Hi Boys and Girls,

I’d like to introduce Linda Kal Sander.  Linda is a Reading Coach and District Trainer at Pompano Beach Middle School in Pompano Beach, Florida.  She is also a nationally recognized presenter of cooperative learning strategies and other areas including curriculum on an international level.  It sure sounds like she works with a lot of students and adults.  Her favorite thing to do is play with cuddly puppies and to read.

I asked Linda about a goal she set for herself.  She said that after reading a book by Gary Paulson, she decided she wanted to learn all she could about sled dogs.  While doing that, she started learning about the Iditarod.  After a couple of years of reading, learning about the Iditarod, and sharing her knowledge with her students, Linda decided she wanted to be the Target Teacher on the Trail ™.  She said it sounded so exciting.  She made it a goal of hers to fill out the application.  She completed the application and mailed it off last year (2007).  Unfortunately she did not get picked as a finalist.  Although disappointed, she had a goal and she was determined not to give up.  So she decided to go to Alaska, learn as much as she could and try again.  Look what happened- she made it as a finalist this year!  Congratulations to Linda for not giving up.

Linda has a new goal (besides becoming the TOTT ™ 2010).  This year Linda has set up literature circle discussions using high definition video conferencing between her students and students in Alaska.  Students were hooked up by way of television and discussed the book Dogsong, by Gary Paulson.  Her new goal is to “continue using this technology to connect students in South Florida with their Arctic peers for reading and learning”.

Linda has also promised to give me ear scratches and belly rubs.  How’d she know that one of my goals is to get as many belly rubs as possible!

Congratulations to Linda and good luck with your goal of becoming TOTT ™ 2010.

Happy Trails,

Gypsy