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About the Course

• Making Connections is an innovative, online learning tool designed to give mentors, teachers, counselors and volunteers the strategies and tools they need to build strong relationships with kids. For more information, click here.

 

About the Blog

• The Making Connections Blog is a place where mentors, teachers, counselors and volunteers who work with kids can come together to find support, resources and information that they can use to help them be even better at their jobs. It is a place to find answers, explore solutions, make connections, and share ideas, experiences, challenges and knowledge, all with the intent of finding more and better ways to build the kinds of relationships that help keep kids in school.

 

About Tobi Kibel Piatek

Blogger, course developer, and instructor, Tobi Kibel Piatek, writes about education, designs curriculum, graphics and websites, and teaches teachers, online and in person. A long time mentor, parent and educator, her work combines a love for kids, learning and technology.

 

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Blog Categories

• BACK TO SCHOOL (6)
• Creating a Positive (7)
• Culturally Competent (10)
• Dropouts (8)
• Emergency Resources (1)
• Family Involvement (4)
• Help Wanted (2)
• How to Help (5)
• How To's (7)
• In The News (2)
• Inspiration (1)
• Mentor Stories (12)
• Quality Time (12)
• Questions (2)
• Recommended reading (6)
• Recommended Resources (3)
• Relationship Strategy (4)
• RESOURCES (4)
• Resources for Mentor (19)
• Resources for Teacher (16)
• Things to do (18)
• Uncategorized (2)
• Upcoming Events (7)

 

Recent Posts

• Mark Your Calendar: World Animal Festival
• Ten Ways to Make a Newcomer Feel Comfortable in Your Classroom or Program
• Introducing Laurie Thurston – and Ideas for Starting the School Year Right
• At the Minority Affairs Conference
• Its All Happening At the Zoo

 

Recent Comments

• Oregonian Story: Xploregon helps youths discover another side of Oregon — and themselves | Making Connections on Summer Fun for Mentoring Pairs
• rhibbs123 on One Mentor's Tale
• Find items in libraries near you | Making Connections on CHECK IT OUT: Library 2 Go
• Laurie on CHECK IT OUT: Library 2 Go

 

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• April 2008 (18)
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RESOURCES

2-1-1  is a three digit number to know about and remember if your work with kids and families, especially those in need of help, services or information.

Think about 211 as the 911 to call to locate basic resources such as food, shelter, employment, or health care. 2-1-1 is intended to cut through the maze of agencies and services individuals and families often have to go through to to get the help and information they need.

Its mission is to provide individuals and families with access to quality information about health and human services resources at all times.

For more information, help numbers, stories and access to a huge number of resources, check out the website.

Topics: Emergency Resources, RESOURCES, Uncategorized | No Comments »

I attended an excellent workshop today at the Beaverton Diversity Summit, taught by Susan McKinney, Principal of McKinley Elementary School, and Jared Condon, Principal at Fir Grove Elementary. All of the conversation was interesting and valuable - some was positively inspiring - none moreso than this quote that I beleive applies to all of us who teach.

 ”We have found that the single factor common to every successful change initiative is that relationships improve. If relationships improve, things get better. If they remain the same or get worse, ground is lost. This leaders must be consummate relationship builders with diverse people and groups - especially with people different than themselves.”

Michael G Fullan, 2001

Michael Fullan is author of numerous books for educators, check this page for a list of his books.

Topics: BACK TO SCHOOL, Inspiration, RESOURCES | No Comments »

I am just back from the Minority Affairs Conference where I had the chance to speak to two groups of educators about the importance of creating relationships - not only to keep kids in school, but to strengthen school, family and community bonds. I will be writing more about the conference later, but today, I want to share a great resource I discovered tucked into my bag of goodies.

Teaching Tolerance is a magazine “dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation’s children.” The Teaching Tolerance website is another powerful resource. It features information for teachers, for parents, for teens and for kids.

Published twice a year, Teaching Tolerance magazine “showcases innovative tolerance initiatives in schools across the country. ”  The Association of Educational Publishers has named it the 2007 Periodical of the Year, and it is FREE for educators.

The magazine, which is well designed and written, features articles, stories, interviews and more. But of special interest to teachers and mentors working with kids is the Activity Exchange - an array of excellent, easy to use curriculum ideas that work in the classroom or after school program - NOW.

In the latest issue, the theme is Anti Bias Activities. These ideas include Identity Posters - a simple and effective plan to “start the year off right and stop teasing” (about ‘different’ names) before it starts. This is perfect for grades K-6.

Riding With Rosa is another idea - this one allows kids (grades 3-6) to go back in time and sit on the bus with Rosa Parks and consider how they might have responded if they were on that bus too. These are just two of the great ideas that will help any educator explore challenging topics in interesting and engaging ways.

Also, Teaching Tolerance will publish YOUR good ideas. To  find out how you can share your ideas in print, go to http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/getpublished.jsp

To learn more, to order your free subscription, and to explore the huge array of free and excellent resources available, visit the website  - and, while you are there, take some time to discover the other free resources that can work with your kids.

Topics: RESOURCES, Resources for Teacher, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »

Thanks to all of the course participants who have contributed ideas, connections and suggestions for resources to add to our online course, our resource list  - information for teachers and mentors, helping organizations, in depth information on a wide array of topics related to each subject within the course, who to call, where to go, things to do, and much, much more, has doubled in size.

Please be sure to check it out the next time you are visiting the course. If you are not a course participant, you now have many more reasons to start Making Connections.

Topics: RESOURCES, Resources for Teacher, Resources for Mentor | No Comments »

Making Connections | Strong Relationships Help Keep Kids in School

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