TeacherTube

TeacherTube
Throughout the year I will share a variety of activities, programs and resources that you may choose to use in your classroom or school that support Character Education. Have fun exploring these resources and how they might fit in with your program and best meet the needs of your students.

The following website that I would like to share with you is called TeacherTube.com. It is a teacher resource website that includes a variety of videos, documents, channels,blogs,resources etc. uploaded by teachers. The site offers a number of inspirational videos to link Character to the curriculum. One video I find particularly useful for student globalization and leadership is called The Miniature Earth, If The World Were A Village of 100 People :

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=59533&title=If_the_world_were_a_village_of_100_people .

This video may be used in conjunction with the rich mentor text If the World Were A Village by David Smith.

Enjoy!

Kerry Grbich

Program Team
ADSB Character Education Special Assignment Teacher, K-12
705-945-7433

Character Development Opportunities for Schools

Through the year I will share various Character initiatives and projects available to you to consider for your classroom and school. Here are a couple of great character development opportunities for your schools that you may want to investigate further. These two programs are student focused and provide practical authentic opportunities for student engagement and leadership.

Imagineaction

I discovered the first program called Imagineaction in the September Edition of Professionally Speaking. It is a social action project resource for teachers to support student-driven social-action projects in their classroom or school. Beginning on September 1st, teachers may access funds and community expertise to support student driven social action projects. The initiative established by the Canadian Teachers' Federation will "link teachers to community experts to encourage student-driven social-action projects following the six themes: connect (relationships), engage (active and participatory citizenship), thrive (health and wellness), lead (leadership), live (environmental sustainability) and care (poverty)."

The projects can deal with such issues as globalization,bullying, racism, human rights, environmental stewardship and equity. As stated in the article, the CTF believes that "quality education is about providing students with opportunities to infuse curriculum into real-world situations. Education is about being a part of a student's journey as a lifelong learner and problem solver- it is about teaching students to be critical thinkers and to look for opportunities to apply their knowledge in a transformative way". For more information,click on the website below.

http://www.imagine-action.ca/

Green Apple School Program

The second opportunity I would like to share is an Environmental Stewardship initiative called Green Apple Grants by METRO. This initiative from Metro was created to encourage students to participate in the development of a healthier environment. Since its induction in the fall of 2009, the program has rallied thousands of students from Ontario and Quebec and encouraged them to become involved in their school and make a difference in their community.
Metro has awarded hundreds of $1,000 grants to elementary and high schools with ideas for green projects in their communities and the company will distribute up to $1 million dollars for this program. The program offers ideas from previous projects and applying for the grant is as easy as filling in a quick form with your idea for your classroom or school.

So, what’s your green idea?
http://www.greenapplegrants.ca/

Good luck with your projects.

If you have any other special project grants or initiatives to share or if you require further information, please feel free to contact me.

Kerry Grbich

Program Team

ADSB Character Education Special Assignment Teacher, K-12

705-945-7433

Mustang Sally Rides Again

Youth these days you say…check this out!

Mustang Sally is back…bigger and better with an important message to share. They performed their very first gig of the year to a “rockin” crowd at River View Elementary. Mustang Sally is a popular musical group of “rock star status” to many of the students who look up to these incredible teens. First formed in 2004 after Music Director and Teacher Greg Ryckman discovered untapped talent in the Korah Collegiate Secondary School’s Christmas Variety Talent Show that year, after a staggering 56 vocal and instrumental auditions were held Mustang Sally was born.





These teens are not chosen solely on musical talent. Their responsibilities reach far beyond any normal school band. Mustang Sally is a band with a mission to share Character Education and the members are expected to embody the true spirit of good character. Using music as a vehicle, these student musicians engage in helping people of all ages find common ground. Through music they inspire, teach and model the importance of good character.


Mustang Sally are ambassadors of character education for the Algoma District School Board, educating students on positive attributes of good character, and impressing our community with their mature ,positive attitudes. All of the hours spent are volunteer hours and add up to a staggering 1500 hours yearly. Mustang Sally members are expected to maintain academic success and consistently live a life of good Character. The band consists of 18 students ranging from Grade 9 to 12. This year is a year of “breaking the boundaries” when a new band member from Queen Elizabeth, grade 8 joined the mix. Mustang Sally has had the privilege of performing across the Country to share their Character message. Amazingly, Korah teachers Jennifer Barbeau and Mary Attard-Frost along with Greg Ryckman volunteer their time to guide these teens in developing leadership skills and teamwork while working collaboratively to share their important message.




It only takes a moment to see the kind of impact these students have on others when Mustang Sally is performing. Mustang Sally is spreading the news one gig at a time that we are a community of character and the Youth of our city are making a difference one gig at a time!




Ride Sally ride….





I'm only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something;
and what I can do, I will do.
-Edward Everett Hale