Back to School

Faster than you can say "No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks!" it feels like summer is over and fall is upon us. Although September is an exciting time of sharp pencils, fresh notebooks, and smiling new faces, it is also a time of very little work-life balance. As teachers, we have …

What Is Geographic Education?

When I first told my friends and family about my selection for the Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program, they were, of course, overjoyed for me. But, well-intentioned, many have since asked me questions like, “You don’t teach geography, so how did you get selected?” It’s true that many Grosvenor Teacher Fellows are not geography teachers. We are …

The Countdown Is On!

At this time of year, many teachers have a number of "countdowns" going on. Now that my shipboard travel and flights have been officially booked, I am very excited to begin counting down for my Grosvenor Teacher Fellow expedition! My to-do list to complete before then is very long -- including getting a complete medical physical and being …

Understanding Size and Scale

This past weekend, I went to National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program pre-expedition workshop. It was an incredible weekend of networking, collaboration, and excitement amongst like-minded colleagues, some true chicken soup for the teacher's soul. While I was away, I learned more about my upcoming expedition to Antarctica, and …

And Then the Phone Rang…

It was a freezing Saturday night in February and I was out with my softball team after a game, as we commiserated about our awful losing streak. At a local watering hole, we were laughing, talking, and refuelling after a tough loss, debating batting orders and fielding positions. That's when I felt the table begin to buzz. I …