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Welcome to Minnesota: A Conversation about Immigration and Human Rights

May

25

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Joe Nathan

About me

Director, Center for School Change at Macalester College, jnathan@macalester.edu

Column:

School Talk

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Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet creates a museum In the school

By Joe Nathan

Schools sometimes take students to visit museums, but something unusual has developed at Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet in St.MORE »

Great student research writing deserves as much praise as great goaltending

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

Today’s column honors two heroes: a teacher, now in his 70s, and a school senior in her teens. Teacher Will Fitzhugh, and Woodbury East Ridge High School senior Anushua (Shua) Bhattacharya are connected because of the outstanding paper that Bhattacharya wrote.MORE »

Educators trying “Flipping” on-line to help students

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

You’ve probably heard of “flipping out,” meaning getting very excited. But Minneapolis and other metro area district and charter teachers are using the word in a new way. Both national and local talent is being used to help students and families gain the benefits of video.MORE »

Maybe a monumental meeting to help students

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

Photos By:

Joe Nathan

“This was monumental,” according to Gary Cunningham, Vice President at the Northwest Area Foundation in St.MORE »

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Local school leaders offer sometimes surprising legislative priorities

By Joe Nathan, Free Speech Zone

Photos By:

Joe Nathan

Some surprising, as well as some continuing themes emerged through contacting 35 Minnesota district and charter school leaders from urban, suburban and rural communities. They were asked what was their single most important recommendation to/request from the 2012 state legislature.MORE »

Mpls Charter & CIncy District Schools Show how to reduce/eliminate achievement gaps

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

As we move toward 2012, here's some good news about closing urban achievement gaps. Creative, hard working educators in Minneapolis and Cincinnati, in partnership with Cargill and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have produced major academic gains. Both district and charter public schools are involved. Here’s what happened.MORE »

2010 high school graduates offer money-saving advice

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

Here’s an early Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza present to young people that can save you and your family thousands of dollars. Really.

Please take 10 minutes to read “One Year Out,” at http://press.collegeboard.org/releases/2011/content/new-college-board-research-86-young-americans-believe-college-essential MORE »

"Reach for the Stars" is a terrific, free family resource

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

“Reach for the Stars 2011-12” is one of the finest free resources I’ve ever seen for families, educators or young people. The 28-page booklet is an amazing array of what its compilers describe as almost 100 “academic programs, challenges, competitions, events and enrichment opportunities for k-12 students in Minnesota.” MORE »

New national poll shows respect for teachers & many of Minnesota's education ideas

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

While there is deep division in the US about some issues, a new national poll shows strong, and sometimes surprising support for several key ideas in public education. Young people and families in Minnesota gain from the way these ideas are being applied here.MORE »

Online learning a great option for some high school/college students

By Joe Nathan, School Talk

Autumn, Rosemary, Renee, Mary, Edgar, and Ellen are among an intriguing group of 100,000 Minnesotans. One’s not yet 18, another is in her 30’s and another is in his 50’s. They come from everywhere, Anoka to Minneapolis to Zimmerman, suburbs, small towns, farms and cities. There are taking on-line courses this year from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.MORE »