INSPIRED TEACHING
ALUMNI:
SAVE THE DATES!
AUGUST 21-22
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Join Center for Inspired Teaching and alumni from the past 14 years for the
4th annual
Inspired Teaching Alumni Conference
When:
August 21
3:00 - 7:00 pm
(networking, dinner, keynote speaker)
August 22
9:30 am - 2:00 pm
(breakfast, workshops, speakers, lunch)
Why:
Kick off the 2009-2010 school year right. Join fellow alumni for a two-day
celebration of the power of your profession.
Where:
THEARC
(free parking)
1901 Miss. Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20020
RSVP by 8/18/09 to Jenna Fournel 202.462.1956.
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INSPIRED TEACHER BLOG
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A Good - Bye.
Another year of believing, hoping, dreaming,
learning children.
Listening more,
talking less.
Adapting,
like a chameleon,
to their needs...
Read More.
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Center for Inspired Teaching is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that exists to ensure schools make the most of children's innate desire to learn. We do this by investing in teachers. Please visit our website to learn more about our philosophy, programs, and results.
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What will you learn this summer?
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Aaaahhhh summer. It's almost, or finally, here. Time to pack up the classroom and change gears for a few months before the adventure starts all over again.
Summers break happens for a reason. We need this time to refresh and rejuvenate so we go into next year excited and not burned out. We need this time reflect and remember why this is the greatest profession there is - even though it feels like the most draining at this point in the year.
So it's important to take a break, but during this magical time of year it's also worth considering how you can combine work with pleasure and invest today for a better quality of life in the fall.
There are tiny things you can do all throughout your vacation - things that don't really feel like work - that will help you feel better prepared and even more enthusiastic when school starts up again.
Look through our ideas below and share your own by emailing Jenna Fournel at jenna@inspiredteaching.org.
Happy summer to you from all of us at Inspired Teaching.
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Good Summer Reading
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Definitely don't put down the summer romance novels and bestseller fiction that make these glorious days on the hammock what they're supposed to be... but consider infusing your reading list with a few things here and there that get you thinking in a new direction for next year.
Inspired Teaching Summer Reading List
These are some staff favorites of the "teaching and learning" genre. Though not particularly "lite and easy" they can definitely get you meditating on your whole teaching philosophy.
NPR Summer Books 2009
This page is updated regularly with the latest and greatest in book recommendations. In particular the list from independent booksellers contains some intriguing titles.
Teenreads.com
This was an unexpected gem found on the web - a great reading list of books not on the usual summer reading lists for teens. Consider checking some of these out (there are several books in here that have been popular with grown ups) and think about bringing them into your classroom next year!
2009 Notable Children's Books
Here is the official list of ALA children's books for the year. These include books for younger readers through teens. If children will be involved in your plans for this summer, consider a trip to the library to check these out!
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Magical Box of Summer Momentos
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Wherever your travels take you in June, July and August, consider keeping thoughts of September in a grocery bag in the back of your car... Seriously!
Teachers are amazing collectors of all kinds of stuff during the school year - we keep the odd milk crate, toilet paper tubes, old magazines, scraps of this and that - and we turn all this STUFF into projects, bulletin boards, writing prompts, etc. Don't let your scavenging talents take a vacation this summer! Be on the lookout for all kinds of finds that can become the springboards for great lessons next year.
Check out some of our ideas.
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Summer Fun in Washington, DC
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If you're a teacher in the District (which most of our readers are) here are a few more things to consider for your summer adventures. If you're not from the area, consider similar resources where you live (or come visit!)
- The Smithsonian Museum of American History has reopened! There's a Family Guide available at the museum to get you started on a hunt for faces of American History. Be sure to see the Invention at Play and America on the Move exhibits.
- Visit the 43rd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall and see what new ideas and information you pick up. Themes this year include:
- The Power of Words in African American Culture
- Music in Latino Culture
- The Creative Culture of Wales
- The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage has free performances at 6:00PM every night during the summer. You may discover some new sounds to introduce to your students next year!
- Enjoy a movie on the Washington Mall. The Screen on the Green will feature free movies outdoors on Monday nights. We're not sure exactly how you can connect this to school...but we'll look for you there!
Special thanks to Deborah Dantzler Williams for this compilation!
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BECOME A FAN OF INSPIRED TEACHING
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Check out our Facebook page and become a fan of the organization.
Inspired Teaching is now on Twitter as InspireTeach. Follow us to get regular updates! These are new ways you can stay connected to Inspired Teaching and, even better, a way we can stay connected to you!
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