Teacher Tips and Tools

01/03/2010

Are You Seeking Grant Opportunities?

Teachers are always looking for ways to find grant support for educational projects, activities, or other necessary equipment for the classroom.    Perhaps this information will inspire a teacher to create a project that will help students achieve academic success…

Filed under News and Information, Quilt Projects, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/31/2009

Idita Read™

Join the Idita Read™ and race from Anchorage to Nome!
Click on this to use the Iditarod forms for your students.  Tip:  Ask students to save the forms to the computer.  Students can then type on the form instead of…

Filed under Idita Reads and Races, IditaRead™, Language Arts

12/29/2009

Language Arts: ABC Books

Creating an ABC book is an excellent way to combine research, writing, and technology skills.
Nicole’s ABC Book (PowerPoint)

Filed under Language Arts, Student Work Samples

12/29/2009

Yupik Art Project

Yupik Art Project for Classrooms!
Educational Journalist, Joy Davis, of Indiana recently engaged her students in an art project involving Yupik heritage.  Her basic skills class sponsors Mike Williams, Jr. who is a Yupik Eskimo.  To learn more about the…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, News and Information, Student Work Samples, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/28/2009

Back to the Basics with Iditarod Based Learning

By Diane Johnson
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…

Filed under News and Information, Research and Testimonials, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/27/2009

I KID A ROD Season Begins!

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
Educational Journalist Joy Davis of Indiana and her classroom paraprofessional, Amanda Dolan, continued spreading the word of the Iditarod while on winter break.  Only this time instead of teaching high school students they went…

Filed under I Kid A Rod, News and Information, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/26/2009

Iditarod Holiday Decorations

By Martha Dobson, Educational Journalist, North Carolina
Decorating for the holidays is Iditarod fun!

Click on the image to view a larger image.

Filed under Bulletin Board Displays, News and Information

12/18/2009

Pennies for Polio: Iditarod Style

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
* Editor’s Note:  Each year, thousands of teachers help students recognize the importance of service learning and volunteerism.  The race is an example of the importance of volunteerism.  Iditarod would not happen without the…

Filed under Service Learning Projects, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/18/2009

I Kid A Rod™

Hundred’s of schools are involved in I Kid A Rod™ projects each year.
An I Kid A Rod™ is an Iditarod race simulation.
An I Kid A Rod™  can be held in a variety of ways.  Some involve participants from…

Filed under I Kid A Rod, Idita Reads and Races

12/18/2009

Showing Support for Rookies

Educational Journalist, Joy Davis, of Indiana and her Basic Skills Class recently made support quilts for three rookie mushers- Pat Moon, Middy Johnson, and Tamara Rose.  The students helped in the design work and layout.  They learned about the mushers…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Quilt Projects, Student Work Samples, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/18/2009

Creating Classroom Displays

By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, Indiana
We haven’t had snow yet in our part of Indiana, but Educational Journalist Joy Davis’ Basic Skills Class is ready.  Well, at least in holiday spirit.
The class did research on the different dog…

Filed under Bulletin Board Displays, News and Information, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/16/2009

Iditarod Involves Teamwork! Teaching Does, Too!

By Sally Simon, Educational Journalist
In many ways teachers are islands unto themselves. They close the door and have a captive audience. They plan, teach, and assess. Sometimes they work with a colleague to create innovative curriculum, or have a…

Filed under Integrated Curriculum, Math, News and Information, Research and Testimonials, Social Studies, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/13/2009

Creating an Enriched Iditarod Classroom Environment

Iditarod is an incredible teaching tool that teachers incorporate into all content areas of teaching.
A teacher knows that creating bulletin boards that teach and display areas that spark the imagination and interest of students is essential to setting the…

Filed under Bulletin Board Displays, News and Information, Research and Testimonials, Teacher Tips and Tools

12/13/2009

Taking Iditarod to the Community

Our small North Carolina town has a strong sense of community—folks and their families have lived here for generations, and the town considers its schools, although part of a county school system, “their schools”. At the holiday season, our local…

Filed under News and Information, Service Learning Projects, Teacher Tips and Tools

11/22/2009

The Iditarod, Web2.0 Tools & Your Students

By Educational Journalist, Nancy Carroll, 4th Grade Teacher, MA
Are your students already talking about the Iditarod?  Sled dogs?  Mushers? Alaska? Engage your students in their learning by creating, analyzing and synthesizing different aspects of the Iditarod while using sites…

Filed under Games and Activities, Research and Testimonials, Teacher Tips and Tools, Technology Integration, Technology-Information Highway

11/21/2009

Maps of the Iditarod Trail

View a map of the Iditarod Trail
You may print the following maps for educational purposes.  Please THINK GREEN and use color only if necessary.  Laminate maps you print so they can be used again.
Iditarod Trail small map that…

Filed under Maps and Trail Information, Teacher Tips and Tools

10/29/2009

IditaRead™

An IditaRead is an excellent way to encourage students to read.
An IditaRead is held in connection with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race® —  the Iditarod Trail and the Iditarod Mushers are used as ‘benchmarks’ of reading progress for…

Filed under Idita Reads and Races, IditaRead™, Language Arts, News and Information

10/23/2009

Authors and Explorers Visit Schools

Shelley Gill:  Author, Explorer, Musher
Alaskan author Shelley Gill has written 20 bestselling books and her aim is always to inspire with adventure, educate about the environment and leave her readers with a sense of wonder. One of the first…

Filed under Guest Speakers

10/20/2009

Charts, Templates, Forms

Lesson plan template, chart to record race data, and more!
Using a lesson plan template when planning your Iditarod Based lessons provides documentation and assurance you are aligning your lessons to the content and/or cultural standards.  Click here for an…

Filed under Charts and Templates, Teacher Tips and Tools

10/12/2009

2010 Curriculum Challenge Contest

Attention Teachers!  Enter and win a prize for your classroom!
Teachers, you are invited to submit your tried and true lessons to be published on our website.  We are seeking standards aligned lessons and activities that bring the race to…

Filed under Contest for Teachers, News and Information

10/09/2009

Table Top Decorating Contest

Enter the 2010 Table Top Decorating Contest.  Win prizes for your classroom.  Be a part of the 2010 Musher Banquet that is held in Anchorage prior to the start of the race.  Teach ‘volunteerism’ through this service learning project.  Submit…

Filed under Art, Music, FACS, Indust Arts, Contests: Win Prizes, Service Learning Projects, Teacher Tips and Tools

09/20/2009

2009 Curriculum Challenge Winners

Congratulations to the 2009 Curriculum Challenge Winners!
Susan Flahive, Virginia
Dean Barron, Texas
Jeannie Wolf, Texas
Amber Baur, California
Eric Smith, Minnesota
Julie Howard, North Carolina

Lynne Witte, Michigan

View the winning lessons!

Filed under Contest for Teachers, News and Information

08/20/2009

Statistical Race Info

Use the statistical information in this PDF Document for lessons.

Miles to Checkpoints: Northern and Southern Route: (Estimation) Page 2
Checkpoint Averages: Years 2001 – 2009 Page 3
2009 Checkpoint Miles from Checkpoint to Checkpoint Page 12
Checkpoint Summary (Stats…

Filed under Teacher Tips and Tools

06/12/2009

Creative Writing: An Assignment for Any Grade Level: Lesson and Writing Sample from Students

Tom Russoniello, New Jersey,  understands that students are inspired to write when using the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race® as the tool for learning.  Using a lesson created by Kathy Kent, New Jersey, and housed on our website, Mr. Russoniello’s…

Filed under Curriculum for the Classroom, Language Arts, Student Work Samples

06/08/2009

2009 – 2010 School Year: Guest Speakers for Classrooms

Classroom Opportunity
Bring Iditarod to Your School! ‘Iditarod’ guest speakers will be visiting communities near you!  Read about these opportunities.  Make your plans.  Your students will be inspired and encouraged to do their best in school and in meeting their…

Filed under Guest Speakers, News and Information