‘We Breathe!’ The Power of Calm Classroom by Linda Hulen at Bowman Elementary

What do we do in this new reality of quarantines, hunker downs, alternate work sites, and social distancing? When the numbers of sick and dying are exponentially increasing, alongside more and more friends and family losing their jobs as businesses close? How do we deal with the unprecedented changes that COVID-19 and Coronavirus cause in our daily lives? When stress, anxiety, and fear loom constantly, and normal as we’ve known it no longer exists.

We breathe. We breathe without thinking. Automatically we breathe, unless we are one of the unfortunate souls caught in the worst of Coronavirus.

Continue reading ‘We Breathe!’ The Power of Calm Classroom by Linda Hulen at Bowman Elementary

‘Celebrating Black History Month at Clark Middle School’ by Teacher Mary Wells-Brown

We celebrated Black History Month at Clark Middle School in Anchorage this year by creating a walk-through museum. The museum told the story from the days of picking cotton and sharecropping to Katheryn Johnson, the great mathematician whose life was portrayed in the recent movie, “Hidden Figures.”

Continue reading ‘Celebrating Black History Month at Clark Middle School’ by Teacher Mary Wells-Brown

‘The Importance of K-12 libraries in Alaska’ by Tana Martin, Librarian/Media Specialist at Tanana Middle School

“We love kids. We love books. We love to serve.” This was a recent consensus made by the combined library staff in Fairbanks North Star Borough School District as to why we work in a school library. And that, my friends, is why K-12 school libraries are important. Kids need love. Kids need books. Kids need help. 

Tanana Middle, Fairbanks – Just Dance Fridays during lunch: Lunch in the library is a Tanana staple. The crowd varies daily from 30-70 students. Just Dance Fridays are icing on the cake. It’s a time to get the wiggles out, and be comfortable in their own skin. (Photo courtesy of Tana Martin @runnergirlT)

Continue reading ‘The Importance of K-12 libraries in Alaska’ by Tana Martin, Librarian/Media Specialist at Tanana Middle School

The ‘Love Alaska’ Project by Sarah Petersen and Lisa Longlet at Bowman Elementary School

We are an energetic group of fifty 3rd and 4th graders at Bowman Elementary School in the Anchorage School District who make up S & L’s (Sarah and Lisa’s) family group. Our ‘Alaska Love’ project is an activity for elders (grade 4 students) that allows them to share one of their special Alaskan experiences with our family group. While youngers (3rd graders) don’t present, they look forward to being an elder the following year and having their chance to share their special family memory. The academic focus of the project is writing a personal narratives, public speaking, and Alaska geography.  Continue reading The ‘Love Alaska’ Project by Sarah Petersen and Lisa Longlet at Bowman Elementary School

“Success Looks Like Me!” AKSDHH Releases Video Highlighting Successes by Ann Curry

 

This past week, the Alaska School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AKSDHH) released a new video called ‘Success Looks Like Me!’ to celebrate the journey and achievements of our students. The AKSDHH provides pre-k through 12th grade educational options for deaf and hard of hearing students in Alaska.  Continue reading “Success Looks Like Me!” AKSDHH Releases Video Highlighting Successes by Ann Curry

Esports Alaska by Luke Meinert, EsportsAK Founder

Alaska E-Sports

Alaska’s high school esports scene continues to grow after a successful inaugural season!

Why Esports

What are esports, you ask? Esports is organized competitive video gameplay between two teams with its own rules and guidelines. Large scale tournaments are happening all over the world where teams compete for millions of dollars in cash prices. Esports is a billion-dollar industry, and three of the ten most watched sporting events last year were esports events. Continue reading Esports Alaska by Luke Meinert, EsportsAK Founder