ESR Partners with ASCD on the Whole Child Initiative
ESR has joined the 22 national organizations who have joined with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) as partners in the Whole Child Initiative, to engage the public and advocate for a whole child approach to education wherein educators, schools, parents, policymakers, and communities work together to ensure students are healthy, safe, engaged in learning, supported by caring adults, and challenged by a well-balanced curriculum. Please visit www.wholechildeducation.org to learn more about the initiative.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Connected and Respected Trainings from Educators for Social Responsibility
Educators for Social Responsibility E-News
December 2007
UPDATES! Connected & Respected in the Elementary Classroom Institutes
ESR invites elementary educators to explore Connected and Respected: Lessons from the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program. This curriculum, helps students develop the qualities of character, and social and emotional competencies that are not only vital to their academic success, but to their success in building and maintaining relationships and making positive contributions to their communities and the world.
Registration for the following institutes will open mid-January!
Long Island, New York on Monday, March 10, 2008
Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Old Lyme, Connecticut on Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Eastern Massachusetts (Marlborough) on Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bay Area, California (Hayward) on Monday, April 14, 2008
San Diego, California on Thursday, April 17, 2008
Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Northern New Jersey (Totowa) on Thursday, May 22, 2008
New Orleans, Louisiana and Richmond, Virginia to be determined!
For more information please contact Nicole Day at 617.492.1764 ext. 30 or nday@esrnational.org.
December 2007
UPDATES! Connected & Respected in the Elementary Classroom Institutes
ESR invites elementary educators to explore Connected and Respected: Lessons from the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program. This curriculum, helps students develop the qualities of character, and social and emotional competencies that are not only vital to their academic success, but to their success in building and maintaining relationships and making positive contributions to their communities and the world.
Registration for the following institutes will open mid-January!
Long Island, New York on Monday, March 10, 2008
Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Old Lyme, Connecticut on Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Eastern Massachusetts (Marlborough) on Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bay Area, California (Hayward) on Monday, April 14, 2008
San Diego, California on Thursday, April 17, 2008
Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Northern New Jersey (Totowa) on Thursday, May 22, 2008
New Orleans, Louisiana and Richmond, Virginia to be determined!
For more information please contact Nicole Day at 617.492.1764 ext. 30 or nday@esrnational.org.
Contact Governor Baldacci about proposed budget cuts
Given the horror of hunger in Maine, as well as rising home heating costs, the growing income and wealth gap and the importance of maintaining education and basic social services in our community, Governor Baldacci's proposed budget cuts are terrifying to me. (See the Press Herald article as well).
There are alternative ways to balance the budget (use the comments to share your best ideas ~ I favor raising income taxes on income in excess of $1,000,000) yet almost no alternatives to government for preserving a safety net, maintaining the health of our community and our children.
Send your thoughts to Governor Baldacci!
(See resources at the non-partisan Maine Center for Economic Policy for clarity about the State Budget, taxes, wages, etc.)
There are alternative ways to balance the budget (use the comments to share your best ideas ~ I favor raising income taxes on income in excess of $1,000,000) yet almost no alternatives to government for preserving a safety net, maintaining the health of our community and our children.
Send your thoughts to Governor Baldacci!
(See resources at the non-partisan Maine Center for Economic Policy for clarity about the State Budget, taxes, wages, etc.)
Hunger in Maine - Resources for Teaching
Brita, from Born to Read, left a comment about resources for talking with children about hunger (check out her comment in the previous post). There are obviously several dimensions -- talking with kids who are hungry about their experience, problem solving hunger, and talking with kids who are NOT hungry about hunger as a personal and social problem. It is so hard to know what is developmentally appropriate - how to shelter kids from problems too big for them and at the same time empower them to be change agents from the start.
Heifer International offers Read To Feed for kids between the 3rd and 6th grades. They offer lesson plans for teachers, as well as online games and book ideas for kids. (Maine was a Read to Feed state in 2005- 2006 but does not appear to currently be involved.)
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger is another site dedicated to global hunger awareness. They provide lesson plans for all ages and a list of great looking links.
Kids Can Make a Difference has a list of "action ideas" for kids as well as more curricular resources.
The Hunger Task Force has an article about teaching hungry children about hunger, as well as links to many resources including a book list for children's books (and adult books and curricular resources) by 2nd Harvest
Heifer International offers Read To Feed for kids between the 3rd and 6th grades. They offer lesson plans for teachers, as well as online games and book ideas for kids. (Maine was a Read to Feed state in 2005- 2006 but does not appear to currently be involved.)
Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger is another site dedicated to global hunger awareness. They provide lesson plans for all ages and a list of great looking links.
Kids Can Make a Difference has a list of "action ideas" for kids as well as more curricular resources.
The Hunger Task Force has an article about teaching hungry children about hunger, as well as links to many resources including a book list for children's books (and adult books and curricular resources) by 2nd Harvest
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Children's Hunger in Maine
Our holiday season has been filled with food, from Thanksgiving to the endless supply of extra cookies and sweets. We've worried about excess calories and too much sugar. Then, while cleaning the kitchen (and feeling slightly bitter about it), I happened to hear a Speaking In Maine program that reminded me what a luxury it is to have too much food and opened my eyes to a somewhat invisible but growing-at-crisis-speed problem in our communities - hungry children, hungry families.
You can hear the show by scrolling down to Dec 18th and listening as a podcast or on your computer:
Panel Discussion: "Poverty and the Two Maines"
Broadcast Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2007
We’ll hear a panel discussion titled “Poverty and the Two Maines.” The discussion was presented by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College in Lewiston. The panelists discuss the issue from their perspective and share thoughts about how the problem of poverty in the state can be addressed. Panelists include: Hannah Pingree, House Majority Leader of the Maine State Legislature; Sarah Standiford, Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby; Naomi Schalit, Opinion Page Editor for the Kennebec Journal; and Eric Smith, Congregational Outreach Coordinator, Maine Council of Churches.
The Kennebec Journal has a 7 part series describing the growing crisis Maine families face. Statistics are grim:
With a 3.3 percent increase in the number households experiencing hunger, Maine had the highest percentage growth rate of hungry people in the country between 2000 and 2005. Five years ago, we had 430 food pantries in this state; now we have 600. According to the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, from 2002 to 2005 the number of Maine households receiving food stamps increased by almost 50 percent; nationally, food stamp use increased by only 26 percent from 2000 to 2004.
In the past four years, the proportion of students eligible for free and reduced school lunch increased each year on a statewide basis as well as in most counties. More than one-third of the state’s school children were eligible during the 2005-06 school year for the free and reduced school lunch program. Almost half of all students in Somerset, Washington and Piscataquis counties were eligible.
You can hear the show by scrolling down to Dec 18th and listening as a podcast or on your computer:
Panel Discussion: "Poverty and the Two Maines"
Broadcast Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2007
We’ll hear a panel discussion titled “Poverty and the Two Maines.” The discussion was presented by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College in Lewiston. The panelists discuss the issue from their perspective and share thoughts about how the problem of poverty in the state can be addressed. Panelists include: Hannah Pingree, House Majority Leader of the Maine State Legislature; Sarah Standiford, Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby; Naomi Schalit, Opinion Page Editor for the Kennebec Journal; and Eric Smith, Congregational Outreach Coordinator, Maine Council of Churches.
The Kennebec Journal has a 7 part series describing the growing crisis Maine families face. Statistics are grim:
With a 3.3 percent increase in the number households experiencing hunger, Maine had the highest percentage growth rate of hungry people in the country between 2000 and 2005. Five years ago, we had 430 food pantries in this state; now we have 600. According to the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, from 2002 to 2005 the number of Maine households receiving food stamps increased by almost 50 percent; nationally, food stamp use increased by only 26 percent from 2000 to 2004.
In the past four years, the proportion of students eligible for free and reduced school lunch increased each year on a statewide basis as well as in most counties. More than one-third of the state’s school children were eligible during the 2005-06 school year for the free and reduced school lunch program. Almost half of all students in Somerset, Washington and Piscataquis counties were eligible.
Maine Students Take on Name Calling
From Teaching Tolerance:
Mix It Up Grants for Students
Earlier this year, 56 students and twelve teachers from Maine's Lincoln Academy participated in an experiential learning day in order to raise awareness and tolerance levels in their school, thanks to a Mix it Up Grant. Plagued by verbal harassment, slurs, and degrading language, students at Lincoln Academy admitted their, "school climate was becoming hostile and confrontational". The smaller group of students and faculty shared their lessons with the entire school throughout the semester, resulting in greater personal responsibility, cross-group understanding and compassion for others.
Students (like you and those at Lincoln Academy) know better than anyone what social boundaries are like in their schools and communities. That's why the Mix It Up Grants Program gives away thousands of dollars each year to student-led activist projects. Get a $500 Mix It Up Grant to support your project!
They also e-mailed a great pep-talk for 2008:
Poet Maya Angelou reveals--
I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes-it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all (1995).
As we reflect on this past year, let's think of our glass as "half full" instead of "half empty." Let us be proud of the accomplishments we made, and forgive ourselves of any faults. Let's learn from our mistakes-as well as those of our friends, families, and even teachers-and make a positive change in 2008!
Mix It Up Grants for Students
Earlier this year, 56 students and twelve teachers from Maine's Lincoln Academy participated in an experiential learning day in order to raise awareness and tolerance levels in their school, thanks to a Mix it Up Grant. Plagued by verbal harassment, slurs, and degrading language, students at Lincoln Academy admitted their, "school climate was becoming hostile and confrontational". The smaller group of students and faculty shared their lessons with the entire school throughout the semester, resulting in greater personal responsibility, cross-group understanding and compassion for others.
Students (like you and those at Lincoln Academy) know better than anyone what social boundaries are like in their schools and communities. That's why the Mix It Up Grants Program gives away thousands of dollars each year to student-led activist projects. Get a $500 Mix It Up Grant to support your project!
They also e-mailed a great pep-talk for 2008:
Poet Maya Angelou reveals--
I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes-it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all (1995).
As we reflect on this past year, let's think of our glass as "half full" instead of "half empty." Let us be proud of the accomplishments we made, and forgive ourselves of any faults. Let's learn from our mistakes-as well as those of our friends, families, and even teachers-and make a positive change in 2008!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Giving
Tis the season... and so much of the focus is on buying and getting. In the midst of it, I was glad to stumble on the beautifully illustrated children's book "Mama, I'll Give You the World. by Roni Schotter and illustrated by S. Saelig Gallagher.
The story is about Luisa and her hard-working and slightly sad mother. Luisa's mother reminds her that she is saving money for Luisa to go to college : "Mama wants Luisa to learn everything." But Luisa is smart and listens carefully. She has already learned that mama is a bit lonely and nostalgic for her younger days. Luisa plots with Mama's coworkers and plans a surprise party for her. Although the book is slightly precious and it feels like Luisa is carrying a large load, the author keeps the text light enough and suspenseful enough to engage kids and grown-ups and the ending is so happy and full of mother-daughter connection that it inspires kids and adults to remember how good giving can feel.
[Other books featuring single moms are reviewed at Myrtle Jane Chicken, Literary Maven]
The story is about Luisa and her hard-working and slightly sad mother. Luisa's mother reminds her that she is saving money for Luisa to go to college : "Mama wants Luisa to learn everything." But Luisa is smart and listens carefully. She has already learned that mama is a bit lonely and nostalgic for her younger days. Luisa plots with Mama's coworkers and plans a surprise party for her. Although the book is slightly precious and it feels like Luisa is carrying a large load, the author keeps the text light enough and suspenseful enough to engage kids and grown-ups and the ending is so happy and full of mother-daughter connection that it inspires kids and adults to remember how good giving can feel.
[Other books featuring single moms are reviewed at Myrtle Jane Chicken, Literary Maven]
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