TEACHER REFLECTIONS: QUOTES OF THE MONTH
On Collaborative Projects: "...my participation in the iEARN projects have transformed my teaching and learning experience. Our entire school is benefitting from the collaboration - which is one of the true benefits of the program." Michelle Johnson, Library Media Specialist: East Dover Elementary, Dover, DE (Project Information)
On Online Professional Development Courses: "This was an exciting project for both me and my students. I have learned a lot. This was my first distance learning course and I am surprised by how much I learned without being in a traditional classroom. Both Tommie and Mehran have been exceptional course facilitators....both were wonderful in making our expectations clear and being extremely supportive when necessary. I would recommend your course to any of my colleagues." Joseph Rodriguez, ENY High School for Public Safety and Law: Staten Island, NY (Online Course Information)
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
 iEARN's A Vision Project: In April teens from Makati Science High School, in the Philippines, along with iEARN project facilitator Maria Larcena unveiled the 2007 A Vision website. A Vision is an anthology of student writings in the form of essays, stories, poems, poetic sketches and more. This year iEARN youth from around the world contributed writings including youth from Pakistan, Lebanon, Jamaica, Ghana, Ukraine, Syria, Austria, Belarus, Sri Lanka, Russia and India.
As project facilitators, youth from Makati Science High School gathered their peers writings into themes including: culture and traditions, family relationshiops, hobbies and interests, hope and inspiration, love and friends, mix, nature, and war and peace. Visit the their wonderful website to read student work from around the world. |
(1) Project Spotlight
- A Vision Project - youth writings from around the world
- India Youth Make Kites
- YES Program
- My Hero Project: Youth Film Chosen as Finalist in Competition
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iEARN Egypt Conference - Register!
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iEARNer Creates a Teacher Starter Kit
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US Department of State Announces Free Summer Workshops
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Seeking Hosts for Teachers from Turkenistan
- iEARN Project Announcements and Country Information
(4) iEARN News
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India Students Make Kites: In April's newsletter, we shared stories and pictures about schools around the world flying kites in honor of peace for iEARN's Talking Kites Project, here are a few more pictures to enjoy sent by iEARN India during a workshop where youth decorated self made kites.
 US Family Honored as Host Family of the Month: In April, YES exchange student - Nafisa Aqeel Khandwala - shared her story of traveling to the USA for a yearlong sojourn in Pasco, WA for the 2007-2008 school year. As part of the program, YES students are matched with host families throughout the United States, and Nafisa has grown particularly fond of her host family, The Hoffmans. Nafisa shares, "For a long time I was waiting for my 16th birthday, never in my wildest dreams had I thought that I would celebrate my 16th birthday in the USA, but I guess it was destined to be so. For my birthday my host family called over a family who has five daughters and I am really close friends with them, they go to the same church as theirs, so they came over and we had a Mexican dinner and a lovely cake made by my host mom. It was the BEST birthday that I have ever had and will never forget it..."
Read her more of Nafisa's reflection HERE. (Photo courtesy of AYUSA Global Youth Exchange)
 YES Students Attend a Girl Scouts of the USA Celebration: In April, YES exchange students Nabeera Rahman (Bangladesh) and Fatima Marvi (Pakistan) attended a "World Thinking Day" event at a local school for the Girl Scout Council. The two students shared songs from their home countries, did a demonstration of basket carrying on their heads, henna hand painting, and allowed the scouts to try on their traditional clothing of their countries. (Photo courtesy of AYUSA Global Youth Exchange)
The YES Program is made possible through funding from the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For more information on this program from the Department of State, click HERE. iEARN is partnering with a number of other organizations, including AYUSA, AMIDEAST, Close Up Foundation, and Sister Cities International to enhance the program through ongoing online project partnerships among participating schools.
My Hero Project: The short film PAINTING PEACE that was produced by Slater Jewell-Kemker for the My Hero Learning Circle in 2006 and has been named a finalist for the Toronto International Film Festivals kids division SPROCKETS. This short follows an iEARN homeschooling class on it's journey to create a Peace Mural for the Art Miles Mural Project with children of Canadian Peacekeeper's stationed in Afghanistan. Click HERE to view the video or for more information about the My Hero Project, click HERE.
 iEARN Egypt will host the 14th Annual iEARN International Conference and 11th Youth Summit (July 21 - 26, 2007) in Cairo! Please join us for professional development workshops and events. Conference details and registration information (including lodging and fees) can be found on the official conference website.
iEARNer Creates a Teacher Starter Kit: iEARN member Jennifer Geist has created a "Starter Kit" as part of the Curriculum Page for the Washington State Coalition for International Education. Funding for this was made possible by the Asia Society and Longview Foundation. The starter kit includes documents that, "will find resources to help you [teachers] imagine and implement an online exchange integrating a curricular topic with one of the International Education and Resource Network collaborative projects."
Click HERE to visit the page, and also visit iEARN USA's Professional Development online resources that include an online space devoted to curriculum integration tips including Jennifer's Starter Kits, standards-aligned project plan templates, class activity ideas, model success stories, and more.
U.S. Department of Education Announces Free Summer Workshops: Registration is open to educators nationwide for free workshops targeting specific grade level and subject areas. For more information and to locate a free workshop in your area, click HERE.
IREX Seeking Hosts for Teachers from Turkenistan: The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) would like to invite you to host a teacher from Turkmenistan for two weeks from July 12 to 23. Through interaction with US teachers and hosts, Turkmen teachers will gain new teaching methods necessary to prepare their students for the globalizing world and you will gain lifetime friendships with international colleagues. It is our hope that Turkmen teachers will have the opportunity to participate in summertime professional development activities. As hosts, you might mentor visiting teachers as they help conduct summer school classes, attend teacher in-service training or workshops, and prepare materials for the upcoming year. Your guest will also share their wisdom based on years of experience, bringing a fresh perspective to tasks at hand. This experience will undoubtedly enrich your school, work, and perspective of the world. Interested? Contact Tina Habib at iEARN-USA.
iEARN NEWS
iEARN-USA has announced the recipients for the Global Connections Exchange Program [GCEP] and Kurshan Scholarships. The GCEP Scholarship, made possible by the US Department of State, was awarded to one teacher, Maria-Rose Pawlyk Queens High School for Science at York College, and two youth - Regina Fojas, a student of Maria's and Rickie Moss, of Sissonville High School in West Virginia. The Kurshan Scholarship, made possible by the Kurshan Family, was awarded to seventh grader Julie Carroccio, of Loftis Middle School in Hixson, TN.
Scholarships will enable recipients to travel to Cairo, Egypt for iEARN Annual International Conference. Congratulations!
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