The Center for the Improvement of Student Learning has released its February e-newsletter, and it's chock full of new stories, research, promising practices and plenty of resources. Go to CISL's Website to see all the stories.
Many of this month's key stories and updates can be found below as well.
Regaining Her Life: Meisha Nash struggled with drugs and alcohol and had all but fallen through the cracks. But her desire to achieve coupled with a caring school staff have her on the path to success.
After-School Help: The Vietnamese Friendship Association, through its after-school program, is helping at-risk Vietnamese youth get through life and school.
Class of 2008 Graduation Checklist, Q&A Now Translated: Confused about what students in the class of 2008 need to graduate? Downloadthe graduation Q&A and checklist in English, Spanish and Russian.
SAVE THE DATE: Partnering for Student Success Conference: A groundbreaking partnership of school districts, education agencies, community groups and the Governor’s Office are planning a conference in October 2008 in Yakima focused on families, schools and communities working together to increase learning and success for all students.
Online Toolkit: CISL is developing an online toolkit to assist schools in the engagement of families and communities. The toolkit's creation is in response to requests by districts and schools for more partnership resources. This PDF form is the first part of the toolkit.
CISL Conversation (Audio): Joyce Epstein, Director of the National Network of Partnership Schools, discusses her years of research on family, school and community partnerships.
... and there's plenty more read at yourlearningcenter.org, so be sure to go to our Website.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wrapping up LEAP Conference
Here's a post from CISL facilitator Sally Brownfield on last week's LEAP Conference in Tacoma. LEAP (Latino/a Educational Achievement Project) was founded in 1998 with a mission to improve the academic achievement of Latino/a students in Washington state. To learn more about LEAP, go to their Website at www.leapwa.org.
Now, here's the report from Sally:
Last week I attended the LEAP conference in Tacoma. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend the first day of the conference, but I attended two great workshops and the evening banquet.
This conference was centered on high school students. About three-fourths of the 800 people attending were high school students. The second day of the conference was Legislative Day in Olympia. The students went to Olympia, visited the Capitol, spoke with legislators and learned first-hand how our state government works. Such a positive, active learning experience for students.
I do wish more students in our state had such opportunities. As an educator (out of the classroom for three years now), it certainly renewed my excitement for our future possibilites being in the hands of these capable and dedicated young people.
It was also a great pleasure to enjoy a wonderful meal and great conversation with four outstanding students from Bridgeport.
Now, here's the report from Sally:
Last week I attended the LEAP conference in Tacoma. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend the first day of the conference, but I attended two great workshops and the evening banquet.
This conference was centered on high school students. About three-fourths of the 800 people attending were high school students. The second day of the conference was Legislative Day in Olympia. The students went to Olympia, visited the Capitol, spoke with legislators and learned first-hand how our state government works. Such a positive, active learning experience for students.
I do wish more students in our state had such opportunities. As an educator (out of the classroom for three years now), it certainly renewed my excitement for our future possibilites being in the hands of these capable and dedicated young people.
It was also a great pleasure to enjoy a wonderful meal and great conversation with four outstanding students from Bridgeport.
Issaquah Addressing Issue of Jailed Parents and Their Children
The issue of jailed parents and their children is growing one in the state and one that OSPI has been addressing. Now, the Issaquah School District is asking for funding to provide a housing project that would reunite formerly jailed parents with their children. This is an interesting story from Wednesday's Seattle Times.
Click here to read the story.
Click here to read the story.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
10 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month at Home
Here are some tips educators can pass along to families as they prepare for Black History Month.
1. Ask your local librarian to recommend books to read with your child.
2. Visit a museum or cultural arts institution that showcases African American art and culture.
3. Read about notable African Americans from Washington State.
4. Play mancala, a traditional counting game popular in Africa. Make your own mancala game from an egg carton.
5. Find opportunities in your community to celebrate Black History.
6. Reflect on issues African Americans face today. Visit the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs website for more information.
7. Create a Black History calendar for the whole year. Black history shouldn’t be confined to February. Click here to find an important event in African American history for every day of the year.
8. Talk with your child about Black History. Possible topics and questions to get started:
* What rights do we take for granted: the right to vote, to get an education, to read, to go shopping, to ride on a bus, to eat in a restaurant, to live where we choose, to get married. What would our lives be like without these rights?
* Many groups of people still experience racism or discrimination. Discuss with your child what this looks like today and what your family might do to treat all people fairly.
9. Use the World Wide Web to learn more about African-American History.
10. Remember that black history is everyone’s history.
1. Ask your local librarian to recommend books to read with your child.
2. Visit a museum or cultural arts institution that showcases African American art and culture.
3. Read about notable African Americans from Washington State.
4. Play mancala, a traditional counting game popular in Africa. Make your own mancala game from an egg carton.
5. Find opportunities in your community to celebrate Black History.
6. Reflect on issues African Americans face today. Visit the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs website for more information.
7. Create a Black History calendar for the whole year. Black history shouldn’t be confined to February. Click here to find an important event in African American history for every day of the year.
8. Talk with your child about Black History. Possible topics and questions to get started:
* What rights do we take for granted: the right to vote, to get an education, to read, to go shopping, to ride on a bus, to eat in a restaurant, to live where we choose, to get married. What would our lives be like without these rights?
* Many groups of people still experience racism or discrimination. Discuss with your child what this looks like today and what your family might do to treat all people fairly.
9. Use the World Wide Web to learn more about African-American History.
10. Remember that black history is everyone’s history.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Olympia Area Seniors Look Ahead to Graduation, College
Since 2004, The Olympian newspaper has followed 15 South Sound students set graduate this year. Here's a look at how a few of them feel about graduating and their next step afterward. The story also covers what requirements this class must meet in order to graduate. It's always interesting to get into the minds of students to see what convers them the most.
Click here to read the story.
Click here to read the story.
Touching Education Story from Vancouver
If you don't think people in today's education system really care -- I mean really care -- just read this story from The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver. Seven-year-old Luke Jensen has a rare form of leukemia, but with the efforts of his school, the hospital and his parents, he's still getting a quality education.
Click here to read the story.
And, when you're done with that, kudos to The Columbian on another quality education story on Running Start. It's about 17-year-old Jena Bodell, who's in her second year at Clark College and will earn her Associate of Arts degree as she graduates from Skyview High School this June.
Click here to read the story.
Click here to read the story.
And, when you're done with that, kudos to The Columbian on another quality education story on Running Start. It's about 17-year-old Jena Bodell, who's in her second year at Clark College and will earn her Associate of Arts degree as she graduates from Skyview High School this June.
Click here to read the story.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Students Learning Government and History
One of the more important aspects of life students can take from their time in school is how to navigate the world, especially when it comes to how their government works. Those students will become more engaged in the world as adults and simply be more informed about how government affects their lives, and how they can hold government accountable.
Rivers' Edge High School in Richland has taken an interesting approach in teaching students history and about their government. Maybe your school could take an idea or two from the following story that ran Friday in the Tri-City Herald.
Click here to read the story.
Rivers' Edge High School in Richland has taken an interesting approach in teaching students history and about their government. Maybe your school could take an idea or two from the following story that ran Friday in the Tri-City Herald.
Click here to read the story.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Grants Available, But Hurry!
Thanks for our friends at the National Network of Partnership Schools for passing this along. The first grant has a quick deadline, but it looks like a good one. Good luck!
The National Center for Family Literacy Verizon Tech Savvy Awards
The National Center for Family Literacy is looking for nominees for its Verizon Tech Savvy Award. The awards recognize programs that teach parents about current technology and enable them to better guide their children in the use of new media.
Maximum Award: $25,000
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, including community-based nonprofits, libraries and schools
Deadline: January 11, 2008
http://www.famlit.org/site/c.gtJWJdMQIsE/b.2180327/
Free Books for Read Across America Day
The Literacy Empowerment Foundation offers free books to build the school library for Read Across America Day, March 3, 2008. Resources are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early! This is a wonderful initiative that could work hand-in-hand with conducting a family reading night.
Maximum Award: varies
Eligibility: schools and literacy projects
Deadline: February 10, 2008.
http://www.lefbooks.org/reading_resource_project/
Littlest Volunteers Contest
The Walt Disney Company, in conjunction with Wondertime Magazine, is searching for stories about teaching young children the joys of volunteering. Volunteers who share their experiences, including what the students have learned from the volunteer efforts, will have the opportunity to win money for their favorite charity. This is a wonderful opportunity to complete a Type 3-Volunteering or Type 6 –Collaborating with the Community activity that will give back to the community.
Maximum Award: $5,000 to winner’s favorite charity
Eligibility: adults (parent, caregiver, or early childhood educator) volunteering with a child aged eight and younger
Deadline: February 29, 2008
http://wondertime.go.com/contest/littlest-volunteers/index.html
The National Center for Family Literacy Verizon Tech Savvy Awards
The National Center for Family Literacy is looking for nominees for its Verizon Tech Savvy Award. The awards recognize programs that teach parents about current technology and enable them to better guide their children in the use of new media.
Maximum Award: $25,000
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, including community-based nonprofits, libraries and schools
Deadline: January 11, 2008
http://www.famlit.org/site/c.gtJWJdMQIsE/b.2180327/
Free Books for Read Across America Day
The Literacy Empowerment Foundation offers free books to build the school library for Read Across America Day, March 3, 2008. Resources are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early! This is a wonderful initiative that could work hand-in-hand with conducting a family reading night.
Maximum Award: varies
Eligibility: schools and literacy projects
Deadline: February 10, 2008.
http://www.lefbooks.org/reading_resource_project/
Littlest Volunteers Contest
The Walt Disney Company, in conjunction with Wondertime Magazine, is searching for stories about teaching young children the joys of volunteering. Volunteers who share their experiences, including what the students have learned from the volunteer efforts, will have the opportunity to win money for their favorite charity. This is a wonderful opportunity to complete a Type 3-Volunteering or Type 6 –Collaborating with the Community activity that will give back to the community.
Maximum Award: $5,000 to winner’s favorite charity
Eligibility: adults (parent, caregiver, or early childhood educator) volunteering with a child aged eight and younger
Deadline: February 29, 2008
http://wondertime.go.com/contest/littlest-volunteers/index.html
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year!
Now that we're all back from our extended holiday break, here's a few education stories that you might have missed. We hope your new year will be one where you, your students and your family will be engaged with improving student learning. As always, we're here to help. Be sure to contact us at by e-mail cisl@k12.wa.us, by phone at (360) 725-6165 or via our Web site, www.yourlearningcenter.org.
Below are several interesting reads to start off 2008:
From The Herald in Everett:
Arlington dumping summer math help
Disappointing results are causing the Arlington School District to dump its summer school program aimed at getting high school students over the WASL math hump. Just three of 40 students enrolled in Arlington's math summer school program were able to pass the August retake of the math WASL.
From the News-Tribune in Tacoma:
Girl talks about life with teacher parents
Sixth-grader Sophia Sonovich writes about spending two years in her parents' respective fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms at Pioneer Valley Elementary in Spanaway. She says some ground rules helped the three of them preserve teacher-student boundaries.
From the Seattle P-I:
Anti-bullying program aims to teach students empathy
A program called the Roots of Empathy at Dearborn Park Elementary revolves around the idea that if children can learn to identify and understand how other people feel, and better communicate their own feelings, they'll be less aggressive and less likely to bully other students.
From the Tri-City Herald:
Exchange students teach as well as learn
Sandra El Daccache isn't Muslim. Plenty of people assume she is when they hear she's from Lebanon. The 16-year-old doesn't mind setting her new friends straight. That's part of why she's in Pasco this year. She and three other students from Muslim and Arab countries are studying in the Mid-Columbia as part of the Youth Exchange and Study Program.
Below are several interesting reads to start off 2008:
From The Herald in Everett:
Arlington dumping summer math help
Disappointing results are causing the Arlington School District to dump its summer school program aimed at getting high school students over the WASL math hump. Just three of 40 students enrolled in Arlington's math summer school program were able to pass the August retake of the math WASL.
From the News-Tribune in Tacoma:
Girl talks about life with teacher parents
Sixth-grader Sophia Sonovich writes about spending two years in her parents' respective fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms at Pioneer Valley Elementary in Spanaway. She says some ground rules helped the three of them preserve teacher-student boundaries.
From the Seattle P-I:
Anti-bullying program aims to teach students empathy
A program called the Roots of Empathy at Dearborn Park Elementary revolves around the idea that if children can learn to identify and understand how other people feel, and better communicate their own feelings, they'll be less aggressive and less likely to bully other students.
From the Tri-City Herald:
Exchange students teach as well as learn
Sandra El Daccache isn't Muslim. Plenty of people assume she is when they hear she's from Lebanon. The 16-year-old doesn't mind setting her new friends straight. That's part of why she's in Pasco this year. She and three other students from Muslim and Arab countries are studying in the Mid-Columbia as part of the Youth Exchange and Study Program.
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