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All Blog Posts (111)

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

Added by Kristin Marie Smith on November 22, 2009 at 12:05am — No Comments

Reflecting on Three Cups of Tea

Added by Kristin Marie Smith on November 22, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

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

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

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

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

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! Continue

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

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

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

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

Added by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:38am — No Comments

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

Added by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

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

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

The Global Poetry Project Evolves

When Rob Currin contacted me a few weeks back eager to begin connecting himself and his students to a global community of writers, my first thought was to send him this way. I first met Rob in a workshop that I was leading around establishing personal learning networks almost a year ago. I was inspired by his enthusiasm and his energy, and it's been an honor to support him as he's begun this work in various ways. We've been collaborating around how he might align the work of his Global Poetry Pr… Continue

Added by Angela on October 26, 2009 at 3:46am — No Comments

Openyoureyes

Why is it that when you’re up the last thought you have is knowing you'll be down Why is it that when your down the only thought you have is wishing you were up. Why is it When everything seems to be perfect something has to come making sure it doesn't stay Why is it whenever you're in love what seems to finally be real ends up being plastic in a landfill Why is it that today’s world overwhelms itself with problems forcing them on you, making sure you’re not happy you take care of one problem yo… Continue

Added by Zachery Walters on October 23, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

Service Work in the Comics

This morning I came across this great mention of service work in the comics pages.

It points out two things that I think are important about students and service work: 1. They can be super enthusiastic about the idea. 2. Over commitment can put a stop to real action taking place. Have a super day folks! John Continue

Added by John Evans on October 21, 2009 at 10:11pm — 8 Comments

Need Help Organizing Fundraiser

Hi all--quick question for you: has anyone here ever led or participated in a fundraiser to provide relief to a family in need due to natural disaster or unexpected tragedy? One of our closest friends suffered the loss of both of her parents last week. They were killed during a home invasion. The family is now facing a mountain of unexpected expenses and a long legal battle. I would like to establish a fund and a donations process that can help them out, but I want to make sure I do this effecti… Continue

Added by Angela on October 19, 2009 at 2:26am — 5 Comments

Get Global

As a part of our personal development programme, this term we will be using aspects of the UK developed resource Get Global. This provides teachers with ideas for lessons and activities which promote global citizenship in the classroom. It begins by having the students explore the question of what it means to be a global citizen: thinking about their future and how they can make a difference as individuals. Students then choose an issue… Continue

Added by Heath McCabe on October 15, 2009 at 2:40am — No Comments

Considering the Work That We Ask Students to Pursue

In my work with teachers and kids this year, so much of what we are discussing has everything to do with the pursuit of meaningful essential questions and the creation of real products. I'm realizing that it's possible that all great learning truly IS service learning. If we are asking our students to pursue essential questions and create things that can be of use to others in this world, then their learning comes to make a difference in this way. Incorporating service learning within a curricul… Continue

Added by Angela on October 2, 2009 at 1:55pm — 3 Comments

Heard of World Teachers' Day?

There's Teacher Appreciation Week and Education Week, depending on where you live. But are you familiar with World Teachers' Day? It rolls around every October 5, so this year it falls on a Monday. The global theme this year is "Building the Future." But in Canada, for the past few years we've been generating our own theme. This year it's "Peace. Live it. Teach it" and you can download our poster at the… Continue

Added by Raman Job on September 25, 2009 at 1:53pm — 15 Comments

A Great Resource for Helping Students Find and Use Their Voices

I'm not sure if some of you saw already, but Sylvia Martinez's latest post and attached article provides some compelling perspective and strategies for those who are eager to welcome students into the conversations that unfold within the field and beyond it. Her focus is on student presenters and conferences, but the points that she makes apply in so many other settings. For exa… Continue

Added by Angela on September 24, 2009 at 1:25am — No Comments

Toy Story - Preps (5&6 Year Olds) & Service Learning

… Continue

Added by NinaD on September 21, 2009 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments

Personal Development and Science

On the last day of term (this Friday, the students in my class will be walking to our local wetland to particiapte in some conservation activities including rubbish pick up and tree planting. We have successfully managed to combine this community project, which links in with our Science module on wetland biology, with our Personal Development theme for the term focusing on community service. While the boys have mainly focused on work around their own homes, local sporting clubs and neighbourhood… Continue

Added by Heath McCabe on September 20, 2009 at 7:30pm — 5 Comments

Establishing Connections and Working Together to Make a Difference

I'm excited to see so many new members joining us here, and as it is the new school year in our corner of the world, many of us are turning our thoughts toward goal setting and the great things we want to accomplish with kids and teachers this year. Jenny and I are eager to begin facilitating stronger connections between those of you who are members of the ning. There are so many different ways to give back, and I think it might be helpful if we were able to identify the causes that our members… Continue

Added by Angela on September 18, 2009 at 8:46am — 2 Comments

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Latest Activity

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...

3 hours ago

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...

6 hours ago

Kristin Marie Smith added 2 blog posts

9 hours ago

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...

9 hours ago

Kristin Marie Smith Getting ready to share fantastic work written by students reflecting on cultural differences!

10 hours ago

Kristin Marie Smith updated their profile

10 hours ago

Rob Currin commented on Rob Currin's group 'The Global Poetry Project'

A message to current members of the Global Poetry Project: If you are a contributing member of the Project please continue to share your poems and share feedback with other poets. When a poem is born, the soul of the poet is exposed. Embrace the ...

10 hours ago

Rob Currin added a blog post

The state of the Global Poetry Project

10 hours ago