Kuskokwim 300 and Rookie Update

Hi!

I hope this finds everyone having a good new year! I can't believe that

January is almost gone!

My rookie musher, Kent Kaltenbacher, scratched. The Kaltenbacher's

decided to scratch in the best interest of their family and dogs. They

have an opportunity to travel to Greece for 10 days this May to attend

a wedding of their "adopted" son. They decided to put the Iditarod plan

on hold this year. The Iditarod will always be there, the opportunity

to go to Greece doesn't come along everyday. As I explained this to my

class they began to see that mushers race in the Iditarod with varying

goals. For Kent it was probably finishing and for others it is to

win. Kent has been great to my class. The students and I have learned

a lot through his willingness to share his resources with us.

Martha, how about the Buser Guys? They did well in the Kuskokwim 300.

That is great!

Have a geat week!

Judi

Another website

Hi all!
On Martin Buser's site, they have the web address of the FAA webcameras in Alaska. A lot of the cameras are at remote locations, and several are at race checkpoints. They are pretty neat to view. Google either Martin Buser or Happy Trails Kennel to find his site. They also post photos and reports on that site; one photo in particular is great to demonstrate the long hours of darkness. It's of his son Rohn, preparing for a training run at 10 in the morning. My students got a really accurate idea of what a team looks like when it's running and the landscape of Alaska from the photos on this site.
Martha

Checking In

Hello everyone! Happy New Year! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable holiday break. I did. But now I am gearing up (both figuratively and literally) for my journey in Alaska. I'm starting to put together my winter educator's conference presentation and my Alaska school presentations. Also, I'm checking that I have all my gear and layers. I think I'm almost there! Luckily, I'll have a few days once I arrive in AK to have the "pros" look over my stuff and give me advice on what to take, leave behind, or get! :)

I can't believe this part of the Teacher on the Trail job is almost here. It seems like just a few weeks ago when I was with you all as a very NEW teacher on the trail.

I hope after my trip that I will be able to find ways to remain very involved in the Iditarod Education Department and work for the Iditarod. I can't imagine it not being part of my life.

I'd like to hear how you all are and what you are up to.

Wag more, bark less,
Jane

Two More Websites

Hey ya'll I have found more websites that help incorporate the Iditarod into our classrooms.
Some of you may have more than enough material and like myself just starting you may be looking for places . Anyway here are two addresses.

http://www2.grand-forks.k12.nd.us/iditarod/iditarod.html


http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson300b.shtml#lessons

Hope this is useful.

Tee

Happy Holidays! AND What is New?

Hello everyone!

Happy holidays! Hope everyone has been enjoying a wonderful holiday!

We've got about 60 days until the start of the race!

I'd enjoy hearing what you have been doing to get your students ready to follow the race! I'm looking for stories about what you've done with your rookie mushers and about any classroom lessons you've done or plan to do....

Please share!

(PS... sharing about what you've been doing personally would be great, too! How are you?)

Diane

Please ask your Rookies!

Zuma (the K-9 reporter for Iditarod, click Zuma's Paw Prints if you've never read Zuma.... ) got a GREAT questions today....

Someone asked if the rookies felt 'overwhelmed' especially with so many rookies having signed up for the race... there will be a lot of 'new' mushers on the the trail.

Does anyone have thoughts about this? Has your rookie musher talked about this? Will you be talking or communicating with your rookies soon? If so, this is a great question to discuss!

Diane

Information Please! Rookie Reports!

Hello everyone!

If you've read Zuma lately, you'll notice we've some new things going on in that department. Zuma is now a blog format. Zuma's responsibilities are fully in the Ed. Department now and authored by the Iditarod Ed. Department. If you are interested in assisting with that, let me know. I'll send you more information!

Zuma is also looking for some information about what our rookie mushers are doing right now.

This is a request for information and pictures of your rookie! If you have a current update--- or a report you never sent to me, I'd appreciate your emailing me this week. Zuma would like to write about the rookies and some 'inside' information that you may have....

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Diane