“World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words and creates a community of readers taking action to show the world that the right to literacy belongs to all people.” (World Read Aloud Day Website) This Thursday (February 16, 2017) classrooms across the globe will celebrate World Read …
This past weekend teachers from around the country gathered in my classroom for the first ever Chicago Iditarod Teacher Workshop. The workshop brought together teachers from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Ohio, and New Jersey and what a great day we all had! Teachers began their day with presentations from Linda Fenton, 2013 Teacher on …
Over the summer I did a post about Alaskan animals. I was fascinated by seeing a moose, porcupine, and bear all in one night. After that night, I took what I saw and turned it into a language arts and science lesson. Along the Iditarod trail, and during training, a musher may encounter may different …
Each year the Teacher on the Trail™ gets to create their own patch and mine has finally come in! My patch was designed by my 4th grade student, Libby McMahon. Libby’s design was one of 35 submitted, and it was selected as the winner by the 3rd-8th graders at Saint Andrew. Libby’s design included three important things—an …
Severe weather, sleep deprivation, and animal encounters are just a few of the challenges of participating in the Iditarod. In Gary Paulsen’s Woodsong, he recounts his adventures in completing the Last Great Race on Earth! This book of memoirs is great for upper elementary and middle school students. It gives students the opportunity to experience …
This past Monday was a chilly one in Chicago! The temperature at the opening of school was -7*, and many schools in the Chicagoland area were closed. However, the weather made for a perfect setting for my Iditarod math lesson. This is a fun lesson that can be adapted for any grade. In the lesson …
Music is enjoyed by so many people across the world. From rock to pop, and country to classical, music is all around us. Music can tell a story, convey a feeling, or simply help us relax. The music in the Insider videos help us catch the feel of the race, while listening to Hobo Jim …
At first thought you may think there is no connection between the Iditarod, a sled dog race in Alaska, and Veterans Day, a day that honors those who have served in our country. However, there quite a few connections. In this lesson your students will explore how they can use the gifts and talents they …
Map reading skills are an essential skill for anyone to have, but in the Iditarod, it is extremely important that the mushers are able to guide the dogs to the next checkpoint and, ultimately, to Nome. While there are thousands of trail markers along the way, it is imperative for mushers to understand the route map and …
In many parts of the country, including Chicago, fall is a season full of sports! Hockey season is just beginning, college and professional football are well underway, and major league baseball is nearing the 2016 World Series, in which the students of Saint Andrew School are hoping to see their neighborhood team go all …
