Professional Development & Certification Renewal

Your days are filled with designing lesson plans, conferencing with parents, meetings, teaching daily lessons, assessments, and correcting papers.  Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years.  Then the day arrives when you realize that you need to renew your teaching credentials.  You might have 6 months or maybe one year to finish a large amount of coursework.  What do you do?  

I have found myself in this predicament. First, it is time to show yourself some grace and room to breathe.  We get immersed in the job and family life.  Be encouraged you are not alone. There is good news! Many museums, universities, libraries, schools, and unions offer professional development courses (year-around).  You may want to consider a field study or travel option.  This possibility could merge your family goals/dreams and professional certification requirements.  

Step 1:  Contact the university in which you received your BA or MA degree.  Universities and colleges hire individuals who specialize in teacher certification counseling.  Many universities offer online courses. Check with the university for professional development opportunities online or on-campus (non-degree course work). You will need special consideration using these credits towards a particular degree.  Many endorsements can be added to your resume by taking national tests like the NES or the West E.  Washington assigned specific subjects that need to have classroom credits and a test.  Your state education webpage will let you know what path to take to add more endorsements. 

Professional Certification Info: Washington State

Step 2:  Find your website for your State Department of Education.  Review your certification requirements.  Many state departments of education offer professional development courses.  

-Washington

-Idaho

-Oregon

-Montana

Step 3: What type of coursework would enhance my classroom instruction?  What are my options? Washington State has a new STEM clock hour requirement.  Be sure to check out the Educational Service District near your school or home.

• online
• Seattle Pacific University 
• Heritage Institute 
• CE Credits Online
• ESD 112
• classroom
• Idaho Courses
• Eastern Washington
• OSPI- (directory of ESD websites)
• conferences/webinar
• ELL
• Technology Webinars
• Renewal for the Educator's Soul
• field study
• Woodland Park Zoo
• Seattle Art Museum
• Pacific Science Center
• Museum of Flight
• Glacier National Park
• Mt. Rainier and Mount St. Helens
• Washington State History
• Washington State Field Study Options
• independent study/travel study

Step 4:  Enjoy the Journey!!!

Northwest Thematic Waterfall Road Trip

The summer of 2016 was a hot summer and my family wanted to stay close to lakes and rivers. Our summer turned into a thematic waterfall adventure.  We discovered 5-6 waterfalls around the Inland Northwest.  Most of the waterfalls described below are accessible by car, except for Horseshoe Lake.  Horseshoe Lake is only accessible by boat. 

Horseshoe Lake: To access the water at horseshoe lake you will need a small boat. Most people use canoes, kayaks, and small fishing boats.  The lake sits approximately 30 miles north of Spokane, Washington.

This map contains many possible day trips for your family.

© 2016 E.B. Hoxie

Douglas Falls Grange State Park

 










Sweet Creek Falls, Pend Orielle County

Crystal Falls, Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge


© 2016 E.B. Hoxie



Myrtal Falls, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Palouse Falls State Park

 
© 2016 E.B. Hoxie

Map

Eagle Watching on Lake Coeur D' Alene

It is eagle watching time in the Inland Northwest!!  December 26th-30th is eagle watching week along the eastern shores of Lake Coeur D’Alene.  The bald eagle count was 260 on December 19, 2012.

DIRECTIONS: Go east of Coeur d'Alene about 8 miles on Interstate 90. Take the Wolf Lodge Exit. Both of the staffed viewing areas are along Highway 97.

For more information: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/tags/lake-coeur-dalene/

Eagle watching can be done along the shores or on one of Coeur d’ Alene Resort’s cruise boats. Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises

Adults: $21. 75| Seniors: $19.75| Children: $13.75

More Info:

Mailing May

It is pleasure to read a piece of historical fiction that takes place in the Inland Northwest.  "Mailing May," written by Michael Tunnell is a wonderful story. On February 19, 1914 Charlotte May Pierstorff was mailed from Grangeville to Lewiston, Idaho.  Charlotte was sent as a "baby chick" for fifty-three cents.  My 4th grade students enjoyed this story.

Gold Fever in the Northwest

So many textbooks focus on the California Gold Rush. I tend to focus on “Gold Fever in the Northwest.”  It is hard to ignore names such as "Soapy Smith," George Washington Carmack, and Erastus Brainerd.  Some of these men were considered heroes and others were considered “con men.” Many of these sites do have teacher lesson plans. The University of Washington has a wonderful site called, "Klondike Gold Rush: The Perilous Journey North."  This topic is full of adventure, challenge, and discovery.  Watch out!  This topic could be contagious.

Klondike Gold Rush 1897:

 

Teacher Lesson Plans:

• Set #1

• Set #2

• Set #3

• Professional Development

 

History Information:

• PBS
• Historylink
• Historylink #2
• More Information
• Belinda Mulrooney Carbonneau
•  Carbonneau Castle

 Stampeder Genealogy:

• Information

Chilkoot Trail:

• Site #1

Extra:

• Site #1

Northern Idaho, 1881-1942:

• Site #1
• Site #2
• Site #3
• Site #4