Milestone

Later this week, I'll begin a summer series of global resources to think about for next year.  But first I had to celebrate this family milestone with you. 

Tomorrow our son (our youngest child) will graduate from middle school.  Next stop--high school.  As my husband says, "the journey begins now." 

Our son's journey is already in progress, of course.  And yet the move from middle school to high school is huge. So much more independence and focus and hard work lie ahead for him.  But he's excited, and we are, too.

The big world lies ahead.  We're filled with pride and hope. Thanks to all our son's teachers for their wonderful support and challenge!  

Global Teaching Articles on LEARN NC

Exciting to have my articles on global teaching featured on LEARN NC's home page.

For more information and links to the best practices articles, go to New on the Website.

More articles to come.  Watch here, and on LEARN NC.  

Europe Day

Coming up next week (May 9th, to be exact) is Europe Day, commemorating the occasion when Robert Schuman proposed the idea for a supranational European organization that would ultimately result in the creation of the European Union.

Are you teaching the European Union?  UNC's European Union Center of Excellence offers classroom resources for teaching the EU here.

You can also go to LEARN NC to learn more about Teaching the European Union and Using EUROPA to Teach the European Union , and  Teaching Contemporary Europe .

Bonne anniversaire, l'union européenne!

Happy Earth Day

Because there's no place like home.

"My Role in Creating a Peaceful World"

Looking for a great creative challenge for the end of the school year? 

The Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO are sponsoring a student writing contest on the topic "My Role in Creating a Peaceful World."  Students up to age 25 may submit an 800 word essay on the theme.  (There are separate sections for entrants up to 14, and from 15-25.)  Top prize is $1,000 and a trip to Japan to accept the award.  Deadline is June 30, 2010.  More information here.

And please note:  Students can write and submit their essays in English, Spanish, French, German, or Japanese.   Get them started now!

Volcanic Ash Plume

So a volcano in Iceland blows its top and airports all over Europe shut down.  The tiny grit of volcanic ash, we've learned, can destroy plane engines in flight.  (Here's NASA's photo from yesterday, showing the plume headed toward northern Scotland.)

 
You can track the plume here.  Great integrated lesson on earth science, geography, and engineering!

And, by the way, the name of the volcano is Eyjafjallajökull.  That's pronounced "AYA-fyatla-jo-kutl."

(Or you can just say "the volcano in Iceland.")

EOCs and EOGs are coming

Those tests are coming up fast.  Pencils ready?

Are you just a little worried that you should have spent less time on global teaching and more time teaching to the test?  Don't be.  If you've been conscientious about opening the world to your class, chances are you've been more than conscientious about preparing them to show their skills on the test.

Remember that many non-fiction reading selections on language arts tests are drawn from social studies (particularly themes on world regions).  This goes for the ACT and SAT, too.

Remember that global learning goes across the curriculum, and is an ideal curriculum integrator.  Yes, you can teach math and science and global awareness.  (And you do.)

Remember that global learning enhances literacy, critical thinking, and technology skills that are crucial for success in the 21st century (as well as for the test). 

And remember you still have time to do some old fashioned test prep, if you want.  Just don't forget global connections!