Category Archives: Education

Former Special Ed teacher, curriculum consultant, and author Janet Hale

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Former Special Education teacher Janet Hale now works as a consultant in curriculum design. Photo credit: Documenting Learning

Many excellent classroom teachers go on to become successful educational consultants. One of these is Janet Hale, a former special education teacher who earns a living   as a curriculum consultant and author.

In her current work, Janet specializes in curriculum mapping; standards literacy and alignment; and documenting learning to assist schools, districts, higher-ed programs, and educational organizations with their curriculum, instruction, and assessment needs and improvement plans. In addition, Janet has written professional books  that focus on curriculum mapping, upgrading units of study, and documenting learning.

This accomplished educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Development from the same university.

Janet inaugurated her career as an educator at Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Arizona. She has taught students at several grade levels, which she asserts worked to her advantage. “Being the ‘last hired’ caused me to teach in a variety of grade levels and schools during my first few years, which proved invaluable because it caused me to learn how to adapt quickly to a new environment,” she says. “Likewise, changing grade levels from high school to middle grades to the first grade provided me with a unique insight into the need for a systemic mindset when considering students’ learning experiences during his or her academic years, which is a passion of mine to this day,” she explains.

Janet has published three books for professional educators: A Guide to Curriculum Mapping: Planning, Implementing, and Sustaining the Process (Corwin Press); An Educational Leader’s Guide to Curriculum Mapping: Creating and Sustaining Collaborative Cultures (Corwin Press); and Upgrade Your Curriculum: Practical Ways to Transform Units and Engage Students (ASCD).

To learn more about Janet Hale, click on this link to her website Curriculum Decisions.

 

Algonquin teacher Wowaus was also a translator and printer

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A page from the Bible printed by Samuel Green and translated into the Algonquin language by Wowaus. Wowaus was a Native American printer and teacher. Photo credit: Public Domain

There are many examples of Native Americans who have become talented classroom teachers. One of these was Wowaus, also known by the name James Printer. He was a typesetter, translator, and educator who helped translate the Bible into the Algonquin language.

Wowaus was born in Hassanamesit, a Praying Indian settlement founded by colonist John Elliot. The remains of the settlement are located in modern-day Grafton, Massachusetts. The exact year that Wowaus was born is uncertain, but researchers believe it was approximately 1650. Son of William Sudbury, an indigenous leader who converted to Christianity, Wowaus was a member of the Nipmuc Tribe.

As a child, Wowaus attended an Indian charity school where he became fluent in the English language. He went on to study at Harvard University’s Indian College. As a youth, he was apprenticed to Samuel Green, the printer who published The Cambridge Press in 1659. While there, Wowaus assisted in printing many of the books in the Algonquin language that were used throughout the American colonies in his day. He also helped create the first Bible in the Massachusett language. These Bibles were used by English colonists in their attempts to assimilate Native Americans of the Algonquin tribe.

During King Philip’s War, an armed conflict between Native Americans and New England colonists (1675-1678), Wowaus joined forces with tribal chieftain Metacom. Once the war was over, he returned to the printing press. His work during that period is most notable for his work typesetting the famous captive narrative of Mary Rowlandson. In his later life, the former printer returned to his home town of Hassanemesit, where he became a teacher. This intriguing historical figure passed away in 1717.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, you can click on this link to The American Antiquarian Society.

Celebrating the birthday of first teacher in space Christa McAuliffe

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New Hampshire Social Studies teacher Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, was lost when the space shuttle Challenger exploded seconds after lift-off on Jan. 28, 1986. Photo credit: NASA.

Today we celebrate the birthdate of Chalkboard Champion Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to go into space. I remember well the day she climbed aboard the space shuttle Challenger, with excitement and a huge smile, when it was launched on Jan. 28, 1986. In only my fifth year of teaching, I was so proud that a fellow educator had been selected to represent the teaching profession as the first civilian in space. I was more than a little star-struck by the professionalism, intelligence, and infectious enthusiasm of the chosen candidate, who was selected from among 11,000 other highly-qualified applicants.

Christa was born on Sept. 2, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from Framingham State College in 1970, and her Master’s degree from Bowie State University in 1978. At the time of her space flight, she was working as a Social Studies teacher at Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire.

During her mission in space, Christa planned to write a journal of her experiences as an astronaut from the perspective that even an ordinary citizen can take center stage in the making of history. She was to have been the perfect example of that. In addition, the intrepid educator was scheduled to perform lessons and simple scientific experiments aboard the space shuttle which would be viewed by students in classrooms all over America.

Tragically, Christa was one of seven astronauts killed when the Challenger exploded on that fateful day, just 73 seconds after lift-off. The journal she never got to finish was replaced by A Journal for Christa: Christa McAuliffe, Teacher in Space, written by her grief-stricken mother, Grace George Corrigan. This book is a tender tribute to an extraordinary teacher. A Journal for Christa can be ordered from amazon. I have also included a chapter about Christa McAuliffe in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and their Deeds of Valor, also available on amazon.

Former science teacher Lisa Niver to release her book, Brave-ish

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Lisa Niver, a former junior high school science teacher from Los Angeles, California, is a podcaster, sought-after motivational speaker, travel agent, and travel writer. In fact, she has been recognized as one of the top five female travel bloggers. And now, the former teacher is a published author. Her new book, entitled Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless after Fifty, is due to be released on Sept 19, 2023, and is currently on pre-order. To view a five-minute video with Lisa where she discusses her book, click on this link: https://fox5dc.com/video/1265427

Brave-ish chronicles Lisa’s expeditions to far-flung corners of the world, including Vanuatu, Nepal, Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya, and Mongolia. But her book is more than a travelogue. Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to nourish big dreams, take risks, and embrace the unknown in order to create an exciting and wonder-filled life, even when courage seems elusive.

Lisa has published many articles in online and in print magazines, including National Geographic, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, and The Jewish Journal. She was a 2012 nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. In 2018, she was nominated in three categories of the Southern California Journalism Awards: Science/Technology Reporting; Travel Reporting; and Personality Profile. To learn more about unique travel experiences, check out Lisa’s website at We Said Go Travel.

As for Lisa’s former career as an educator, she is well-known in science teacher circles for her instructional strategies that emphasize the use of technology in the classroom. She’s also noted for using students’ real world connections to explore their passions, and for teaching them to work towards solving today’s most complex issues. In 2009, Lisa founded the Los Angeles Science Teachers Network (LASTN),  a professional development network that by May, 2012, involved over 70 teachers and 40 schools. The effort was praised by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Elem teacher Dana Andrews named 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by Illinois State PTA

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Elementary school teacher Dana Andrews has been named the 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Illinois state PTA. Photo credit: The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Congratulations are due to Dana Andrews, an exceptional elementary school teacher who has been named the 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Parent Teachers Association (PTA).

Dana teaches at Twin Echo Elementary School in Collinsville, Illinois. There she designs curriculum to meet the individual needs of each one of her young students. She uses frequent assessments to help her design instruction that is engaging and promotes individual growth. And the benefits of her strategies are evident to all. Her test scores rank among the highest in her district.

In her practice, Dana places a huge emphasis on relationships. “Her love for her students is evident in her everyday interactions, observes Dr. Julie Haake, Principal of Twin echo Elementary. “She is always cheerful, positive and sharing hugs when walking down the hallway. Her kind nature and warm personality have students gravitating towards her when they see her,” Dr. Haake continues.

To help foster communication between the school and the home, she establishes a folder for each student enrolled in her class. Every day she adds questions, comments, or notes of praise in the student logs, and then she sends the logs home. Each parent is encouraged to add their own questions or comments and then return the folder the next morning. In addition to the daily comments, Dana includes a weekly schedule with the current week’s list of events, plans, and important reminders.

In addition to the communication log, Dana makes daily posts on the classroom website. These posts include pictures of the class activities, updates on the students, and they are currently learning as a class. Furthermore, each week Dana messages parents individually to keep them updated.

Amazing work, Dana!