A new school... a new adventure

So, it has been awhile since I have posted to this blog for many reasons, but the main one being that I have move country and school.  Now I am settled, I would like to get back to sharing my passion to integrate sustainability into my teaching.  It is hard to task to "start over" on this journey. Figuring out the new curriculum and ways to bring in the ideas of sustainability. It is something that usually appears with hindsight, so I'm trying to record these ideas.  However, the big thing that happened last week was finding colleagues (one in particular)who shares this passion.  She did a plastic initiative at her last school last year and went to a Global Goals conference.  YEAH!!! You have to find these people and get them going - Collaborate for the Goals.  So, we now have ambitious plans including getting an ES Eco-Committee started in January so that the students can start to make the impact.  We can take the existing ideas and resources and the school and add what we know to create great ideas.  I can't wait to get started and revitalize my teaching again with all these great ideas.  Will keep you posted. :)

Books!!!

I mentioned on Twitter (@LTeacher10) that I enjoy giving my students time to read a variety of books that are to do with Social Change.  I am compiling a Google Doc with the books I use.  It is continually growing and I would love your suggestions. 

Some ideas as students read the books:

Write a summary
Connect to a Global Goal with Evidence
Have them rewrite the story from a different perspective
How would it be different if ______?
Split students into different groups and have them read different books on the same topic (perhaps different time periods or locations) then have them share their learning and make connections.
What can we learn from the book? What is the author's message?

Global Connections

There are some great ways to get students involved in Global Connections.  Here are some of the ones I have used in the past:

Global Read Aloud

• around October
• choose a book/author study that is appropriate to your grade level
• connect with another class or classes doing the book
• read and share ideas!

Sibert Smackdown

• December/January
• informational texts are posted
• read and evaluate based on the Sibert Criteria
• share your classes observations with others through Twitter, Flipgrid, etc.

Slice of Life

• March
• A challenge for adults and classrooms to blog everyday
• Share your blogs with other classes around the world
• Comment on blogs from around the world

Class Instagram Account

• All year
• You can post pictures for parents if you want (make sure it is private and you inform parents)
• Follow world organisations and local organisations that interest you (example: local farm, WWF, Local zero waster, etc.)

@globalmathtask

• All year
• Follow them on twitter or just check their page to see the different challenges they post
• Solve the task as a class and add it to Twitter
• Show students other classes solutions through Twitter