Educator of the Year      

Teaching is the profession that begins all professions. When you think back to your days as a student, there always seems to be a certain teacher that had that special impact that made a difference. I can remember Mrs. Jones in college as my ultimate role model. She used to walk into an inner city elementary school in her pink Jackie Onassis outfit and wow the students with a poetry lesson. I thought they were going to eat her alive, but she weaved them into her enticing web of curiosity and rhyme and left them wanting more. I was in awe. Now I realize that she had the easy part doing one presentation and leaving the day-to-day maintenance to the classroom teacher. I have had both roles and enjoy being in a Mrs. Jones presentation style in this late stage of my teaching career. This "tuesdays" is dedicated to the teachers in the trenches trying to make a difference for their students day after day.

How can we give incentives to teachers? How can we help them to be entrepreneurial and design ways to increase their resources in the classroom? The all-time favorite gift to teachers is Donors Choose (more info below), but more and more business and organization are stepping it up for our teachers. The Orlando Magic Educator of the Year program recognized six Teachers of the Year from the surrounding district and are now letting us select one to received $10,000 for their classroom! One of the most entrepreneurial, student-centered, creative and tech-savvy teachers I have ever met is up for this incredible opportunity. She would definitely put the money to great use in her classroom with student-learning as the only focus. Let's give her the edge by voting every day until the April 2^nd deadline. Vote for Stephanie Middleton from Osceola County. I don't ever endorse contests or things like this, however, this exceptional gift for teaching is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kudos to the Orlando Magic for recognizing teachers for the important role we play.

One of the easiest things to forget to do is to say "Thank you." One of the easiest ways to make others happy is to say, "Thank you." Even though Teacher Appreciation Day isn't until May, I want to encourage all teachers with a big "Thanks." Being a teacher is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding professions in the world and no one can imagine the highs and low of teaching until they've walked in those big shoes. There is even a whole website dedication to Teacher Appreciation. Did you know there is a World Teacher's Day? October 5th has been designated by the United Nations' Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as World Teacher's Day. I appreciate all that you do particularly on a day-to-day basis. Make a difference!

How can you create a classroom with limited funds? Write grants, go to the PTA, SAC committee or parent group or participate in DonorChoose.org. I am going to set a little challenge! This is the mission, if you choose to accept. Propose a project on DonorsChoose.org within the next month AND describe the project on my blog with a link to your project and I will set a challenge on the DonorsChoose website. The advantage of the "challenge" is that it gives your idea a wider audience and a better chance to get funded. You do the proposal, I'll do the challenge. For those who participate in the next month, I will also do a random drawing and one winner will get $100 towards their proposal. I LOVE teachers!

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

Teaching is an art and a science.

ipadio   

LiveBinders 

Doceri 

NASA's Image Gallery 

Popplet 

Zoey's Room
Finance in the Classroom
Fotopedia 

The Common Good Forecaster  

Google Earth 

UJAM 

Symbaloo.edu 

Google Science Fair 

Stossel in the Classroom
Word Sift 

Lee Kolbert