Show me a school where the power, freedom, and time to learn are in the hands and hearts of the learners--learners being both the kids and the adults--and I'll show you a curious, caring learning community; a thriving school culture!
Bottom line: Until EDUCATORS EXPERIENCE leading their own professional learning, they will have a hard time ceding traditional control of learning to the STUDENTS.
A building of Shiny Happy Teachers, learners on fire, is what every school needs!!
Time to reflect on the year past and muse about the new year. What better place to do that than outside in nature. 22 degrees F, snow, and a brilliant sunset made it memorable. Nature is a good friend.
Best birds I saw in during my walk here in Kansas City near the Missouri River were a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER hanging out halfway up a tall Cottonwood by the river and several HARRIS'S SPARROWS mixed in with a flock of Dark-eyed JUNCOS.
Saw/heard 15 different species to kick off the year in about an hour. Far cry from New Year's Days past when I'd go out for a half-day and see/hear 50+ species. :)
Started my 2013 year bird list today at home and added to it on the walk. As any good birder will do, I like to note firsts on New Year's Day. My first bird of the year (seen) was a Dark-eyed Junco and my first bird of the year (heard) was the ubiquitous House Sparrow.
eBird is a tool anyone can use, including kids at school. Citizen Science. You share your sightings with scientists and eBird keeps, organizes all your data for you. Win-win.
eBird.org WEEK REPORT: Species Totals
Report Details
Date range:
Jan 1, 2013 - Jan 7, 2013
Total # of Species:
15
Total # of Checklists:
3
Location(s): English Landing Park (MO River); Prairie Point area; White Alloe Creek CA
Summary
Jan 1
Jan 2
Jan 3
Jan 4
Jan 5
Jan 6
Jan 7
Number of Species
15
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Number of Individuals
276
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Number of Checklists
3
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Total Number of Birds (sample size)
Species Name
Jan 1
Jan 2
Jan 3
Jan 4
Jan 5
Jan 6
Jan 7
Canada Goose
122
(3)
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Red-tailed Hawk
1
(1)
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--
--
--
--
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1
(1)
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--
--
--
--
--
Downy Woodpecker
2
(2)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Blue Jay
3
(2)
--
--
--
--
--
--
American Crow
3
(1)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Black-capped Chickadee
6
(3)
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--
--
--
--
--
Tufted Titmouse
2
(2)
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--
--
--
--
--
American Robin
48
(3)
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--
--
--
--
--
European Starling
21
(2)
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--
--
--
--
--
Harris's Sparrow
3
(1)
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--
--
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--
Dark-eyed Junco
42
(2)
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--
--
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--
Northern Cardinal
3
(2)
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--
--
--
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--
Red-winged Blackbird
2
(1)
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--
--
--
--
--
House Sparrow
17
(2)
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Here is a short video of some semi-distant JUNCOS both on the snow and flying up into the short trees. It was just me, the cold, the snow and a nice-sized flock of juncos. Peaceful and awesome to be a part of their day. Listen to their twittering little song/calls.
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