This is a very powerful picturebook about a small boy building a snow-capped mountain in Kansas.
Review Inspired by the quest for the impossible dream as written in the literary classic Don Quixote, Billy's Mountain is a picturebook about a young boy whose passion is the idea of creating a vast, snow-capped mountain amid Kansas' seemingly endless flat plains. At first he tries to build a mountain with dirt and rocks; he persists long after his friends tell him to give up, and a reporter puts his story in the paper. Amazingly, a wealthy and determined old African-American man named Jim learns of Billy's dream and decides to help make it come true. It takes bulldozers, railroad cars, and an immense amount of labor to create the mountain - but once risen the mountain blends with the landscape as the seasons pass and even attracts wildlife to its slopes. Utterly captivating, full-color illustrations done in a somewhat impressionistic style bring this beautiful and heartfelt picturebook to life. The final page of "Billy's Mountain" offers a simple lesson plan for teachers to use, offering questions to ask students such as, "Building a mountain is an almost impossible task. What are some things from the past that people thought were impossible but turned out not to be impossible?"
My class will be reading the story the Gingerbread Man and doing a project with it. I am asking if anyone would mind assisting with this... if you would like to please email me at [email removed].
Project letter: My name is the Gingerbread Man, my friend in CLass 2H was reading a story about me and i jumped out of the storybook to visit you. My friend at school is wondering where I have run to. Please help them by sending them a picture postcard showing them the area where you live. This postcard will be posted on a large map of the world outside of my classroom. This will help the children by showing them how different parts of the world look. I know my friends will enjoy hearing from you and learning where I have run! Thank you for your help! Got to go! The Gingerbread Man
** If you would like to help my class please email me at [email removed].
AmberInteresting topic here. I just took a job in KCK district and their pay rate for beginning teachers in 2008 is higher than Shawnee Mission's. Most districts post their salary schedules right on their websites.
Congrats Amber!! I taught in KCK for a while and loved it there. KCK in recent years has gone to a different salary schedule that pays new teachers high, but the teachers with much experience don't make it up as high as some other districts. I think it is called a compact schedule? Anyways good luck to you in KCK!!!
Anyone out there in secondary schools with 1:1 laptops? We are going 1:1 in the fall of '08. The teacher laptops are being dispersed now (I've had mine for a week). We went with tablet notebooks (the laptops with the swivel screen that lets you write with a stylus). Students get their tablets in August, teachers are also getting wireless digital projectors in August. I am very excited with the possibilites of all of this ... just wondering if anyone is already in this situation and how you are using your 1:1 laptops.
Laura, when you interview, don't end any sentences with "at." When you say, "Where are you at?" it raises a red flag that you might not be a teacher they want.
Laura, Lawrence is a highly competitive market. This is a dual college town, with many highly educated families. If you are offered a position I strongly suggest that you take it regardless of location. (I don't actually know of any bad schools.)
On the flip side Lawrence is about 15 minutes from De Soto, KS (great schools) and about 30-40 minutes from Olathe, KS (also great schools)
Title 1 teachers may receive between $5,000 and $17,500 in loan forgiveness (consult with your DOE and principal) this is a federal program which is applied for post graduation. Special ED, Math and Science teachers will receive the highest amount of forgiveness.
Teach Grant is here-ask me about details-Master level students attend with no out of pocket cost
We have several scholarships you may qualify for (up to $2000)
Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited (the highest level). We were founded in 1949 as a "teacher's university".
Grand Canyon University will fairly evaluate valid and relevant credits from previous regionally accredited institutions and apply them when applicable to GCU programs.
Title 1 teachers may receive between $5,000 and $17,500 in loan forgiveness (consult with your DOE and principal) this is a federal program which is applied for post graduation.
Financial aid is available for both Master and Bachelor students.
Applicants currently paying student loans will have current payments deferred while they are in school-a new consolidated payment schedule will begin invoicing 6 months after graduation from GCU.
Around 40% of total applicants are accepted into GCU programs. 80% of our students graduate.
If you are ready to apply for admission and the scholarships still available, click this link: [link removed]
You must respond or contact Troy Maskell DIRECT in order to qualify for the remaining scholarships. (**Teachers interested in the scholarships are required to contact Troy Maskell directly in order to be eligible. Students inquiring through our website or enrolling through another counselor will not qualify for this scholarship).
Here is a list of all of the degree programs that we currently offer online:
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Emphasis in English 128 credits Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Emphasis in Math 128 credits Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Emphasis in Science 128 credits
Master of Arts in Teaching: 30 credits, 20 months M.Ed. Elementary Education (K-8): 45 credits, 30 months M.Ed. Secondary Education (7-12): 30 credits, 24 months M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction: Reading: 30 credits, 20 months M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction: Instructional Technology: 30 credits, 20 months M.Ed. TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages): 33 credits, 22 months M.Ed. Special Education: 45 credits, 36 Months M.Ed. in Education Administration: 36 credits, 24 months M.Ed. In Education Administration with an emphasis in School Leadership: 36 credits, 24 months M.Ed. in Education Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership: 36 credits, 24 months
Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education (Eligible for Credential) Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education (Not Eligible for Credential) Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education for Certified Special Educators (Not Eligible for Credential) Initial Teacher Certification Programs:
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Emphasis in English 128 credits Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Emphasis in Math 128 credits Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Emphasis in Science 128 credits M.Ed. Elementary Education (K-8): 45 credits, 30 months M.Ed. Secondary Education (7-12): 30 credits, 20months M.Ed. Special Education (K-12): 45 credit hours, 30 months
**NOTE: Teachers interested in the scholarships are required to contact Troy Maskell directly in order to be eligible. Students inquiring through our website or enrolling through another counselor will not qualify for this scholarship.
My SIL and my brother are being relocated by the US Army to Ft. Riley, KS. She teaches social studies/history in middle grades. Her licensure is in Florida. What impressions do you have of this school district? Are they good about military wives or are they anti-military? What can you tell me about pay rates v. local cost of living? Any information would be a great supplement to the school district's package. THANKS!
On 4/05/08, mae wrote: > I'm not a KU grad, but wow...wasn't that a game to remember > !!
KU has the greatest basketball team I have ever seen!!! I have watched HS, College and pro teams for over 30 years and have never including the Dream Team with Jordan and Bird seen a team that compares. I love them soooo much. Is there a way I could marry them?? What a team!!! GO UK!! Ooops I mean KU!!!!