Academic Purpose

Iditarod Beginnings, or How Teachers Start Using Iditarod as a Teaching Tool

By Martha Dobson, Iditarod Educational Consultant Teachers rejuvenate themselves and their classroom teaching by trying different ideas, activities, and different techniques to catch their students’ interest and boost learning. The Iditarod is one of those different topics to use as a teaching tool to facilitate student learning. How do teachers discover the Iditarod, and how …

Message From a Teacher. . Why We Teach the Race

I was interested in presenting this lesson to my students as a way to celebrate the end of their state testing and to also introduce my students to the true meaning of self-sacrifice, commitment, survival, and endurance.  The project began with the documentary of Sven Haltmann to build background knowledge and to make a personal connection …

Messages From Teachers: Why Use the Race with Students?

I am the speech therapist for middle & high schoolers with severe disabilities.  (Grades 6 – 12) My teaching area is Speech Language Pathology. Our goal is to promote communication to gain information that is motivating to our students. Most of our students are non-verbal so in order to use their communication devices they need …

Educational Purpose Accomplished

By Blynne Froke, Finalist for Target’s ® 2012 Teacher on the Iditarod Trail ™ The real purpose of education in the United States, when it became compulsory in the early 1900s was to produce workers for the growing number of factories that the Industrial Revolution had created.  They needed workers that could be counted on …

Opportunity

Dictionary.com defines opportunity as a good chance for success.  Opportunities aren’t always apparent to us.  Sometimes we have to look for them.  When someone asks you to participate in an activity that you haven’t tried before it is easy to decline.  This week I was given the opportunity to go for a sled dog ride.  …

The Race to Student Success

Why use the race with your students?  Here is what teachers are saying. . . . While reading the story Balto, my students became fascinated with the journey and challenges Balto faced on his mission. Seeing their enthusiasm, I realized the incredible opportunity for learning. Project goals are aligned with the Florida Sunshine State Standards …

Reflections: Educational Impact of the Race

Educator Kathy Kent traveled the Iditarod Trail during the 2001 race.  She shared her experiences with her educational community and has since continued to share her experiences from the race with students and race fans.  Kathy contributes her expertise and helps other teachers reach and meet student needs through the Iditarod by sharing her projects …

Back to the Basics with Iditarod Based Learning

There are mysteries in the world, but WHY Iditarod WORKS as a tool to teach students, is no mystery. Teachers today face the challenges of helping students conquer educational milestones as they prepare students to ‘compete’ and succeed by shading in the dots on standardized tests to prove what students have learned or the skills …