Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/education/page/17/)
Sometimes, an airplane ride can change your life. Rachelle Simmons was college visiting in Baltimore with her son, and mentally noted something unique. “Usually in the inner city, on every corner you see a liquor store or a church – every corner. And there (Baltimore), on every corner there was a clinic! Or there was a hospital! Continue Reading
It’s already August, which means back to school is coming soon! This fall will mark my 11th year as an educator. I have held the role of high school teacher, guidance counselor, and dean. Over my 11 years, I have dealt with all kinds of parents and students from the extremely kind and polite to downright nasty. Here are a few tips to help make the most of the complicated relationship with your child’s teachers, administrators and school staff. Continue Reading
Amina Scott looked intently at the karaoke screen on her school bus as she softly sang “Major Pain,” one of her favorite songs about a puppy. At another part of the bus, other kids sang about fish sticks and cupcakes. But this wasn’t typical karaoke; these kids are working to improve their reading skills.The Rock ‘n’ Read Project, a new nonprofit that started operating this summer, uses special software that aims to improve users’ reading abilities while singing. The organization offered an initial 8-week pilot program free of charge to youth programs at the North Community YMCA as well at Jordan Park serving Minneapolis Public School summer school students, which concludes August 13.“It’s a good discipline to connect with music as a part of literacy,” said former city councilmember Don Samuels, who serves on the program’s board. “The kids are learning to read without realizing they are.”The University of South Florida found that in a study from 2005-2008, students from three different school districts and four different grade levels consistently outperformed their peers when using the program over a three-year period. Continue Reading
At Brooklyn Center High School, a couple of years ago, a small room was transformed into an optometrist’s examining room. On the first day it opened in January 2013, 18 students were seen, and 15 of them needed glasses. At last, those who needed eyewear had access to it.
Last week I had the chance to attend Day One of the “Educating for the 21st Century” forum held at the Carlson School of Business as part of this year’s Finn Fest. My colleagues Ross, Savage, Jaci David, and Dane Smith and I showed up to hear presentations from Finnish educators, entrepreneurs, and national government experts in international education. It was a very full day, made more charming and compelling by all the Finnish names, accents and ideas in the conversation. Continue Reading
After a long break I returned today to the preschool classroom at People Serving People. Continue Reading
Younger voters are known for their low turn-out rates, but in 2012 they showed up in record numbers and helped decide the fate of the presidential election. While the president isn’t up for re-election for another two years, there’s still plenty of reasons for younger voters, particularly colleges students, to vote this year. Here’s six reasons why young voters should practice their civic duty on Election Day. 1. You’re a target demographic this electionThis year’s election season has a few competitive races in student-heavy districts that young voters should look out for.In District 60B, which includes neighborhoods around the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, incumbent Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, is facing a strong challenger in Mohamud Noor. Noor supporters pushed Kahn, who has represented the district since 1972, out of getting the DFL endorsement in April.Ryan Kennedy, executive director of Minnesota Public Interest Research Group said the Kahn-Noor race is particularly important because whoever wins has a lot of potential to be a strong voice in higher education policy.The 60B race also features two drastically different candidates. Continue Reading
There is one final pre-primary candidate forum for this year’s Minneapolis School Board candidates, but incumbent citywide candidate Rebecca Gagnon will not be there. Continue Reading
Who is hosting the August 6 “People’s Forum,” billed as a Minneapolis School Board candidate forum, and why is a New York City-based PR firm sending out the media advisories for it? Continue Reading
Recently on TC Daily Planet, I wrote about the disheartening phenomenon of music being dropped from the school-day curriculum at EXPO elementary. Unfortunately, it’s not surprising that this is happening and it’s not entirely new. Arts education historically has been underfunded and valued, particularly in the 13 years since No Child Left Behind, where testing of reading and math have drawn focus away from other subjects.