#fundforteachers

[fundforteachers]

Happy Veteran’s Day!

In honor of our favorite veteran (and FFT founder, Raymond Plank) and all those who served, we proudly share several FFT Fellows' pursuit of learning that  introduces the next generations to those who helped secured their freedom:

Chicago teacher Dan Lundak, who retraced his grandfather’s participation in the D-Day invasion to give students a personal story they can relate to when facing similar decisions about personal sacrifice;

Iraqi War veteran and FFT Fellow Scott Glew, whose research of the World Wars resulted in a new Global Studies course called Conflict & Cooperation;

Alabama teachers Tracy Boland and Tammy Guthery, who learned about Pearl Harbor from a 98-year-old survivor of the attack; and

Houston teacher Jeff Walker, whose documentation of “The Gipper” resulted in a published biography.

After graduating from Yale University in 1944 with a bachelor of arts degree, Raymond served with the U.S. Army Air Corps as a bomber pilot in the South Pacific Theater of Operations against Japan during World War II. Raymond compared his feelings for Fund for Teachers, which he founded in 2001, to standing on a hot Texas airstrip during World War II:

“It just makes me tingle with pride at being part of it,” he said. “I’ve always felt that teachers deserved considerably more recognition and respect. We need more balance in our society and you get that balance and added dimension by impacting teachers’ lives.”

Read this letter sent to Raymond from another FFT Fellow who researched our veterans’ sacrifice, thanking him for his service and for his legacy with Fund for Teachers.

#veteransday #veteran'sday #usma #goarmy #semperfi #pearl harbor #The Gipper #teacher leaders #teacher grant #teacher resources #teacher fellowship #SSchat #APUSH #fundforteachers #FFTFellow #education #military #duty #honor #profdev

[mrsalmonandtheseaturtles-blog]

Signs on Tortuga Bay informing visitors of the green sea turtle nests #💚🐢 #fft #fftfellow #fundforteachers #daliogrants #seaturtles #hartfordpublicschools #hpsteacher #galapagos #tortugabaygalapagos #tortugabay (at Playa Tortuga Bay)

#fft #galapagos #hartfordpublicschools #fftfellow #seaturtles #hpsteacher #tortugabay #💚🐢 #fundforteachers #daliogrants #tortugabaygalapagos

[alltheworldsabloggin-blog]

Ms. McAdams in her happiest of happies and nerdiest of nerdies! I'm holding an actual slew of tickets to see Shakespeare this week. #fundforteachers, you make dreams come true! I am so inspired for the #ps264dramadepartment 2017/18 season. #fftfellow #owlbertshakespeare (at RSC Royal Shakespeare Theatre)

#fundforteachers #fftfellow #ps264dramadepartment #owlbertshakespeare

[finkelmom-blog]

Here I am at my senior prom with Erika, my travel buddy. She went off to Israel and I went off to the University of Pennsylvania. Sunday we'll be off to Berlin for the start of my Fund for Teachers fellowship.

#fftfellow #fundforteachers #Prague #literacy #k-12education #Berlin

[thegloballocal]

“What we know is a drop. What we don’t know is an ocean” -Sir Isaac Newton (Read more👇🏻)⠀ .⠀ .⠀ Just a pic from my liveaboard experience with @deepseadiversden sponsored by @fundforteachers in the Great Barrier Reef in 2015. This is Byron, a dive guide, showing off a tiny #nudibranch in his hands to us. Nudibranchs are the most adorable, colorful little 🐚-less molluscs. Their name means “naked gills” from the combined Latin words (nudus=naked; brankhia=gills). So basically this flamboyant critter’s insides are just flapping around.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #cairns (at Great Barrier Reef (Australia))

#mondayblues #marinemonday #scubadiving #gopro #diverdown #marinelife #greatbarrierreef #nudibranch #oceanminded #travelawesome #goprodive #queensland #oceanconservation #sealife #oceanacidification #underwaterphotography #australia #underwater #exploremore #marinebiology #saltyscience #underwaterlove #gbr #scuba #exploretnq #australiagram #cairns #coralreef #bucketlist #snorkel

[joceyrivera-blog]

The journey is about to begin.

On Wednesday, August 10th Laura Newman (second grade special education teacher at the Henderson K-12 Lower School) and I (Jocelyn Rivera, first grade general education teacher at the Henderson K-12 Lower School) will board a flight to St. Croix, USVI to begin our Fund for Teachers Fellowship. We have been preparing for this Fellowship/adventure to the Caribbean by taking a SCUBA Open Water course and writing lesson plans for teaching our students about sea turtles and the coral reef. Laura spent a week in July at the New England Aquarium learning how to teach young children about Ocean Science, a course I also took in 20014. We will be completing our SCUBA lessons so we can observe sea turtles and their ocean habitat, the coral reef first hand. Along with our underwater adventures, we plan to volunteer with The Nature Conservancy with their Sea Turtle Monitoring Program. As citizen scientists we will be working alongside marine biologist, Kemit-Amon Lewis monitoring the East End beaches for sea turtles nesting. With first hand experience doing the work of scientist helping a beloved species, the sea turtle, we will have lots to share with our students who are also ocean lovers, animal lovers and - KHOA’s - Kids Helping Ocean Animals. Stay tuned for more on our adventures!

#Kidshelpingoceananimals #fundforteachers #oceanambassadors

[msbandmslitmanbula]

Supermarket Showdown- FIJI style! Today we stopped at a supermarket in Suva. Here are some Math Challenges: 1. If Ms. B purchased 2 packs of toilet paper, one bottle of Sunquik Orange juice and one bag of Bongos( like Cheese Doodles) how much did she spend? Calculate it in Fijian dollars and US dollars. Remember that 1 US dollar is equal to 2 Fijian dollars! 2. Grade 7/8- I will get Mr Anderson to give you extra credit for this one... If Ms. Litman buys three of each item and has a coupon for 15% off her total purchase, how much would she pay in Fijian dollars?

#fftfellow #fundforteachers

[fundforteachers]

Per a proclamation by the United Nations, today is World Science Day for Peace & Development -- an apropos time to highlight the fellowship of Emily Hart, chemistry teacher at KIPP NYC College Prep High School in the Bronx.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates this day in order "to underscore the role scientists play in broadening our understanding of the remarkable, fragile planet we call home and in making our societies more sustainable." Similarly, the focus of Emily's FFT fellowship was to study the debilitating effects of acid rain and other environmental factors on archaeological sites in Greece.

"I designed a fellowship to explore Greece's ancient archaeological sites and learn from experts in the field of conservation and restoration," said Emily. "These sites provide a unique opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the chemical processes behind the decomposition of these magnificent structures caused by environmental factors such as acid rain. The powerful combination of chemical change and historical relevance at these ancient sites is now capturing students' interest in chemistry as never before."

During her fellowship, Emily met with one of only 22 conservators on the Acropolis, learning in one of the small office buildings next to the Parthenon. She also secured a back stage visit through the collections and laboratories at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, known to be the leader for conservation efforts of ancient Greek art and cultural pieces. To transfer her experiences to the classroom, Emily is planning to host an "Effort Olympics" simultaneous to the Winter Olympics in February. Students will display research and findings related to authentic experiences applying acid-based chemistry and be awarded medals in various categories.

"Students will be busy researching the composition of acid rain using the EPA website and investigating the chemical reaction of acid rain and limestone (the common component of Greek sites) through a multi-day lab activity." said Emily. "The plan is for them to then set up a simulation of decomposition using the scientific method to see in real time the effects of acid rain on calcite (a mineral that comprises limestone). In their conclusion, students will compare and contrast this chemical reaction to others we have discussed. Also, students will complete a comprehensive analysis citing data to explain how acid rain is an urgent problem and provide suggestions on what society should do about it. This lab report will assess students’ ability to complete scientific writing, using the evidence collected to explain a real world phenomena."

"I love how chemistry has the ability to explain different phenomena like acid rain and how something that we might think isn't important has the ability to change history and a person’s whole way of living," said Jasmine, one of Emily’s students. Another student, Maya, added: "I've always been interested in biochemistry, so the story how the site of Akrotiri was preserved is fascinating. I like learning about history and this project will be a cool way to combine my knowledge, getting the best of both worlds."

UNESCO would be so pleased to see this international day honored throughout the school year by Emily and her students!

#FFTFellow #fundforteachers #UNESCO #SciChat #United Nations #Susty #acid rain #art history #Greece #Ancient Greece #chemistry #APChem #environmental science #profdev #NSTA #World Science Day for Peace & Development

[mrsalmonandtheseaturtles-blog]

Sleeping beauty-a green sea turtle at rest #💚🐢 #fft #fftfellow #fundforteachers #hartfordpublicschools #hpsteacher #daliogrants #seaturtles #greenseaturtle #galapagosislands #islaisabela (at Puerto Villamil, isla Isabela, islas Galápgo)

#galapagosislands #hpsteacher #hartfordpublicschools #islaisabela #fftfellow #daliogrants #fft #seaturtles #greenseaturtle #fundforteachers #💚🐢

[alltheworldsabloggin-blog]

#Greece, you've been a gift in every way. From challenging me as a teacher and actor to filling up my brain with so much new insight, beauty and creativity. I am most grateful for the amazing humans and creatures I got to meet and befriend! On to the next adventure. #fftfellow #ps264dramadepartment #owlbertgoesgreek🇬🇷 #fundforteachers (at Athens, Greece)

#owlbertgoesgreek🇬🇷 #ps264dramadepartment #fundforteachers #fftfellow #greece

[finkelmom-blog]

Why The Creativity Workshop?

The Creativity Workshop in Prague is a unique professional growth and learning experience that will expose me to new ideas in literature, performing and visual arts, and writing that I can bring back to my classroom and school community. It will provide opportunity for me to grow as an individual, as well as to develop new ideas and strategies for my students. The workshop offers opportunities to develop creativity, collaborate with other educators, and explore new artistic and creative avenues.

This workshop will have a significant impact on my literacy instruction. Part of reaching diverse learners is being able to differentiate instruction. By tapping into my own creativity, I will be able to break out of the comfort zone of familiar lessons and ideas and find new and varied ways to motivate my students. Many of my students have difficulty generating original ideas, whether due to a learning disability, communication disorder, lack of previous literacy experiences, or fear of failure. Opening my mind to new concepts and ways of thinking will enable me to better reach my students.

Creativity helps children solve problems and overcome challenges. It is a necessary ability to successfully undertake inquiry-based projects and explorations, be open to new and diverse perspectives, and develop independence and self confidence.

#FFTFellow fundforteachers Creativityworkshop literacy k-12education Prague

[mreckstrominhaiti-blog1]

For those of you who haven’t heard, I’m going to Haiti!  I received a grant from the Fund For Teachers, an organization that gives money to teachers who want to enrich their teaching practice through travel.  From July 6th to August 1st, I will be traveling in Haiti to learn about the history, politics, language, religion and culture of Haiti.  The reason I chose Haiti is that the majority of my students are Haitian.  I will be traveling with UMass Boston professor Marc Prou. Marc is the head of the Africana Studies department at UMass Boston, and he also leads the Haitian Creole Language Institute that I have been participating in to prepare for my trip.  During the trip, I will visit the hometowns of some of my students, and meet their families and explore the community.  I will be seeing as much as is possible in 26 days, from north to south and city to countryside.  After the trip, I will be able to bring my new knowledge back to my school.  Thanks for following the blog, and I hope that you learn something about Haiti along with me!

#fundforteachers

[geoexplorers]

Orientation meeting. We feel so official now. Checks in the bank, reservations are made... countdown is on!

#fundforteachers

[msbandmslitmanbula]

This sign was made by 5th graders LITERALLY the moment we found out we were accepted to go to Fiji in July! 

Ms. B and I are proud to be 2015 Fund for Teachers Fellows. Fund for Teachers is an organization that helps teachers learn about topics that are really interesting to them and that they want to share with their students. We worked really hard on our application and had to wait for 3 months to find out if we were accepted or not. The day before Spring Break, we got the email we had been anxiously waiting for- WE ARE GOING TO FIJI!

#fundforteachers #fiji

[mrsalmonandtheseaturtles-blog]

My passport is feeling the love from the Charles Darwin Research Center 💚🐢 #fft #fftfellow #fundforteachers #daliogrants #hartfordpublicschools #hpsteacher (at Estacion Cientifica Charles Darwin)

#fundforteachers #fftfellow #daliogrants #fft #hartfordpublicschools #hpsteacher

[alltheworldsabloggin-blog]

Life goal of seeing the Theater of Dionysos = Check! This is the very theater the famous playwrights of earliest recorded theatre shared their works! This where the festival we talked about took place! I cannot wait to create an outdoor theatre festival with #ps264dramadepartment! #fftfellow #fundforteachers #owlbertgoesgreek🇬🇷 (at Acropolis of Athens)

#fftfellow #owlbertgoesgreek🇬🇷 #fundforteachers #ps264dramadepartment