Paw Prints  = Anchorage ~ Lakefront Hotel (Iditarod Teacher Conference Day 1)

Exploration Feeling ~ Day Three = Brighter

Today was our first day at the Iditarod Teacher Conference.  It felt rewarding to know some of the lessons shared have already been exposed to my students.  I felt excited to know that there are still so many more lessons that involve hands-on learning.  I finally got to meet Jen Reiter, an educator in Maryland, that I have borrowed and tweaked lessons from over so many years.  Her file of ideas just got bigger today.  Annie McGuire reminded me of the Iditarod quilt themed project.  This is a must for me next year.  Jim Deprez, the current 2021-2022 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, continues to amaze and inspire me with more lessons that encourage critical thinking.  Jane Holmes and Linda Fenton had so many unique ideas, including reading titles and “Dear Data postcards.”   Martha Dobson provided us with a vet check overview to prepare us for the Alaska Husky Adventures tomorrow.  Lisa Wiley was awesome with her PE ideas.  Bryan Bearss provided a heart-warming point of view as a previous Musher on the Trail.  Thank you all for sharing your expertise and providing additional ways we can engage our students using the Iditarod based curriculum.

I watched a video a couple years ago about how we should embrace listening to stories from others, because everyone has a story.  What a shame it would be if we didn’t take the time to stop and talk to someone, because their story could actually make an impact on us.  That was what today felt like for me.  I listened to many stories that made an impact on me, both personally and professionally. I am so much brighter today because of this new community that is now part of my circle of contacts.  I look forward to the next step up that ladder of relationship building.

I do miss my family, school communities, and students.  I decided that I will bring them all with me on this Iditarod journey.  I will be taking Anchorage’s ambassador of good will, “Flat Seymour” with me on the rest of my adventures.  You will see that I have added my family, Ring Factory Elementary and Joppatowne Elementary to Flat Seymour’s ears and vest.  Wherever I go, I plan to take a picture with Flat Seymour so that my family and schools can also be part of this adventure.  

Prompt:   What does good communication look like?

Linda Fenton ~ Thank you!

Jen Reiter ~ Thank you!

Ozobot Teamwork

Bryan Bearss ~ Thank you!

“Flat Seymour” with my family, Joppatowne Elementary and Ring Factory Elementary in Harford County, Maryland