A Deadline is Approaching... and the Curriculum Deserves a Review as Well!

Where will you go in life? Your journey awaits you—apply now and invite your friends to apply by going here: http://roadtripnation.com/participate/apply.php. 

Last spring I had the honor of sitting at a table at a full day meeting with one of the creators of Roadtrip Nation.  At the time I didn't do my homework and go back and do research.  Completely my loss!  However, there is no time like the present, and while educators may have some time to do some exploring over the next couple of weeks I am hopeful they will take the time to see the resources I have recently fallen in love with on Roadtrip Nation.

The curriculum is rooted in 21st C skills, school to work, drop out prevention, career readiness.... all those things we want our graduates to have... and can be to be woven into discussions in homeroom or advisory periods, social studies or English.  There are career segments that can fit as well if you do keyword searches.   It is natural for high school and a consideration for middle school.  There are contribution opportunities for online interaction.  There are streaming video segments and connections to what students may see on AZ-PBS if they are channel surfing late on a Saturday night.  The new season is underway and applications are even being accepted for the 2011 Roadtrip!

http://roadtripnation.com/conversations/

The screencapture shows how, with a free login as an educator you can set up a course and have your students participate with you! Or, if you simply want to just watch portions of the show and read comments and post anonymous quotes with your students, you can do that as well.  Your level of participation is up to you.  http://roadtripnation.org/rtnexperience/ 

Learn more about the curriculum and bring it to your school and district.  Download a brochure as a start...  No matter what roadtrip your holiday takes you on this season - enjoy!  Consider sharing it with PBS and pass the application for a 2011 trip opportunity on to a worthy young adult in your life.

Remembering Arizona Veterans - Capture Stories

Happy Veterans Day, Arizona! Make sure you take time to remember a Veteran, thank them, thank their family members for their sacrifices as well, and show your support.  Last night, Wednesday, November 10, Horizon's Host Ted Simons conducted 2 interviews with Arizona Veterans.  The video will be posted before noon tomorrow!  I encourage you to take time to share a brief segment from at least one with your students in discussion tomorrow.  Both were touching conversations with men who were proud to have served their country and be a part of history.(Check for Horizon's interview of Korean veteran as soon as it gets posted on azpbs.org/horizon) 

The clip above showcases Arizonans -- and Arizona communities -- that were forever changed by the Second World War. Eight presents back-to-back stories exploring the struggles and conflict, the sacrifice and the bravery. Explore the resources Eight- Arizona PBS has to offer locally from the World War II story collection.

Explore ways to capture stories from this local link... or better yet... we encourage you to tell your story... share your story as a veteran or a family member with a service member on active duty or proudly now at home to share his or her memories either in writing, in pictures, in video, or all three through the StoryCorps.

Eight -Arizona PBS and Eight Educational Outreach-ASSET will be working throughout the next few weeks to actively collect stories from friends and family across the state.  We encourage you to help us!  As you gather for the holidays, this is a wonderful time to begin to uncover the stories and pictures and memories so often shared this time of year.

Watch the full episode. See more Independent Lens.