Working together 2 make a difference

Educators working collaboratively

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Working Together 2 Make a Difference is a community for educators, parents, and students who are involved in volunteerism and service learning. Our goal is to create and nurture connections that will provide all of us inspiration and support as we strive to give back to our local and global communities. Please join us in that mission by registering as a participant, sharing what you are up to, and engaging others in conversation here. We're looking forward to getting to know you!

Jenny Luca
Head of Information Services
Toorak College, Mt.Eliza
Melbourne, Australia.
http://jennylu.wordpress.com

Angela Stockman
Director
WNY Young Writers' Studio and WNY Education Associates
Buffalo, New York
United States of America
http://www.angelastockman.com/blog

Mike Poluk
Elementary Teacher (K-8)
Algoma District School Board
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
http://www.mikepoluk.com

Blog Posts

Mike Poluk

The Kick-off of our Making A Difference Program

I haven't blogged on this space for a while, and I certainly apologize for my lack of activity, but I've had an interesting start to my school year nonetheless. District-wide reorganization has resulted in me teaching in three different classrooms in term 1. Although this has disrupted the flow that I would normally be striving for at this time of the year, things have settled to the point where I have been able to begin to integrate service learning into the curriculum, and my students and I wi… Continue

Posted by Mike Poluk on November 23, 2009 at 5:07am — 2 Comments

Kristin Marie Smith

Becoming family after Three Cups of Tea

Greg Mortenson began a positive chain reaction of events when he met the poeple of Korphe, Pakistan by chance as a result of almost perishing on the mountainside of K2. Never heard of Korphe? Try using Google Earth to find it and the program tells you it does not exist. K2? Well, it's only the second tallest peak in the world, challenging the most experienced climbers, admitting only a precious few to its elite club of successful scalers.

While Greg failed to realize his dream of honoring his s… Continue

Posted by Kristin Marie Smith on November 22, 2009 at 12:05am

Kristin Marie Smith

Reflecting on Three Cups of Tea

Greg Mortenson began a positive chain reaction of events when he met the poeple of Korphe, Pakistan by chance as a result of almost perishing on the mountainside of K2. Never heard of Korphe? Try using Google Earth to find it and the program tells you it does not exist. K2? Well, it's only the second tallest peak in the world, challenging the most experienced climbers, admitting only a precious few to its elite club of successful scalers.

While Greg failed to realize his dream of honoring his s… Continue

Posted by Kristin Marie Smith on November 22, 2009 at 12:00am

Rob Currin

The state of the Global Poetry Project

When I approached Angela and Jenny about hosting the Global Poetry Project on the Working Together 2 Make a Difference Ning I envisioned a nurturing environment that allowed poets to share their work, expand their cultural awareness and become a part of something bigger through their writing. Thanks to a good deal of communication that led to an alignment of visions, that environment is starting to grow. So far, it’s not the rapid growth of the Global Poetry Project that has impressed me the mos… Continue

Posted by Rob Currin on November 21, 2009 at 11:25pm — 2 Comments

Angela

The Charter for Compassion

Over the weekend, I had a very long conversation with someone I love about the wars that have been waged over religion. It was suggested that no wars are ever truly about this but that religious differences always provide a convenient cover story for struggles that have everything to do with our quest for power. I'm still chewing on that a bit--it is a compelling argument to consider. Today, I began learning about the Charter for Compassion. The conversation that took place this weekend came rus… Continue

Posted by Angela on November 14, 2009 at 12:01am — 3 Comments

Erin B. Tryka

Three Cups of Tea

Right now Kristin Smith and I are reading Three Cups of Tea with our 8th graders. They are truly enjoying it and learning to break down their sterotypes and prejudices towards Muslims. It is wonderful! We'll keep you posted. Our plan is to have students raise awareness and funds for Pennies for Peace and to do a letter writing campaign as well!

Posted by Erin B. Tryka on November 2, 2009 at 11:00pm — 9 Comments

Angela

Building Community

Establishing a new online community is an exciting venture. We've been happy and comfortable watching activity begin to bubble up in small but meaningful ways here and eager for this to evolve as a true community that isn't really led by any one person. This is a learning experience for all of us. Discovering how to engage purposefully with one another is a big part of that learning.

Sometimes, when we are new to engaging in online spaces, we aren't sure what the expectations are or how to part… Continue

Posted by Angela on November 1, 2009 at 2:30am — 2 Comments

Amanda Ritter

Students choose their outfits


Students volunteered to be models and then they went through the racks and racks of donated clothes to find their perfect outfit for the fashion parade:

… Continue

Posted by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:38am

Amanda Ritter

Thankyou Letter from Fitted for Work

How nice it is to get a written 'thankyou' and this one certainly goes above and beyond! The writer linked her thanks to our school values - that's a project in itself!! This letter was to our Principal:

On behalf of Fitted for Work Mornington Peninsula I would like to extend my thanks to the Toorak College community for its work in supporting the launch of the FFW service in Frankston. Fitted for Work assists disadvantaged women by providing them with free clothing to attend job interviews,… Continue

Posted by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:30am

Amanda Ritter

Fitted For Work

Fitted for work raises funds and collects second hand clothing to train women in work and interview skills and fit them out in work attire so they can attend a job interview. It is a fantastic cause and my students got behind it in a big way. This is the script from the launch night for their new Frankston store:

Fitted for Work Toorak College Fashion Parade Script

The Year 11 Business management class ran some small business ventures at half year for one of their major proje… Continue

Posted by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:00am — 2 Comments

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Forum

katieb

So far with NAL-E 3 Replies

Started by katieb. Last reply by Jenny Luca Nov 13.

Mary Best

Food (or Love) for Thought

Started by Mary Best Nov 10.

Angela

Welcoming and Connecting With the Members of the Global Poetry Project Group

Started by Angela Nov 4.

 
 

About

Jenny Luca Jenny Luca created this Ning Network.

Latest Activity

Angela left a comment for David Miller
8 hours ago
Angela replied to Molly Sievenpiper's discussion 'Trees' in the group The Global Poetry Project
Your last line is unexpected--wow. This could be speaking to so much more than trees, too.
8 hours ago
Amber replied to Molly Sievenpiper's discussion 'Trees' in the group The Global Poetry Project
Five devastating words: Just to be Cut Down Trees are a magnificent, important and irreplaceable part of nature. They don't grow to be cut down, not in the wonderful wild forests we should protect but aren't. This poem has a real message, thank yo...
yesterday
Rob Currin and David Miller are now friends
yesterday
Laura Stockman joined Rob Currin's group
The Global Poetry Project
The Global Poetry Project aims to provide a space for members to expand upon their cultural views through the writing and reading of poetry.
yesterday
Laura Stockman replied to Laura Stockman's discussion 'Laura Stockman's 25 Days Challenge' in the group Take the 25 Days to Make a Difference Challenge
As I walked into the over crowded cafeteria I noticed that one of my good friends was sitting by herself. I knew that someone was sitting with her, but they were waiting in line for lunch. So instead of getting in the back of a long line right awa...
yesterday
David Miller left a comment for Jenny Luca
on Monday
Laura Stockman replied to Laura Stockman's discussion 'Laura Stockman's 25 Days Challenge' in the group Take the 25 Days to Make a Difference Challenge
Today I made a difference by helping my dad with the new garage door opener he had to install. Together we turned a 4 hour job into a 2 hour job. I felt great after helping.
on Monday
Laura Stockman commented on Mike Poluk's blog post 'The Kick-off of our Making A Difference Program'
This is so cool, I can't wait to see what happens!!
on Monday
Jenny Luca commented on Mike Poluk's blog post 'The Kick-off of our Making A Difference Program'
Mike, you are such an active member of this space and you and your students inspire me. I'm looking forward to seeing what you and your students can achieve.
on Monday
Jenny Luca left a comment for David Miller
on Monday
Stephanie and Molly Sievenpiper are now friends
on Sunday
Mike Poluk added a blog post
I haven't blogged on this space for a while, and I certainly apologize for my lack of activity, but I've had an interesting start to my school year nonetheless. District-wide reorganization has resulted in me teaching in three different classrooms...
on Sunday
David Miller left a comment for Mike Poluk
on Sunday
Mike Poluk left a comment for David Miller
on Sunday
David Miller is now a member of Working together 2 make a difference
Welcome Them!
on Sunday
Mrs. Leach commented on Rob Currin's blog post 'The state of the Global Poetry Project'
Hey Rob, Are you teaching Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart together this year for AP? If so, you might want to look at this TED talk (or have the kids look at it). It is about the dangers of "one story". http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda...
on Saturday
Carlene Miller replied to Stephanie's discussion 'An Army of Bystanders' in the group The Global Poetry Project
When Mr. Currin read this in class and said it was by a student named Steffanie, I so didn't piece it together. This is wonderful! I really thought it came from one of Mr. Currin's poetry books. I love the rhyme scheme and flow, but the meaning yo...
on Saturday
Kristin Marie Smith added 2 blog posts
on Saturday
Kristin Marie Smith commented on Rob Currin's blog post 'The state of the Global Poetry Project'
I have , in fact, dropped in multiple times to check out what the students are doing, thinking, writing, etc..... yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the quality of their work impresses me the most. I am proud of so many students who have taken the c...
on Saturday
 

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