Skype in the classroom for writing!

This past quarter my students have been able to connect with a class from Arizona via Skype. We wrote each other friendly letters and read them to each other. It has been a powerful learning experience because my students have agricultural backgrounds, use English as their first language, and have lived in a rural setting all of their lives. The students in Arizona are mostly ELL students who have lived in an urban setting all of their lives. They have been able to ask many questions and share trends and culture from both of our areas. I hope to continue connecting to more classrooms in the future. If you are interested please contact me at allisonbakken@gmail.com.

President Obama and NCLB from nytimes.com

Interesting editorial about changes to come. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/opinion/18thu1.html?src=me

18 teachers share what they are doing in their 21st Century Classroom!

MEMTA announces the next 200 teachers selected!

  (this is a picture of myself and Phil Mickelson this past July 2009, I was 7 1/2 months pregnant)

My cousin Nancy Meyer from MN was selected for the 2010 Mickelson ExxonMobil Academy! I am very excited to share my experiences with her!

200 Teachers Selected to Attend the National Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy (out of 1,270)

MEMTA 2010 selected teachers 

Web 2.0 in Education

Check out this web site for interesting resources about web 2.0 in education - collaboration is key and networking makes all the difference! http://ping.fm/MzHor

MEMTA PLN connections

The Mickelson Exxon-Mobil Teacher's Academy in 2009 gave me plenty of resources for data collection (Math) and Newton's 3 laws of Motion (Science), but it also gave a new perspective on my PLN (Personal Learning Network). I was lucky enough to again see a wonderful MEMTA participant in Seattle at the NCCE (Northwest Council for Computer Educators) conference. It was great to compare how we were using what we learned from our amazing professional development this past summer in our classrooms. What a great connection to have and hopefully Betsy and I will continue to stay in touch.

Waiting IMPATIENTLY to find out who made it to this years academy!

http://www.sendmyteacher.com/index.html