into the organization knowing about the workings of the Society so it is critical that we mentor one another. Mentoring can look different for each chapter and at the state level. The main goal of mentoring is to actively engage members and to teach them about our organization. It is also about teaching a member about a new office or position and then guiding her as she assumes that responsibility. Knowledge is power. Every inductee should be put on a chapter committee and/or given a specific task to do within the chapter. She will feel included and valued as a member. Pair a seasoned member with an inductee to help her learn about DKG and help her on her journey. Even a seasoned member needs mentoring when she accepts a new position or office in the chapter or on the state level. I have always said “DKG will push you out of your comfort zone, but there is ALWAYS someone there to help you.” Tennessee sisters are excellent in mentoring one another.

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Books from Birth

(April 2023)

The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) works to promote childhood literacy in Tennessee’s birth to age five population. This program was initiated to positively impact early reading skills and address the high number of children who enter kindergarten unprepared to learn to read. In partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, GBBF gives all preschoolers in Tennessee the opportunity to receive one free book a month in the mail regardless of income. The primary focus of this program is to address early literacy and its relation to long-term educational
success. The importance of having access to quality and age-appropriate literature throughout a child’s life, especially during the early years, cannot be overemphasized. Beta Beta chapter has a fundraiser every December to promote Imagination Library. The Morgan Board of Education has also made available the opportunity to donate to Imagination Library through payroll deduction each month. Hopefully more chapters are helping to support this very important initiative.

 

The International EEC has just published a

2nd Newsletter.