Teacher Support Letters

Mr. Kuball, The division of Career and Technical Education at Kuspuk School District intends to include a GPS unit next year. It would be a tremendous boost to have a "man in the field" crossing two continents with GPS technology onboard. Your proposal has every possible tie to a K-12 school program, which include several to our technical curriculum. We shall support your project with whatever resources we have to offer. The Aniak Middle School science program will also be able to use your travel project as a focal point for literacy projects and as a supplement to social studies and geography.

Sincerely,

Jon F. Wehde Vocational Director

Kuspuk School District

Erich: What a terrific idea and opportunity for you to see the U.S, Canada and parts of South America like few have. I think that this is an excellent way to incorporate real life mathematics, geography, and English lessons into our schools. Since my students worked with you over the past 3 years, they will definitely find this project meaningful and motivational. I hope that you get the financial support that you need, and deserve to fulfill this dream.

Good Luck,

Mark Steer

Special Education Teacher

George Morgan Sr. High School

Erich, I have talked with my students about your bike trip from Prudhoe Bay to Argentina. They expressed extreme interest in following your progress. My health students would like to document what foods you eat on your trip and track your daily mileage. Your trip will create opportunities for study nutrition, weight and exercise. It will be a great project for our students.

Very interested in this endeavor,

Steve Westjohn

Health Instructor

Aniak Middle School

Erich, This is an exciting endeavor. Yes, as a classroom teacher, this would be an ideal opportunity for my class to learn Geography and write about it by following you on your trip. Correspondence with you via the Internet will promote and encourage literacy in our small Alaskan Bush School. I support your adventure. Happy trails, and Good Luck!

Linda Strode

Elementary School Teacher

Johnnie John Sr. School

Erich, In my Alaska Science class we will be working on map reading and orientation skills such as compass and GPS navigation. It would be great to have some online connection with you for real data the kids could relate to. I have found the whole concept of latitude and longitude difficult for the students to grasp (not to mention declination!) By corresponding with you they could get a real feel for the size of this planet and how our coordinate system works. It would also be mind bending for them to have to deal with the upside down world of the Southern Hemisphere! I wish you the best of luck on this exciting enterprise. Keep us posted on further developments.

Sincerely,

Dave LeMaster

Science Teacher

Aniak High School

Erich, As a second grade teacher I can see some fun applications of your trip in the classroom. We could read a page for every mile you bike. We could add 'big' numbers keeping track of your mileage. We can compare your mileage to the Bike-a-thon and calculate how many trips around the bike-a-thon route you have ridden. We can make state and or country flags for every area you visit. And on and on....

Thanks,

Carol Westjohn

Elementary Teacher

Auntie Mary Nicoli Elementary School

Erich, For our school district's students to be able to chart Erich's progress will offer an important learning opportunity. Since most of the students know Erich so well, his journey will provide classroom curriculum's an opportunity to chart new territory through writing, mathematics, geography, art, history and all disciplines related to literacy.

I support you on your journey,

Jack Campbell

Literacy Coordinator

Kuspuk School District

Erich -- My students and I would like to learn vicariously from your travels. In math, I could integrate math concepts (time zone, GPS, rate, vectors, and non-Euclidean geometry) into my lessons. In technology, we could send and receive e-mails and digital pictures. We could put a map of North and South America on the computer room wall to track your travels. Your trip plans and your relationship with students make a winning combination for "real life learning" Integration, such as the aforementioned ideas, is vital to student interest in learning.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Marge Randlett

Math and Computer Teacher

Aniak High School

Erich- I haven't talked with my students yet, but I know that they would love to support this plan. You are a person they all know and look up to and this alone would peak their interest in following your trip. I am confident that there are ways on incorporating technology into the process that will enhance our educational goals of integrating across the curriculum.

Let me know how I can help you.

Liz Ruff

High School Teacher

Johnnie John Sr. School

Dear Erich, I think it would be a wonderful if you made the trip because my 3rd graders are currently writing pen pals, (e-pals), both in Uruguay and Argentina. Maybe you could deliver a set of letters postmarked here and have a returned set. The Argentina school is in Santa Rosa-La Pampa and the Uruguay school is in Montevideo. We could also do a project to help you. Something like a Help Kuball: Get pledges for each page read for each mile Mr. Kuball completes. It would also help with mapping skills as the kids get older.

I am very excited about your trip.

Robert Hall

Elementary School Teacher

Auntie Mary Nicoli Elementary School

Erich, I've talked to my students about your bike trip next year and they would like to follow your route as you go. The students could research each area as you travel through each country.

They are looking forward to the project.

Jim Seaton

High School Teacher

Crow Village Sam School