More Red Rock

Today we went out to Delicate Arch. We can't seem to find enough rocks for the kids to climb on. The four kids are down there beneath the arch.

This last one is down at Goblin Valley SP.

Rocks, rocks, rocks

We're busy down in Southern Utah. The kids can't find enough rocks to climb.

The wonder twins at Hickman Bridge in Capitol Reef NP.

A blizzard at Bryce Canyon. We didn't stay there long-especially after 6 in of snow during the night.

Zion NP was our first stop. Everyone got to the top of Angel's Landing (1200 ft straight down). We found out who liked cliffs and who didn't.

In Memory of Granny

In Memory of Granny but I couldn't find hummingbird eggs.

Things you might not have known...

Some of you have asked for more information about my award. Here is a photo of the actual award that I will add to my shelf and feel honored to dust for an indefinite period of time.

Also, here is the nomination letter the department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences submitted. (they nominated me as a graduate of their program) I hope you find it somewhat light reading. It might provide some insight into my search to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

To whom it may concern,

The Admissions and Awards Committee of the Department of Instructional Technology & Learning sciences is delighted to nominate Kurt Johnson for the Outstanding Alumni K-12 Teacher Award.

By the time Kurt Johnson finishes his doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction he will be a triple Utah State University alumnus with three teaching degrees from the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. Kurt has his B.S. in Elementary Education (1991), his M.S. in Instructional Technology (1993), and is expected to finish his doctoral studies later this year. His work as a 3^rd and 4^th grade teacher at Edith Bowen Laboratory School further continues to tie him to our College.

Kurt is an outstanding teacher as proven by his commitment to authentic learning experiences as well as the application of technology. His students are constantly engage in ‘real life’ learning experiences. Several years ago, Kurt’s class, in cooperation with the Utah State University’s Dietetics and Food Science program created a new flavor of ice cream for the USU Dairy Products line. In developing “Jam n’ Peanut Butter Boogie” ice cream, his class created market surveys, graph results of their interviews with over 500 USU students, supervise taste testing, and present a market research report in support of their flavor. The result? Jammin’ Peanut Butter Boogie became a top seller in the USU Dairy Stores.

Another great example of how Kurt introduces real life events into his teaching is his latest project on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. To engage his students in the Winter Olympic Experience, students in his class are divided into 5 teams each representing a different country. Each team is doing extensive research on their team’s country, learning about customs, history, government, and geographic location. Additionally, students are learning about different sports through online research, watching videos on the classroom set of iPods, and interviewing athletes. All events are tied into the science core for third grade where kids are studying force, motion, heat, and gravity. Results of the timed events will be posted on the class website, giving plenty of opportunity to practice math skills calculating average speed and how far behind one participant finished after another.

Kurt’s latest technology project involves the use of iPods in the classroom. He acquired outside funding for the initial purchase of a classroom set of iPods. He has gathered over 250 audiobooks as well as 350+ educational videos which are made available for student learning. Independent reading time in the classroom now finds many students not only curling up with a good but, but also with an iPod. He, in cooperation with both his students and another class, are investigating reading comprehension while listening to audiobooks. Students initially had the question, “if I listen to an audiobook while doing other things, will I learn as much?” To answer this question, students are randomly placed in reading/listening groups. One group will only listen to a selected book on the iPod. Another will listen and read the book simultaneously. Yet another will listen and intentionally be doing another activity. All groups receive the same post book comprehension test. In this manner, Kurt is not only investigating some engaging research questions, but also involving his students in this research process.

We are not the only ones who feel that Kurt is a successful teacher. Kurt has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards. These include, the Nestle Ice Cream Very Best Teacher in the USA (2002), the Utah Technology Educator of the Year (2001) and the Utah Educational Television Teacher of the Year (2001). Utah Excellence in Economics Education (1999). In 1988 Kurt was recognized by Apple Inc. as an Apple Computer Distinguished Educator and continues in that role, providing innovating educational ideas on the use of Apple products in the classroom. He has written many lesson plans and other curriculum materials that have been published by Apple. Additionally, Kurt served on the founding board for the Open High School of Utah where he organized, wrote and helped coordinate many of the founding charter materials for this innovative and unique charter school. (http://www.openhighschool.org/)