National Afterschool Association 2009 Convention

Jazzing It Up Afterschool Style: Leadership, Learning and Creativity in New Orleans - NAA's 21st Annual Convention - is being held April 2 - 4, 2009, at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Over 3,000 afterschool professionals and stakeholders are expected to attend. It's one of the largest conventions for the afterschool field, and, this year, takes place as a joint conference overlapping with the annual convention of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

National Girls Collaborative Project Program Directory

"The goal of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) is to maximize access to shared resources within projects and with public and private sector organizations and institutions interested in expanding girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and math. More information and resources are available at the project Web site.

One of the valuable NGCP resources is the free, online Program Directory. The Program Directory lists programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborated on STEM-related projects for girls."

CJC's Cultural Competency Guide

The Chicago Jobs Council Cultural Competency and Employment Initiative offers this concise guide as a resource for organizations based in Chicago and beyond: Ready? Set. Grow! A Starter’s Guide for Becoming Culturally Competent. The authors explain, "Workforce development organizations must recognize and value a diverse set of skills and abilities from their employees and job seekers and provide a workplace environment that is nurturing. CJC believes that creating a nurturing environment and addressing racial, ethnic, and other cultural issues, will lead to more productive workers and better opportunities and outcomes for job seekers. This guide is provided to assist you as you begin to explore diversity training and pursue the building of a more culturally competent organization."

Assessing What Kids Think About Themselves

"Children in the United States tend to experience a decline in positive self-concept during their adolescent years. This decline often begins around age 12 for girls and around age 14 for boys. For some, the decline can become severe in early adolescence (between the ages 14 and 16) before generally recovering
in the mid-teen years.1 Having a negative selfconcept during adolescence has been associated with maladaptive behaviors and emotions. In contrast, having a positive self-concept has been linked to positive social and emotional development. This brief discusses child and adolescent self-concept and provides
information for out-of-school time program practitioners on how to assess self-concept among program participants. The brief also suggests ways that program practitioners can foster positive self-concept in adolescents."

Adobe Youth Voices - Resources for Educators

The Adobe Youth Voices Program provides resources for educators, including links to a wide range of instructional materials and tutorials on digital photography, digital video, and digital storytelling. It is one of the resources highlighted in the recently launched Technology Curriculum Database, developed by YouthLearn for the U.S. Department of Education-funded National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning at SEDL.

This global philanthropic initiative to empower youth serves educators and afterschool practitioners who are integrating digital media into their classrooms and learning centers. Through media arts production, young people can give voice to issues that they care about—and share their movies, animation, Web sites or other works with a wide audience. Housed in the Adobe Digital Kids Club, the resources for educators feature lesson plans and curriculum ideas as well as expert advice. In addition, galleries in the Digital Kids Club and on the Youth Voices Web site exhibit a variety of works that model techniques for media making and inspire young artists.

Geoffrey Canada: 'Whatever It Takes' To Teach Kids

"The Harlem Children's Zone, writes New York Times reporter Paul Tough, is 'the first and so far the only organization in the country that pulls together ... integrated social and educational services for thousands of children' — all under one umbrella, all in one place, all at one time.

It's the brainchild of education and social-services reformer Geoffrey Canada, and it's nothing less than an audacious poverty-eradication effort that, as Publishers Weekly explains, is 'predicated upon changing everything' in the New York City neighborhoods it targets, 'creating an interlocking web of services targeted at the poorest and least likely-to-succeed children.'"

An interview with Geoffrey Canada and Paul Tough just aired on the NPR program Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Strengthening Out-of-School Time Organizations

"Modestly funded and often stretched to their limits, the organizations that provide out-of-school time (OST) programming face mounting demands to deliver higher quality services to more children. The Wallace Foundation recently asked several experts in the OST field to identify what they think are the key organizational, administrative and management obstacles impeding OST providers from lifting the quality of their programs and discuss how those might be overcome."

Download the white papers for free at the Wallace Foundation website: "Strengthening Out-of-School Time Nonprofits: The Role of Foundations in Building Organizational Capacity," by Heather B. Weiss and Priscilla D. Little of the Harvard Family Research Project; "A New Day for Youth: Creating Sustainable Quality in Out of School Time," by Harvard researcher Gil G. Noam; "A View from the Field: Helping Community Organizations Meet Capacity Challenges," by Lucy N. Friedman, president of The After-School Corporation, a New York City-based nonprofit.

Blueprint for 21st Century Civic Engagement

The Media Education Lab at Temple University announces the release of its "latest multimedia curriculum, developed in partnership with PBS Teachers, just in time for Election 2008: ACCESS, ANALYZE, ACT: A Blueprint for 21st Century Civic Engagement.

This curriculum is designed to help develop students' understanding of the Presidential campaign process by harnessing the power of Web 2.0 for teaching media and information literacy, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and technology skills. There are more than a dozen social media tools showcased in this curriculum that can engage young learners in the political process. Teachers will gain confidence in using social media for student learning when viewing these videos and using these lesson plans."

Play, Spirit & Character Radio Program

"Stuart Brown, a physician and director of the National Institute for Play, says that pleasurable, purposeless activity prevents violence and promotes trust, empathy, and adaptability to life's complication. He promotes cutting-edge science on human play, and draws on a rich universe of study of intelligent social animals." You can listen online or download the podcast of this interview by Krista Tippet of American Public Media's Speaking of Faith.

Model Projects: Maker Faire Inspires Learning and Creativity

At an event called Maker Faire Education Day, "the first of its kind, two dozen inventors shared their ideas and creations -- from electronic gadgets to homemade instruments -- and discussed the scientific principles that make their work possible.

Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Faire -- the larger, weekend-long public event on which the Maker Faire Education Day is based -- says traditional vocational-arts courses are disappearing from school curricula, but many professions still require hands-on skills. This event is one way to keep interest in manual efforts alive."

Immersion Presents Ocean Exploration - Multimedia Curricular Materials

Immersion Presents is a multimedia program designed for formal and informal settings that engages young people in the excitement and adventure of ocean exploration. It is one of the resources highlighted in the recently launched Technology Curriculum Database, developed by YouthLearn for the U.S. Department of Education-funded National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning at SEDL.

Founded by oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard in 2002, Immersion Presents broadcasts live expeditions from places like the Black Sea and the site of the Titanic wreckage. Curriculum packages built around these expeditions consist of hands-on activities such as making model volcanoes and exploring the layers of the ocean. Related expedition resources such as mission logs, photo galleries, interactive features, and message boards, dramatically expand the learning experience for youth.

A New Literary Hero: Comics Make for Colorful Learning

"First graders in the after-school program at the Bronx's PS 90 spent part of last school year working collaboratively to create a comic book called The Bionic Butterfly. The title character, infected with pollutants, turned into a very strong, intelligent superhero butterfly with a mission to warn insects -- and humans -- about the dangers facing Earth's environment.

This year, groups of kindergartners, first graders, and fourth graders are writing and drawing comics on the topic of bullying. 'The kids get to color and draw, which they love to do anyway,' says Claudia Bostick, after-school coordinator at the school, whose program is funded by the After School Corporation and the Bronx's Citizens Advice Bureau. 'We can sneak in other art lessons in that context. And for literacy, it's great. This encourages them to tell stories, to write stories, and to listen better.'"

Creativity in Public Education

In a new video clip frontpaged on Edutopia, innovation consultant Sir Ken Robinson talks about the transformation needed in public education to nurture creativity… and he advocates making creativity an “operational idea like literacy.” The clip (15 minutes) was recorded at the Apple Education Leadership Summit in April 2008. An older article written by Robinson on similar themes is also linked.

Op-Ed: Put a Little Science in Your Life

"I’ve increasingly come to believe: our educational system fails to teach science in a way that allows students to integrate it into their lives," writes Professor Brian Greene in a New York Times Op-Ed. "When we consider the ubiquity of cellphones, iPods, personal computers and the Internet, it’s easy to see how science (and the technology to which it leads) is woven into the fabric of our day-to-day activities," and yet, "I’ve spoken with so many people over the years whose encounters with science in school left them thinking of it as cold, distant and intimidating. They happily use the innovations that science makes possible, but feel that the science itself is just not relevant to their lives. What a shame.

Like a life without music, art or literature, a life without science is bereft of something that gives experience a rich and otherwise inaccessible dimension."

Schools of the 21st Century Conference

"Superintendents, principals, teachers and program directors, from community schools, Schools of the 21st Century (21C) and family resource centers, will gather at a Yale University-sponsored national conference on July 14-16, 2008, to learn from experts - including researchers, foundation executives, and state agency leaders - in the field of child development and education and family support. Sessions on early care and education and school-age care will focus on such topics as financing, evaluation strategies, research, music, brain development and more."

The FunWorks - Digital Library for STEM Career Exploration

The FunWorks is a dynamic digital library designed by and for youth that supports career exploration in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. It is one of the resources highlighted in the newly launched Technology Curriculum Database, developed by YouthLearn for the U.S. Department of Education-funded National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning at SEDL.

Created in an engaging multimedia format, the FunWorks website consolidates information, activities, interactive games, and other resources tied to an array of career choices including Music, Technology, Art/Design, Medicine/Law, Sports, and Exploration. This resource gives young people the opportunity to pursue their interests and make meaningful connections to careers. A project of EDC, the FunWorks was funded by the National Science Foundation.

My Pop Studio - Curriculum and Online Activities/Media

My Pop Studio is a creative play experience and online interactive space for girls, designed to build media literacy and critical thinking skills. A robust curriculum guides educators in facilitating activities that promote candid discussion and reflection. The site enables users to learn about the inner workings of the media industry including music production, television, magazine publishing, and multimedia – to deconstruct the process and discover the techniques media makers use to subtly influence their audiences. In each area, youth experiment with different media-making roles while analyzing the impact media has on their self-image and daily lives.

News-2-You - Online Learning/Interactives

News-2-You, a subscription-based service, provides a weekly online newspaper composed of text and pictures, as well as interactive Web-based games, software-supported activities, and other curricular materials. Designed especially for beginning readers and learners with special needs, this suite of resources gives individuals who are typically overlooked by news organizations access to information about current events. The currency and relevance of the newspaper topics, which are further supported by online games and hands-on activities, draw young people in and accelerate their learning.

OWIKIT - Robotics Kit and Curriculum

Created by RobotiKits Direct Company, OWIKITs provide accessible materials and instruction for those interested in robotic technology, giving users the tools to put together and operate a wide array of robots. The projects are both whimsical and engaging. Young people can work collaboratively to construct hopping frogs, probing moonwalkers, and remote-control beetles. Written by teachers, the curriculum features modules tailored for learners ages 9 and up that introduce concepts such as electricity, gear mechanics, and propulsion. The kits, which often employ microcomputers, are designed for a range of skill and experience levels, from an easy-to-assemble solar-powered race car in the junior science series to touch-sensitive robots in the advanced series.

Young Digital Creators Educator's Kit - Packaged Curriculum

The Young Digital Creators (YDC) Educator's Kit and CD-ROM presents a user-friendly curriculum that creates opportunities for young people to reflect on global development issues, and to share ideas and artwork with peers around the world, at the same time as they develop technical skills. This detailed lesson plan and supporting material, written for educators working in schools, youth clubs, community centers, and training institutes, promotes multicultural understanding, creative thinking, and problem solving.

Learning in Hand - Collection of Lesson Plans for Handhelds

This collection of nearly 50 lesson plans for different age groups offers a rich variety of ways to use electronic handheld devices in learning across the curriculum. Educator Tony Vincent has created the Learning in Hand Web site to share resources with teachers who are interested in using handheld devices, such as Pocket PCs, Palm Handhelds and iPods, in innovative ways to enhance learning: putting technology directly in the hands of young people. The lesson plans are straightforward, easy to follow, and standards-based. Educators will find links to free downloadable software on the site that can open doors to a range of possibilities. The site also provides links to additional support for educators, from basic tech support to assistance with implementation.

New Technology Curriculum Database Created by YouthLearn

We're pleased to announce the launch of a website for educators seeking technology curriculum for their programs: Afterschool Curriculum Choice: Technology Resources is a project of the YouthLearn Initiative and the U.S. Department of Education-funded National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning at SEDL.

This collection of resources is designed to help practitioners locate and make informed choices about high-quality technology resources to enrich their programs. We chose these curricular materials because they represent the wide variety of resources, from activity guides to online games to software packages, that can support compelling learning experiences in informal settings.

You can browse through all the resources by title, grade level or subject area. On the search page, you can find curricula that match your specific needs by selecting key words, design features, technology type or subject area.

Note that several resources contained in two other curriculum databases, Afterschool Curriculum Choice Literacy Resources and Consumers' Guide to Afterschool Science Resources, also integrate technology in meaningful ways. If you Browse by Title, a list of additional resources selected from these databases is appended to provide even more choices for you and your program.

More Time for Teens—Frequency, Intensity and Duration—In Boys & Girls Clubs

"Mounting evidence suggests that sustained participation in structured out-of-school-time activities is key to healthy development and positive outcomes for youth. Thus, strategies for promoting and maintaining youth engagement, particularly as youth gain independence during the middle and high school years, are of increasing interest to program operators and funders. P/PV explores what it takes to involve teens in positive out-of-school-time activities in a new report, More Time for Teens, written midway through a three-year longitudinal evaluation of the role Boys & Girls Clubs play in the lives of the youth they serve."

New Issue Brief Urges Leaders to Promote Equitable Technology Access and Innovative Applications

"The Children's Partnership released Information Technology Making a Difference in Children’s Lives: An Issue Brief for Leaders for Children. The report provides research and case studies demonstrating how digital tools and applications can improve children’s education, health, and opportunities for empoyment and civic engagement.

The report encourages groups working on children’s issues to include technology planks in their platforms and policy agendas. It also prompts children's leaders to work to ensure underserved children have equal access to digital tools and to promote the use of information and communications technology to increase the efficiency and accessibility of public programs."

Teaching with Passion: Advice for Young Educators

"For more than forty years, Jonathan Kozol has taught in, worked with, and written about America's inner city public schools. His straight talk in best-selling books such as Savage Inequalities and Amazing Grace has made him a hero of many teachers, and he fiercely opposes government policies he believes perpetuate educational inequities.... He also seized the opportunity to opine on what he considers two of the biggest problems facing public schools today: staggering attrition rates among new teachers and the rigid instructional methods many schools employ because of federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Passionate, committed educators can attack inequity, he said, and he offered his audience of nearly 1,100 teachers, mentors, school leaders, and researchers advice for building relationships, fostering creativity, and standing up for their students."

Even Without Technology Youth Media Thrives

"In the growing pantheon of youth media scholarship fine distinctions exist, but at its core, youth media is a process of engaging young people in an artistic enterprise that is based in young people's experience and exploration of the world. Young people endeavor to carve a space for real participation in the public sphere, and forge more balanced meaningful relationships with the larger community—skills necessary for successful participation in civil society.

No young person exists in isolation. Regardless of the means of transmission, youth media practitioners create an infrastructure of support, bringing layered expertise and insight to the practice of educating youth media producers."

Afterschools Investments Project Offers New Resources

"Afterschool Investments, a technical assistance provider for Child Care and Development Fund grantees, among other state and local leaders, has announced four new resources to assist in afterschool programming development. In support of these efforts, Afterschool Investments released the following reports: 'Using Quality Rating Systems to Promote Quality in Afterschool Programs'; 'School-Age Children in Regulated Family Child Care Settings'; 'Building Professional Development Systems for the Afterschool Field'; and 'State Child Care Subsidy Administration Policies for School-Age Children.'"

Developing Spaces by and for Teens

Just published: "A guide to creating teen space, which highlights the lessons learned through the ten-year Facilities Initiative of the Children’s Investment Fund and Build the Out-Of-School Time Network... Unlike younger children, older youth have more autonomy and independence regarding how and where they spend their out-of-school time. Whether you are constructing new space or renovating existing space, it is important to consider the voice of the teen user when creating your project.... BOSTnet and the Children’s Investment Fund bring to you the lessons that they have learned throughout over 10 years of the Facilities Initiative. This initiative provided financial and technical support to programs creating new space or renovating existing space to improve the quality of before and after school time in Boston." Excerpts can be downloaded for free. You can order the complete guide for $10.

Community-Based Fact Sheets - Service-Learning Resources

Added to a collection of community-based resources are "four fact sheets that Search Institute created for the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse as part of our role of program advisor for community-based service-learning. Each fact sheet has a Web version (which is longer) and a print version (which is 2 pages long only). The topics are: Developmental Assets: A Framework for Enriching Service-Learning; Benefits of Community-Based Service-Learning; Service-Learning with Disadvantaged Youth; Developing Partnerships for Service-Learning: Starting Points for Community-Based Organizations."

"Growing Up Online" Film and Teacher's Guide

A "provocative new documentary produced by PBS Frontline... delves deep into adolescent online behavior since teens are spending a lot of time interacting with others via digital media.

Viewing and discussing this engaging film with your students is a good start—and it’s available online. Kelly Mendoza and Renee Hobbs recently created the Teacher's Guide which provides a wealth of resources to use in the classroom or at home to help kids and parents understand what it means to 'grow up online.' Here's a sampling of what's available: Quiz for parents and caregivers: What kind of cyber guide are you? Lesson plan: How did Myspace become your space? Activity: The disconnection experiment"

Simulation Nation: The Promise of Virtual Learning Activities

In a recent article in Edutopia, Marc Prensky writes about "how and why yet another technology that could be enormously powerful for our kids' learning is getting short shrift in our educational system -- despite the successes we can, in fact, find and cite. Simulation is not just another in the long line of passing fads (or short-term opportunities) in educational technology. It is, rather, a real key to helping our students understand the world.

Computer-simulation technology is a way of looking at objects or systems that encourage a learner not only to wonder, 'What would happen if . . . ?' but also to try out those alternatives virtually and see the consequences.... It is my strong sense that in America's K-12 educational system, simulations are being used only in isolated and nonsystematic ways compared to other teaching tools such as textbooks, videos, and traditional science manipulatives. This meager usage is detrimental to the education of our twenty-first-century kids, and must change."

New Website: "Be The Change: Upstanders for Human Rights" Officially Launched

"Facing History and Ourselves' new interactive website, 'Be the Change: Upstanders for Human Rights', profiles the stories of five extraordinary human rights award winners who have made a positive difference in the world. Designed for middle and high school students, and created with the help of student interviewers, 'Be the Change' looks at the influences, inspirations and motivations that led the five upstanders to take action on behalf of others. By taking the journey through the website, students connect with a growing global network of their peers who care about creating a more just world... In addition, 'Be the Change' offers lists of resources and organizations to help students think more critically about the roles they might play in the world, their responsibilities and obligations towards their communities, and the choices they will make in their own lives."

Afterschool Advantage: Powerful New Learning Opportunities

A collaborative publication addressing key topics in afterschool argues, "Afterschool programs offer a unique opportunity to respond to our students’ needs for skills and understanding to succeed in today’s globally interconnected society and workforce. But bringing 21st-century skills to every child requires a commitment from the community. It also requires a new era of cooperation between traditional K–12 institutions and afterschool and youth development institutions. Designed and implemented imaginatively and creatively, afterschool programs can play a unique role in providing our students with what they need to succeed in today’s globally interconnected society and workforce. And every student across the nation will benefit from this community-based approach to learning for the 21st century."

Let a Thousand Voices Speak: Guide to Youth Radio

"It is remarkable how many different ways there are to set up and run a program for youth in radio. There are projects with lots of staff and money and others with none; projects that are part of a station, projects that are part of a high school, and some that are independent... In this manual you will find descriptions of many programs, sample curricula, information about equipment, additional resources, and stories about lessons learned, obstacles overcome, and challenges still to be met. Let a Thousand Voices Speak is designed to share information about many projects so that community radio stations, high schools, non-profit arts organizations and community groups can start and grow their own youth in radio programs." It is supported by the Youth Initiatives Program of the Open Society Institute.

Listening Across Borders: Creating Virtual Spaces for Youth Global Exchange

"As we transition into an increasingly global and technology dependant society, new participatory media networks have the potential to affect an international youth-led social justice movement... As youth media educators, how can we create a different kind of pedagogical space where young people from around the globe can use the tools of participatory media (blogs, wikis, social networks, digital sharing sites, etc.) to connect politically and socially? How do we learn to 'listen across borders'—the first step in creating a youth platform for global social justice? These sets of questions inspired [Mindy Faber] to create YouthLAB, a program where youth are in charge, conceptualizing how to use participatory media as a springboard for youth leadership, activism and organizing."

Month of the Young Adolescent

"The National Middle School Association is leading the celebration, once again, of the Month of the Young Adolescent. At their MOYA website, you'll find ideas about ways to celebrate, sample proclamations, and our favorite — the online publication Expressions from the Middle —- which features student artwork with middle grades themes. If you're looking for colorful MS illustrations for those otherwise boring PowerPoints, this is a great resource! There's also a link to send submissions for next year's MOYA student art competition."

Technology Help the Old-Fashioned Way

Common Craft "makes simple 'papercraft' tutorials designed to teach users about digital concepts.' Turns out that a papercraft tutorial is a video presentation in which a knowledgable person simply explains a digital tool or concept, using a whiteboard (the dumb kind) and a marker! If you're a visual learner, or just like the idea of 'simply,' explore some of the tutorials at the Common Craft website. The most recent is Social Bookmarking (on the homepage)." They also offer video tutorials on Wikis and RSS.

Five Reasons Why Evaluation Can Help Out-of-School Programs

"Child Trends released two new briefs in its series on practical evaluation methods for out-of-school time programs: 1) Why Conduct a Program Evaluation? Five Reasons Why Evaluation Can Help an Out-of-School Time Program... This brief defines program evaluation; addresses common concerns program managers and practitioners have regarding evaluation; and outlines five major reasons why conducting a program evaluation can benefit an out-of-school time program. 2) Five Steps for Selecting an Evaluator: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Practitioners... This brief describes different types of evaluations and outlines five steps for selecting an evaluator that can benefit a program in the long run. It also provides some tips on the cost of evaluations."

Preparing Staff to Work with Immigrant Youth

"The National Youth Development Information Center has a publication and training module to help staff work effectively with immigrant youth. It includes a PowerPoint presentation that is an effective tool to use with leaders, champions and board members to encourage an understanding of the importance and organizational implications of serving immigrant youth."

Listening to Youth: The Experience of Young People in Northern Uganda

"The summary report is based on findings from a May 2007 assessment to northern Uganda in which the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children interviewed young people about the impact of war on their lives and prospects for the future, and their recommendations to local, national and international actors. Findings from this study, supported by UNICEF, also contributed to the 10-year Strategic Review of the 'Machel Study' on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children."

TASC Announces New Paper on High School After-School Programs

"The After-School Corporation (TASC) is pleased to announce the release of 'Meeting the High School Challenge: Making After-School Work for Older Students.' This paper, prepared by TASC, provides a description and lessons learned from one of the nation’s largest, longest-running efforts to offer teens high quality, structured after-school programs, filling more than 40,000 seats over nine years in New York City public high school after-school programs. Older students who participate in after-school programs significantly improve their chances for success, yet serving them effectively is one of the greatest challenges for the after-school field. The paper describes promising programmatic models; examines the situations in which they work best; and warns of possible pitfalls."

Youth Interview Mentors that Matter

"Who are the significant adults in the lives of teenagers, beyond the home and classroom? How do they reach out to youth, and why? In the first six months of 2007, youth across the nation gave their answers, as they interviewed, photographed, and publicly honored 'Mentors That Matter' in four cities (Chicago, Providence, San Francisco, and Tampa). They nominated people from all walks of life—artists, coaches, public officials, even a school bus driver and a hair stylist—who show that they care about 'other people’s children.'" This What Kids Can Do initiative was sponsored by the MetLife Foundation.

Teaching for Social Justice

"The new issue of Urban Education Journal, "Teaching for Social Justice," from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, asks: how can we, as educators, confront the social injustices entangled in a wide range of social tragedies including racism, classism, homophobia, sexism, ableism, and environmental injustice? The articles included tackle a wide range of issues and share a theme of searching, and struggling for re-engagement in the meanings, ways of teaching, learning, and speaking about social justice in education. The "searches" in this issue fall into two categories: investigations into how teachers become social justice practitioners, and analyses and arguments regarding the discourses surrounding teaching for social justice."

Helping Our Children with Disabilities Succeed: What's Broadband got to do with it?

"The second in a series on how broadband benefits children, this issue brief examines how children with disabilities use broadband and other technologies. The report concludes that while technology gives children with special needs new opportunities, they are substantially less likely than their peers without disabilities to have access to computers, the Internet, and accessible and assistive technology." This issue brief by Jessica Rothschuh and April KirkHart with Wendy Lazarus was published in July 2007 by the Children's Partnership.

Child Trends Reports Assist Out-of-School Time Program Providers

This year Child Trends, a respected nonprofit, nonpartisan research center, has produced a number of reports and research briefs of interest to educators working in out-of-school time programs. They include: "Improving Attendance and Retention in Out-of-School Time Programs"; "Building, Engaging, and Supporting Family and Parental Involvement in Out-of-School Time Programs"; "A 10-Step Guide to Adopting and Sustaining Evidence-Based Practices in Out-of-School Time Programs"; "Assessing the Mental Health of Adolescents: A Guide For Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners"; "Enhancing Cultural Competence in Out-of-School Time Programs: What Is It and Why Is It Important?"; "Logic Models in Out-of-School Time Programs."

Beats the Heck Out of School: Producing Music - and Entrepreneurs

"A former industrial building in San Francisco’s Mission District is headquarters for the DJ Project, an after-school and summer program for teenagers and young adults sponsored by the San Francisco youth-development organization Horizons Unlimited. Every year since 2000, about one hundred students have passed through these halls to their classes in audio production, DJ-ing, and break dancing. The program, funded primarily through the San Francisco Department of Public Health's Inhalant Prevention Program, uses hip-hop as a means to teach students critical-thinking, technology, and business skills; nurture their passion for music; and, most importantly, help them steer clear of drugs and other pitfalls of an inner city childhood.... administrators at the DJ Project aim to do more than simply teach music skills. It is, in effect, a vocational program -- an artistic one, but a vocational program nonetheless. Administrators and instructors believe students should graduate thinking of themselves not just as artists but as entrepreneurs as well."

Interview with Youth of the Global Challenge 2007 Winning Team

"Team Innovatech, the 2007 winner of the Global Challenge competition, identified a technology that converts factory emissions into energy and devised a plan to take that technology global." In Global Challenge, "teams of US high school students collaborate with international counterparts from October to May to address global climate change and compete for over $60,000 in awards. Students strengthen skills in math, science, engineering, and critical thinking, while learning about global business practices." The young people on Team Innovatech field questions about the science and their experience at the Cogito website. Global Challenge is now an ITEST (Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers) project, funded by the National Science Foundation.

Making an Impact Through Youth Media

"Helping young people express themselves through media -- including new technologies -- can be a powerful strategy for youth development. The latest Youth Worker News from the National Youth Development Information Center offers case studies of programs using youth media, curricula and guides, and funding tools for programs. "

Afterschool Can Support Teacher Recruitment, Retention

"While student enrollment is rising, schools across the country are facing a critical shortage of teachers. A new MetLife-Afterschool Alliance issue brief, 'Afterschool: A Powerful Path to Teacher Recruitment and Retention,' explores this vital issue and the role that afterschool programs can play in bringing new teachers to the field and keeping those already in the classroom. The issue brief is one of a series sponsored by the MetLife Foundation that will address the benefits afterschool programs provide to children, families and communities."

Reaching out to Diverse Families

"Family involvement in schools is often limited to a small group of parents who seem to do everything. Culturally diverse families may not feel they fit in at the school or have a different perspective on what it means to be involved, so they are often left out of school activities. How can schools move beyond a limited level of family involvement and encourage all families to become more active in their children's schools and education? A strategy brief from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) helps answer this question. It discusses strategies helpful to schools that want to broaden and deepen involvement beyond the traditional fundraising or party-planning activities. In 'Reaching Out to Diverse Populations: What Can Schools Do to Foster Family-School Connections', author Chris Ferguson says that research has indicated that parents, regardless of their ethnicity, culture, or economic status are interested in their children's education."

Using TANF to Finance Out-of-School Time Initiatives

"Quality out-of-school time programs are important elements of an effective system of community supports and services for families and children. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program can be a vital source of funding for maintaining, improving, and expanding out-of-school time initiatives. This brief is designed to help policymakers and program developers understand the opportunities and challenges of effectively using TANF funding to support out-of-school time initiatives. It presents general considerations for using TANF to finance out-of-school time initiatives in light of reauthorization, explores three strategies for using TANF funding and considerations for each strategy, and provides examples of innovative state approaches."

Lighting the Way: Photography for Visually Impaired Students

"What would children who are blind show us about the world if they learned to take pictures? The question first occurred to photographer Tony Deifell in 1991, soon after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied anthropology. A year later, he sought an answer by setting up an experimental photography program, called Sound Shadows, at Governor Morehead School for the Blind, in Raleigh, North Carolina... not long after Sound Shadows got under way, Sheila Breitweiser, the school's superintendent at the time, received a package from a student in the program that demonstrated the project's benefits. With her first roll of film, Leuwynda Forbes, then eighteen, had aimed her mechanical eye at cracks in the school's sidewalks. Deifell was dismayed at first, thinking that precious film had been wasted on accidental exposures. Then he saw the note Forbes had attached to one of the photographs, a message for Breitweiser that read, 'Since you are sighted, you may not notice these cracks. They are a big problem, since my white cane gets stuck in them.' The cracks were promptly fixed."

Chapin Hall Webinar Focuses on Youth Workforce Development

The Forum for Youth Investment Program Manager Elizabeth Gaines presented in this Web conference "to explore the challenges and solutions for disadvantaged youth entering the workforce. Elizabeth shared the Ready by 21 Framework which focuses on the importance of 21st century skills and the systems coordination that must happen to get those skills to the young people that need them. She also shared some promising state policy examples." At this site you can link to a recording of the Web conference, view panelist PowerPoint presentations, and read the audience Q & A log. You can also see a related Forum issue brief on Ready for Work.

ESL Social Network/Portal Debuts

"English as a second language (ESL) startup AppleESL.com (Hollywood, CA) has unveiled a new ESL Web portal of the same name, which provides teachers and students with online and downloadable tools, materials, activity templates, lesson plans, and audio and video files.

Leveraging the successful model of social media sites such as YouTube, AppleESL.com lets users share, update, and download the audio and video. The goal of such an approach is to keep instruction materials fresh and constantly renewed."

Community Programs to Promote Youth Development

"After-school programs, scout groups, community service activities, religious youth groups, and other community-based activities have traditionally been an important part of the lives of many adolescents. But what do such programs contribute in the formation of today’s adolescents? Do we know how to design youth programs so that they can successfully meet young people’s developmental needs and help them become healthy, happy, and productive
adults?

Community Programs to Promote Youth Development, a report of the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Community-Level Programs for Youth, explores these questions, focusing on essential elements of adolescent wellbeing and healthy development. It offers recommendations for policy, practice, and research to ensure that programs are well designed to meet young people’s developmental needs."

AnimAction Gallery of Youth Media

Promoting ‘Awareness through Animation,’ this organization provides professional development and curriculum for animation projects. Their gallery of media works is a great source of youth-produced public service announcements.

Afterschool Training Toolkit for Technology

"Make the most of afterschool with fun activities that engage students and extend technology learning!" The Afterschool Training Toolkit for Technology has been published online by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL). In this resource, "you will find what the research says about promising practices that work, ways to implement them in your afterschool program, sample lessons, and illustrative videos." YouthLearn Director Tony Streit has been working with SEDL for the past three years on development of this toolkit, which includes YouthLearn links and resources.

Tools for Mentoring Adolescents

"For new approaches and insights, ideas for engaging community members, and resources for building stronger mentor-mentee relationships with teens, check out these tools from the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and the Search Institute."

What Works in Youth Media: Case Studies from Around the World

"This publication grew out of the International Youth Foundation’s (IYF) core focus on promoting active youth participation in the communities where they live." Written by Sheila Kinkade and Christy Macy, with a foreword by Christiane Amanpour, this is part of IYF's 'What Works' series of publications.

"Our goal through this publication is to profile a diverse range of youth media projects operating internationally in the hope their experiences and lessons learned will help inform and guide the work of others contemplating or undertaking similar activities."

Five-Year-Olds Drive Their Own PBL Projects

"At this award-winning kindergarten learning center, shared with a special-education preschool, the students decide what projects they want to tackle, and teachers guide them to resources, on the Internet and in books, that help them create something from what they learn. Whether they're building an airplane or a cruise ship, or conducting a funeral for the class praying mantis, AEEC students are learning more than basic facts and skills. They are acquiring a taste for the process of lifelong learning...

Although the project-based curriculum generates much of the enthusiasm for learning here, a recent infusion of technology -- putting interactive whiteboards in every classroom -- has raised the bar for students and teachers."

Science in After-School: A Blueprint for Action

"The Coalition for Science After School is pleased to announce its latest report, Science in After-School: A Blueprint for Action. This report lays out a blueprint for how to build a sustainable system of after-school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities at a scale that makes a difference for young people, their communities, and the nation.

The Blueprint calls for action in three areas with a charge to:
-Provide engaging and intellectually challenging programs, curricula, and activities
-Build staff capacity
-Develop appropriate assessment and evaluation measures

The document is available from the CSAS website."

Minding MySpace: Balancing the benefits and risks of online social networks

"Schools are hard-pressed to balance the benefits and risks posed by kids' online social networks. Web sites such as MySpace, Facebook, LiveJournal and Xanga make it easy for students to post photos, personal information video clips and music files, and to build networks of 'friends' across the country. But they also pose an irresistible lure to pedophiles, and they can be abused by children who use them to post scurrilous attacks on teachers, administrators and other adults. They also contribute to 'cyberbullying' attacks by students on their peers. Carol Brydolf surveys the terrain of this brave new world for the California School Boards Association's California Schools magazine, offering school governance teams expert opinions on how to work with the emerging technology."

Youth Leadership Online Panel - from the Archives

Before blogs, there were email exchanges, sometimes organized around a particular topic, like the online panels once hosted by the America Connects Consortium at EDC. In light of the horrific events at Virginia Tech, I was compelled to look back at the Panel on Youth Leadership that I facilitated - the online dialogue commenced on September 10, 2001. Because this panel coincided with 9/11, the youth panelists were thrown into a public forum at an extraordinarily difficult time, a time just like the WireTap Blog (above) notes about today, for "mourning and reflection." It may be of interest to review the thoughts this group of teens shared at that time, and to consider how much more - dramatically more since then - young people use online spaces to come together, to talk, to explore issues, and to create media and their own messages.

WireTap Blog: Mourning and Reflection

As one of many active youth media outlets, WireTap is a prime example of how young people are using technology tools, such as Blogs, to discuss and reflect on current issues of the day. A new post on the WireTap Blog links to information sources and student responses, and addresses the tragic events at Virginia Tech: "As more details of what happened become available, WireTap is working on a series of features on the rise of youth violence on our campuses and our neighborhoods. From Blacksburg, Virginia to the streets of Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Oakland, our country loses more youth to violent deaths than any other industrialized nation."

Earth Day Toolkit

In this TechSoup Wiki, "Learn more about how you can make greener choices through your everyday technology practices and purchases - and share some tips of your own - in this toolkit, which anyone can add to." Topics covered include Eco-Friendly Office Practices, Responsible Computer Use, E-Waste and Its Impact, etc.

Children's Art Promotes Peace

"Anissa Paulsen, RPCV Bulgaria, has produced two collections of children’s art, from Bulgaria and more recently from Indonesia. The Indonesian exhibit, entitled 'Islam Berwarna-warni!—The Many Colors of Islam,' has been shown in several museums in the San Francisco Bay area. Pdf files showing the artwork and inspiring words of the children, can be found at http://www.katw.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=172. See [the Global TeachNet Newsletter] for a recent interview with Anissa."

Life in New China: Photo Essays by Beijing Youth

"Everywhere you look today, China is in the news. But how much do we know about daily life there?

In April 2006, WKCD, with the support of the Asia Society, spent two weeks with students at Beijing No. 12 High School creating a series of photo essays about life—and school—in New China. Younger students added a postscript: an audio Chinese-English dictionary in their own voices."

Visit the website for their "remarkable images and words in a series of 15 multimedia presentations. Look and listen to what these Beijing youth have to say--in Chinese as well as English."

Community Schools: Bolstering the American Dream

"How can American schools, where more than half the students are children of color, who speak little English, and come from poor families defy the odds and begin to thrive? One example is Stevenson-YMCA Community School in Long Beach, Calif. It’s open early and late, evenings and weekends; it provides for all students and their families high-quality teaching, tutoring, before- and after-school programs, counseling, health services, parent engagement and leadership programs, arts and recreation, community and business partnerships, and additional opportunities at or near the school. It’s a community school by design -- a hub of productivity for the neighborhood.... People seem to have purpose and feel safe, writes Lisa Villarreal for 'Our Children' PTA’s national magazine. What Stevenson does is not a new intervention or strategy; it’s actually a return to the historical idea of schools as the center of community."

Open-content learning portal debuts

Open Educational Resources (OER Commons)--"A new online resource gives teachers and students free access to more than 8,000 digital learning materials. Educators and students can add tags, ratings, reviews, and comments to help others quickly find what they're looking for. The site's mission is to provide a single point of access through which educators, students, and all other types of learners can search for, browse, evaluate, and discuss these free learning materials..."

Kellogg Leadership for Community Change Newsletter

From the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The KLCC Bridge is a quarterly newsletter providing updates on the Kellogg Leadership for Community Change program. The issues feature stories, information, technology tools, and news about collective leadership efforts. These center around perspectives and experiences of the KLCC fellows and include other views and resources.

Afterschool-related Resource Rooms

PEAR, the Program in Education, Afterschool & Resiliency, is an initiative of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The PEAR website features compilations of resources, including curriculum links, research, and other publications, organized by various themes relevant to the afterschool and youth development fields. Among the Resource Rooms are the following: Afterschool Programming, Extended Day Learning, Funding, Informal Science Learning, Rural Afterschool Programming, Trauma and Violence.

A Toolkit to Support School-Family-Community Partnerships

"The deeply ingrained multiculturalism that makes New Mexico unique also presents challenges in communicating and setting shared priorities. Schools face their own set of challenges in accommodating all families, making them part of the school community and including them as partners in their child’s education. The New Mexico Public Education Department has created, 'Working Together: School-Family-Community Partnerships, A Toolkit for New Mexico School Communities.' The purpose of the Toolkit is to assist educators and education partners with information, resources and strategies to help strengthen parent and community involvement. The Toolkit is designed to make schools places that foster community collaboration and make parents and families feel welcome. The Toolkit has been created by The Center for the Education and Study of Diverse Populations."

New Ways to Work Resources for Engaging and Serving Youth

New Ways to Work, an organization that cultivates partnerships across schools, community organizations, business, education, government agencies, offers a library of free resources on youth development and youth leadership. Among their materials are publications on these topics:

-Tips and Strategies for Engaging Youth in Planning and Decision Making Bodies
-Serving Vulnerable Populations - Youth with Disabilities
-Supporting Youth in the Workplace
-Working with Students and Schools

National Afterschool Association Conference

"The National AfterSchool Association’s 19th Annual Conference will be held in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday, March 21 – Friday, March 23 in 2007 with PreConference events on Tuesday, March 20. The NAA Conference is the premier education and networking gathering of the afterschool professional community...."

Designing Worthwhile PBL Projects for High School Students

By Eeva Reeder

"A project-based-learning teacher and coach with nearly fifteen years of experience writes about "the most effective tool for organizing content and motivating students to think hard.""

CASE STUDY: Handhelds are Making for a Whole New Kind of Science Lesson

By Linda L. Briggs

"Kellie Doubek doesn't mince words: Full-size computers don't belong in the field. "You can get a handheld to do the same thing for a fraction of the cost," says Doubek, an educational consultant who advises Midwestern schools on implementing technology....The Palm-based devices with wireless probes are tremendous student motivators, according to teacher Pam Miller, who also serves as science department chair at Seaside. "We're able to get much more meaningful data, and we're better able to share access to the data." The sophistication of the data-gathering devices makes a real difference, she says. "Kids like to feel like they're doing real science, and this is real science."..."

Digital Storytelling: A Tutorial in 10 Easy Steps

"Digital storytelling is a powerful, evocative, and emotional way of communicating your organization's themes and stories. Read tips on creating your own videos, culled from digital storytelling experts."

After-School Program Toolkit

"The nation's fifth largest youth-serving organization, Communities In Schools champions the connection of needed community resources with schools to help kids succeed in school and prepare for life... The body of research on after-school programs – though still maturing – must be accessible to people who run after-school programs. This toolkit was designed to put research into the hands of the people running after-school programs by summarizing:

-After-school programs found to be effective
-Core elements that contribute to the success of these programs
-A body of resources to sustain quality after-school programs
-Toolkit Development."

Resources on Afterschool, Fourth Edition

"This Web site and CD-Rom, now in its fourth edition, host a substantial spectrum of resources produced by Mott Foundation Grantees on research and evaluation, promising practices, professional development, public awareness and communications, policy development, financing strategies and opportunities to consider in afterschool." This impressive collection of materials is comprehensive, well-organized, and current--updated in 2006. Whatever your need may be, you're likely to find some relevant resources.

MENTOR's Afterschool Clearinghouse

"The After School Clearinghouse is designed to provide you with tools and resources to add a mentoring component to your after school program. It also provides resources you can use to implement, manage and strengthen your after-school program. Here you'll find information on how to implement a mentoring component in a new or existing after-school program as well as a clearinghouse of after-school program resources, including: Program Planning and Design; Program Management; Program Operations; Program Evaluation; Mentor Trainer's Manual."

NAM and UCLA IDEA Launch Education Newsletter, Mosaic Monthly

"Offering a synopsis of education issues as covered by some of California’s best ethnic media reporters, Mosaic Monthly will be produced and distributed by UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (IDEA) and NAM."

New Youth Policy Resource Center!

"Policy makers, administrators and advocates across the country are responding to the research and increasing public awareness of what is necessary to change the odds for youth. They recognize that, too often, society has reacted with fragmented and disjointed responses to youth problems and that no real plan exists to address promotion of youth strengths. Although no one method may be perfect to address the challenges in creating effective youth policies, states, cities and counties are taking steps to find the best among a wide range of possible solutions. This Youth Policy Resource Center shares examples from states, cities and counties that are aligning and coordinating youth policies to ensure young people are Ready by 21™: Ready for work, college and life."

Educating All Students to be Conceptual Thinkers

"Studies have shown that many of our high schools, even those that boast of high graduation and college-attendance rates, rarely demand that students use information, skills, and technologies to construct new knowledge and to solve complex problems, integrate concepts and ideas across disciplines, communicate effectively orally and in writing, and work in diverse groups. Yet this is precisely the kind of learning students need for a Conceptual Age.... Are we requiring all students to use their minds well to construct knowledge, to inquire, to invent, to make meaning and relevance out of their learning? Hardly, writes Gerry House in the most recent issue of America School Board Journal."

New Resources for Middle School Educators

"The New Jersey Consortium for Middle Schools at Kean University is pleased to announce the launch of a special website devoted to topical links for middle level educators. The result of meticulous research into web resources that will be of particular value to educators at the middle level, the site contains over 400 selections arranged into 19 categories," including: Arts, Homework Help, Information Literacy, Middle School Teachers Blogs, Projects and Project-Based Learning, etc.

The site is "free and open to anyone interested in the resource. This work is supported by a grant under the Teacher Quality program of the U.S. Department of Education."

Cooperative learning helps create the essential skill of working within a group

"Common Ground"
By Susan Munro, Mary Utne O'Brien, John W. Payton, and Roger P. Weissberg
"What were once called 'soft' skills in the workplace are now essential, key to the success of the business enterprise and the individual worker: working on teams, taking responsibility for one's piece of a larger project, planning for the future, and completing the plan -- these are the gears that will drive their personal and professional lives. All involve cooperative learning." In this article--a nice, concise summary for YouthLearn community members who invest in collaborative learning experiences--the authors cite research into effective cooperative learning, identifying essential elements and benefits.

Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People

"The Freechild Project announces the availability of a new publication focusing on youth action. The "Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People" provides a brief introduction to the issues and actions addressed by children and youth around the world as they lead community action. The Guide also includes an introduction to Freechild's unique Cycle of Youth Engagement, as well as a resource directory."

IFC's Film School Curriculum

"Check out "IFC's Film School Curriculum, a FREE public service initiative that uses the excitement of filmmaking to engage high school students in their English classes. Developed to meet the standards of the National Council of Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, as well as the National Education Technology Standards from ISTE, IFC's Film School Curriculum provides the tools to get students energized about classroom activities while simultaneously accomplishing core educational goals."

Sites to See: Technology Integration Resources

"A growing number of Web sites offer knowledgeable and useful ideas, suggestions, lesson plans, activities, and resources for integrating technology. Whether you're a newbie or a technology guru, you'll learn something new at these featured sites."

Young Digital Creators Educator's Kit

DigiArts is one of "UNESCO's major initiatives aiming at the development of interdisciplinary activities in research, creativity and communication in the field of media arts".

"Enabling young people to using ICT creatively to address global challenges of development, cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue is the aim of UNESCO's Young Digital Creators Educator's Kit that is now published and available online."

CITIZENShift

CITIZENShift is a website that features film, photos, text and audio all with a focus on social issues and activism. Check out the CITIZENShift's latest feature, Youth Empowerment Through Media. This dossier features media by youth exploring issues that are important to them.

Handle With Care: An essay on teaching everyday ethics

"Most children and adolescents want to be good, but they find it very difficult. There are many competing pressures on them, and they often feel that they must choose between loyalty to friends and 'doing what is right,' as dictated by parents and teachers. Children need opportunities to talk with sympathetic adults who can help them to understand that they are not alone in their ethical confusion and that they are not the only ones who sometimes fall short of their own ethical ideal. The latest issue of Greater Good magazine features several essays on the topic of 'everyday ethics,' including an essay by Nel Noddings about how to teach children to make ethical decisions in their daily lives."

Youth as E-Citizens, an Online Tour

"This 'Youth as E-Citizens' Online Tour is the digital piece of a much larger research project," based at the Center for for Social Media at American University. The online tour includes categories such as: Voting; Local Community; Global Issues; Media; Tolerance; Youth Development; and Activism.

"Youth as E-Citizens' provides a groundbreaking overview of Web-based civic efforts, by and for youth. Beginning with a close-up examination of website content, the report also examines the organizations and institutions creating that content, and the larger environment in which civic sites function."

Paths to Success for Young African-American Men

"On July 18, the Kaiser Family Foundation hosted a forum, "Paths to Success for Young African-American Men," which featured experts (and actor Bill Cosby) discussing findings from a major new survey by the Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University. A recap, a webcast of the event, and the related materials are available online."

Making Diversity Count - Free Online Course

"The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is now enrolling participants for the pilot of its first ever web-based A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute anti-bias course. Making Diversity Count: An Online Course for Educators, developed with funding from the Ford Foundation and the Sylvia and Leon P. Family Foundation, is a new groundbreaking online educational initiative to combat bias and promote respect. The course is developed for secondary level educators in public, private and parochial schools. Educators enrolled in the pilot may take the 12-15 hour course online anytime from August 28th - October 27, 2006."

Getting in the School Door...and Staying There

"Partnering with schools can be tricky, but with know-how and strategizing, it can be done."

"Most youth media organizations wanting to reach a diverse group of young people consider, at some point, collaborating with schools. "Let's face it," says Kathleen Tyner, who teaches at the University of Texas and helps bring media education to schools, "schools are where the kids are, and the kids are hungry for this."

Afterschool Action Kit

The Afterschool Action Kit is a "free, user-friendly resource for parents, educators, community and business leaders, and elected officials, includes:

*A checklist of qualities to look for in an after-school program;
*Information on what after-school programs should offer children of various ages, from kindergarten through high school;
*A list of organizations that offer tools, resources and information on how to start or fund an after-school program; and more. "

Using Thematic Units to Improve Your Summer Program

The mission of the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University is "to create opportunities for high quality summer learning for all young people." This workshop material, including handouts, explains why and how to effectively use thematic activities in a learning program, and provides an example suitable for younger children. For more information about research and issues around summer learning, see the numerous Center Publications and Presentations.

What's the Fuss about FOSS, Part 2: A Chat with David Thornburg

From Andy Carvin

"I've just posted the second part of my two-part essay, What's the Fuss About FOSS?, which explores the role of free and open source software (FOSS) in K-12 education. In the second installment, I interview author and edtech expert David Thornburg, who's just released a new book about FOSS and education."

How to Have a Conversation about Equity & Excellence

"In terms of excellence, we know what it looks like. We can all point to examples. However, excellence in education is extended to only a privileged few. But if you want to have excellence at scale, you must include the notion of equity. You cannot have excellence at scale without equity at scale. This is where the conversation becomes difficult... This issue of Voices in Urban Education examines some new ways to talk about equity and excellence and considers some of the steps involved in realizing our stated goal of attaining those elusive aspirations." For this piece, the publication editor interviewed Linda Powell Pruitt and Kenneth Jones.

Growing Community Schools: the Role of Cross-Boundary Leadership

This paper, published by the Coalition for Community Schools, "highlights 11 communities around the country whose community school initiatives are moving toward the 'tipping point'... The report focuses on how innovative cross-boundary leaders from education, local government, public, private and community-based agencies, business and other sectors are organizing themselves and their communities to create and sustain community schools. Leaders in these communities recognize that helping all young people succeed means providing them with as much support and as many pathways to success as possible."

Sites to See: Online Games

"Education World reviews some of the best K-12 games for classroom use. Included: Our suggested first stop for educational games arranged by grade level..."

Integrating Mentoring and After-School

This spring, the Forum for Youth Investment published "Out-of-School Time Policy Commentary #11: People, Places and Possibilities: Integrating Mentoring and After-School" (8-page PDF) and followed up with an audio conference, the transcript of which is now available.