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Teacher's Journal
“Just to run that race takes a tough and hardy breed.” As an educator who weaves the Iditarod into my classroom regularly, I often fail to recognize the similarities in teachers and mushers… I’m too busy admiring their athleticism and adaptability to extreme conditions. But have you ever thought about the resilience required for an …
**Feel free to scroll to the bottom if you want to jump straight to the attached math lesson plan for September! Learning how to read a map and covering basic US geography is my favorite way to start the school year in social studies. Students look at maps more often than they realize such as …
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, autumn gently makes her debut. With the school year in full swing, there’s a shift in energy at school, too—both excitement and anticipation fill the air. Whether you are deep in the transition of seasons, or have yet to see a leaf turn yellow, I …
**Feel free to scroll to the bottom if you want to jump straight to the attached math lesson plan for September! The checkpoints along the Iditarod trail are more than just pit stops for the mushers and their teams. They’re like little hubs of life and energy in the middle of the vast, frozen wilderness. …
Teachers everywhere are either busy preparing for a new school year or recovering from the first weeks of school. Our first student day was on August 5th, so I am past the preparation phase and currently recovering. 🙂 As I have mentioned before, I teach in Indiana, where the interstate welcome signs say “More to …
**Feel free to scroll to the bottom if you want to jump straight to the attached SEL lesson plan for August! It’s a new school year, which means a new group of students who get to learn through the world of mushing. I love new beginnings and each year I enjoy growing from the previous …
Hi! My name is Maggie Hamilton and I am thrilled to be starting my journey as the 2025 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail(TM)! I am a 5th grade teacher at Burris Elementary School in Mitchell, Indiana, and I will be starting my eighth year next month. In my spare time, I enjoy life at home …
Iditarod family, this is my last post as 2024 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. It has been a wonderful ride and a life-changing experience for me. I have so many people to thank: Terrie, Jane, Linda, Erin, Jim, Whitney, Emily, Nicolle, Jennifer, Debski, Josi, Angie, Sara, and many others who took care of me and …
If you’re like me, you’re happy as a dog with two tails to be on summer break! It’s a great opportunity to refresh and dream of how you will use the Iditarod in your classroom next year. While we teachers have hung up our dog tags for a few weeks, future sled dog champions are being born this month! Go ahead and follow all the mushers on …
Now that the 2024 Iditarod is in the books, mushers everywhere are enjoying the summer with their dogs. Mamas are giving birth to adorable sled dog puppies. Mushers are traveling with their dogs to provide glacier adventures to tourists or getting additional training in the far north of Alaska. If you visit the Iditarod Headquarters …