Tundra Teachers

Tags

Bumsted, Cerebraloddjobs, Grassroots Science, YKAlaska

This list of teacher blogs started at Tundra Teachers November 10th, 2007 on my Edublog, I thought it might be easier to scan (peruse) if re-posted here.

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[updated] 2008-03-20
At one point there were few teachers from the tundra regions writing blogs. Few enough I could put them all into one RSS feed mix in the sidebar as I came across them.

• [Kangirsuk, Nunivik] Not Obscure (John Higham from Nunavik, Canada) http://notobscure.com/

• [Kongiganak, Toksook Bay, Tununak] Alaska The View From Up Here, (Brett Stirling who also writes for the Anchorage Daily News) http://alaskatheviewfromuphere.blogspot.com/

This year there are quite a few new teachers writing about their experience teaching in rural Alaska. All the blogs are different in their approach and frequency of posting. Some are interested in hearing from readers; others are not. Margaret Avugiak and Kendra Krenz have unique perspectives.

I haven’t run across anyone using blogs in the classroom, yet. The Shageluk school is using their website, instead.

• Shageluk school of birds

I wish more schools would use a blogging, especially WordPress.com and Edublogs.org, platform as that enables more communication between classrooms and between writers and readers. Plus, all the blogging platforms offer RSS feeds for subscribing; some offer comment feeds such as WordPress and Edublogs. (Blogspot.com or Blogger has too many hoops for ordinary folks who wish to interact with the authors. However, just about all the major blogging hosts are represented. MSN Live tends to be used more by missionaries. Xanga has too few representatives and TypePad tends to have Alaska journalists.)

Take a look at all and suggest others. The community names are in brackets [ ]. To view information about the Alaska communities, simply put the village or city name where the Xxxx are (case sensitive) in your browser address bar when you get to this link

http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_Name=Xxxx
For example, information about Bethel is located here: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CIS.cfm?Comm_Boro_Name=Bethel

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Alakanuk

• [Alakanuk] Diane in Alaska http://dianneinalaska.livejournal.com/

Jana’s Journey to Alakanuk http://janaalaska.blogspot.com/

Atmautluak

• [Atmautluak] Jerry’s Dream Come True, http://alaskajerry.blogspot.com/

• [Atmautluak] Tundra Teacher Tales, (Sue J. Nick) http://aan1atmau.blogspot.com/

  Interning at Akiuk, Kasigluk, Alaska. 2009-05-30 No longer interning but a graduate! Congratulations.

• [Oscarville, Atmautluak] Tundra Teacher Tales, (Kip Layton, Jr also writes for the Delta Discovery newspaper) http://tundrateachertales.blogspot.com/

Bethel

• [Bethel] Art Teacher in Alaska, http://alaskanteacher.blogspot.com/

• [Bethel] Tom & Andrea Go to Bethel Postcards from Bethel, (they also have a sidebar blogroll list of Tundra Teachers and resources for teaching science) http://learnscape.org/bethel

• [Bethel] Andrea’s Virtual Science Teaching Adventure http://learnscape.org/blog/

• [Bethel] Alisha’s Bethel Blog, http://alishaadventures.blogspot.com/

• [Bethel] Aug 19, 2008 North to the Future! http://goeok.blogspot.com/ another Jesuit Volunteer blog, but will be hosted with BABS (Bethel Alternative Boarding School)

• [Bethel] Oct 14, 2008 Adventures in AmyLand http://inamyland.blogspot.com/ Talent Search Director

• [Bethel and region] Sep 3, 2008 “The Great Alaskan Adventure” http://bethyinbethel.blogspot.com/

• [Bethel] Oct 22, 2008 http://keplerkids.blogspot.com/ What’s Happening A blog about Margaret, Kolin, Owen, and Spencer in Alaska. Margaret Kepler spouse of teacher

• [Bethel] Oct 22, 2008 “The Way She Goes “, http://brbethelak.blogspot.com/ b.r., I’m an itinerant CTE teacher in Bush Alaska.

Chefornak

• [Chefornak] The world of the Chicken Avenger (a Xanga user) http://www.xanga.com/wcbpolish

• Margaret Avugiak, (raised in the Village of Chefornak) http://avugiak.blogspot.com/ [Chefornak]

Chevak

• [Chevak] Oct 15, 2008 North to Alaska – http://annbender.blogspot.com/ Ann and Tom’s experiences in Chevak, Alaska. Ann Bender–Tom and I are both retired, sort of, and we are spending a couple of years in Chevak Alaska for the fun of it, for the challenge, and for a change. Hope we live through it. My former blog – the one that details our trip up here from Georgia and the first couple of months in Chevak is located at http://web.mac.com/annbender355/ I had load of trouble getting it to update, so finally gave up and joined Google.

Elim

• [Elim] Alaska = Home http://hikecamppaddle.wordpress.com/

Emmonak

• [Emmonak] http://richalaska.blogspot.com/ Richard Brisco

• [Emmonak] Katielong’s Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/members/katielong

• [Emmonak] Jan 28, 2008 http://www.travelpod.com/members/katielong Katielong’s Travel Blogs

• [Emmonak] Feb 15, 2008 http://richalaska.blogspot.com/ Richard Brisco,

• [Emmonak] 2009-08-25 Moose Droppings http://bob-moosedroppings.blogspot.com/ Bob

Hooper Bay

• [Hooper Bay] Sep 12, 2008 northwoodspam – http://northwoodspam.livejournal.com/

Huslia

• [Huslia, Norton Sound] Kristen in AK http://kristeninak.wordpress.com/

Kasigluk

• [Kasigluk] Out There(teacher, spouse) http://indefinitely.wordpress.com/ Peter Schneidler

• [Kasigluk (Akula)] Dec 20, 2008 The Substitute Puppy (I couldn’t get a dog, so I got a blog.) http://subpuppy.blogspot.com/ Kyle Marvin. The classroom blog is http://lksd.org/akula/Welcome.html/

• [Kasigluk Mar 4, 2008 http://victoriasjourneys.blogspot.com/, My Adventures, Victoria, I will be teaching 4th-6th grade and living in a house with no plumbing. http://classroomtag.blogspot.com/ Classroom Tag … Exchanging traditions, customs, beliefs, and other cultural identities. … Bringing together two classrooms that are separated by thousands of miles.

• [Akula, Kasigluk consists of two smaller villages, called Akiuk and Akula ] Nov 16, 2008 http://four2alaska.blogspot.com/ Four to Alaska (Ward Family) We’re moving to Alaska. Two teachers, two kids. Join us for stories, pics and news of our adventures as we leave Oklahoma and head north.

Kongiganak

• [Kongiganak] Rural Alaskan (Kendra Krenz raised in the Village of Kongiganak), http://ruralalaskan.blogspot.com/

Kotlik

• [Kotlik] Jan 31, 2009 “Pam’s Adventures in Alaska! ” http://pamcalyn.blogspot.com/

Kotzebue

• Keeping it Real at 66 Degrees North Latitude, Life the universe and everything 33 miles above the arctic circle. http://tundratantrum.blogspot.com/

Kwethluk

• [Kwethluk] Oct 14, 2008 Emily’s Teacher-y Blog: Going to Kwethluk, “Literacy Coordinator for the Kuspuk School District.”, http://publicationsteacher.blogspot.com/2008/10/going-to-kwethluk.html

Kwigillingok

• [Kwigillingok] Oct 20, 2008 http://sweatingthesmallstuff.typepad.com/sweating_the_small_stuff/ Lauren McClanahan, mostly not a teacher blog but there are recent posts about a student teacher based in Kwig that she is supervising from Washington.

McGrath

• [McGrath] Native Woman Educator http://nativeducator.blogspot.com/ Noel Strick

• [McGrath] Jul 8, 2008 J&M&8 http://jm8.blogspot.com/ Jeff and Monica Bauer

Mekoryuk

• [Mekoryuk] Radiate Warmth, welcome home to the fireplace of thought (Kale Iverson) http://kaleiverson.blogspot.com/

Napaskiak

• [Napaskiak] Dec 7, 2008 “Ay’atang’aq” http://yupikprincess.blogspot.com/

• [Napaskiak] 2009-07-19 Ben Hicok junior high http://noroadsleadtonapaskiak.blogspot.com/

Nunapitchuk

• [Nunapitchuk] Fervent Verve {aka Ramblings} http://careyalaska.blogspot.com/

• [Nunapitchuk] The Middle of Somewhere Teaching, living, and now gestating a baby in Nunapitchuk, Alaska http://smaccalaska.blogspot.com/

• [Nunapitchuk] Shibby’s Kinda-Public Alaska Journal, http://shibbyalaska.blogspot.com/

• [Nunapitchuk] Jan 6, 2008 The Middle of Somewhere Teaching, living, and now gestating a baby in Nunapitchuk, Alaska http://smaccalaska.blogspot.com/

Oscarville

• [Oscarville] Dec 5, 2008 http://erinkavanaugh.blogspot.com/ Getting There From Here
  Erin Kavanaugh, Erin’s Class Blog – http://eekclass.blogspot.com/

• [Oscarville] May 12, 2008 Miss Christina Powers http://misschristinapowers.blogspot.com/

• [Oscarville] Aug 25, 2008 “Getting There From Here” http://erinkavanaugh.blogspot.com/ Erin Kavanaugh

Quinhagak

• 2009-08-31 [Quinhagak] Far From Familiar Lynsey Hostetter [spouse]

Russian Mission

• [Russian Mission] Jul 5, 2008 Nastasia’s Window to Rural Living – http://yupikteacherinprogress.blogspot.com/

Savoonga

• [Savoonga] Oct 17, 2008 JBrodsky’s Alaskan JBlog, The adventures of a new teacher in Bush Alaska- http://jbrodsky.wordpress.com/

Shaktoolik

• [Shaktoolik] Apr 16, 2008 Teaching in Alaska, A young college graduate embarks on a year-long teaching experience in a remote Alaskan village. http://mrflarity.blogspot.com/

• [Shaktoolik] Apr 18, 2008 http://lindaskk.blogspot.com/ Linda and Bud’s Alaskan Adventure [a principal]

Shishmaref

• [Shishmaref] Mar 25, 2008 Northern Lights (Shishmaref school blog on WordPress.org platform) http://shishmaref.bssd.org/blog Ken Stenek

Toksook Bay

• [Toksook Bay] The Williamson-Logas in Alaska, http://otisandben.blogspot.com/ 2008 They’ve moved to Montpelier, VT, another great place to live but no tundra at that elevation.

• [Toksook Bay] Teaching in Toksook, http://dirksan.blogspot.com/

• [Toksook Bay] Jimmy and Kerri in Toksook Bay, Alaska, http://jimmyandkerri.blogspot.com/

Tuluksak

• [Tuluksak] Jan 26, 2009 Teaching In Alaska – http://www.teachinginalaska.net/ Joseph R. Costa

• [Tuluksak] Jan 26, 2009 Molly’s Weblog, http://mollydodd.wordpress.com/ computers, art, and study skills. There are also a series of class-related blogs on her sidebar.

• [Tuluksak] Aug 2, 2008 http://www.teachinginalaska.net/ Teaching In Alaska: A Journey of Self Discovery in the Wild North, Joe R. Costa

Tuntutuliak

• [Tuntutuliak] fouldsy.com (teacher spouse) http://www.fouldsy.com/

• [Tuntutuliak] AK Memories http://mariechristianson.blogspot.com/

Tununak

• [Tununak] Monica in Alaska, http://monicainalaska.livejournal.com/

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• [Arctic Bay, Canada] Nov 20, 2008 Way Way Up http://waywayup.blogspot.com/, A blog about life above the Arctic Circle………Way, Way Up!
• [Canada] Nov 20, 2008 The House and other Arctic Musings -, Clare http://kiggavik.typepad.com/ (semi-retired educator?]

• [Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada] Nov 20, 2008 Tales from the Arctic – http://arcticteacher.blogspot.com/ Kennie

• [Baffin Island, Canada] Sep 3, 2008 Tales of the Arctic http://arcticteacher.blogspot.com/ Kennie. Look, I-Quad, they have water trucks just like ours.
  

  Via– The high cost of northern living, http://benmuse.typepad.com/arctic_economics/2008/09/the-high-cost-of-northern-living.html, Kennie, a blogger (Tales from the Arctic) and a teacher in Arctic Bay on Baffin Island, went through the grocery store and photographed product prices to prove something to her incredulous friends down south: Believe me now? $37.89 for six cans of Minute Maid juice?

• [Kuskokwim region?] Oct 17, 2008 “Moose, Mosquitos And Bears…oh my”, Donna http://alaskanmisadventures.blogspot.com/

• Alaska Mentor Pat http://alaskamentorpat.blogspot.com/ “I work around the state of Alaska as a mentor teacher. I travel monthly to 8 different rural communities as well as working in Fairbanks. My job is to collaborate with first and second year teachers on their classroom practice.”

• [Lower Kuskokwim School District] Mar 25, 2008 Science News from the Lower Kuskokwim (another Edublogs) http://lksdscience.edublogs.org/

• The great white hype, (Jesuit Volunteers) http://sarahjones-thegreatwhitehype.blogspot.com/

• Aug 19, 2008 Kevin & Dusti’s blog – http://kevindusti.vox.com/ Somewhere in the Kuskokwim, I think. Doesn’t say where, yet. From out of state.

• Alaska Professor http://alaskaprofessor.blogspot.com/

And there is this school, not exactly of children, but definitely learning and interesting.

• [Nushagak [Dillingham]] Nushagak Kennels http://nushagakkennels.blogspot.com/ , 2008-11-01 Nushagak has finally become aware– and moved to WordPress.com, http://nushagakkennels.wordpress.com, 2007-12-27 Bringing the work dog back into mushing APRN.org news story from Dillingham

For another idea of what life in a remote school is like check out this news story. Be sure to read the comments posted at APRN as well.

Teaching in small rural schools presents unique challenges (mp3)

“The Lake & Penninsula Borough has 14 schools but only 370 students. The smallest school has 10 students K-12. The largest has 75 students. Small schools in secluded parts of the state resent unique challenges to teachers who have to teach multiple subjects to multiple grade levels. Anne Hillman, KDLG – Dillingham 3/14/2008 06:17”

• [Newtok] Oct 18, 2008 An interview by BBC with Grant Kashatok, principal, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7668163.stm

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