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Tips and Tools
Temperature in Wasilla, late morning, 20°F, little wind Teachers want to know what works in the classroom to facilitate student learning and to achieve growth in their learning. The research-based document,What Works in Classroom Instruction by Robert Marzano, Barbara Gaddy, and Ceri Dean (http://www.leigh.cuhsd.org/teachers/pdf/Marzano_Strategies.pdf), is a good resource which explains the research behind classroom strategies and …
Mushers can leave the starting chute at Willow with as many as sixteen dogs and they must finish with no fewer than 6 dogs in harness. It’s true that some mushers finish with 16 but most drop dogs at check points along the trail. What happens to the dropped dogs? How do they get home …
(Keep on reading to find some ideas of activities for your students to do.) Mushers carry the following mandatory items in their sleds during the race. I bet you can make this list relevant to what students need to be prepared for their job of school. Proper cold weather sleeping bag weighing a minimum of …
North Carolina, my home, is a state with very different regions—the Appalachian Mountains in the western part of the state; the rolling land of the Piedmont where I live; the flat coastal farmland edging to the Atlantic Ocean. Snow frequently visits the mountains of NC, but not so often elsewhere in the state. Snow fell the …
The Iditarod and its race statistics make math real-life situations for students, helping them understand how math is used in everyday life. Use these math problems for practice, homework, extra credit, review, or in middle school at the beginning of class to focus students on an independent activity. Some teachers call these “at the bell” …
By Kathy Kelly *More than 30 years ago, educator Kathy Kelly recognized that the Iditarod was an engaging theme to hook students into reading, writing, and math. Kathy wrote an article for the Learning Magazine. A discussion between the magazine’s editor and Joanne Potts resulted in a suggestion and Iditarod providing the first ‘teacher’s tool’ …
Charlee Stevens, Educational Journalist, Germany Things you need to know: I teach Kindergarten on a military base in Germany. I have 25 children in class. They range from non-readers to about level 6 in DRA. My class is run as a company where each child has a job and gets a daily wage. They get …
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 …
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 …
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 …