Year: 2012

Cultural Heritage Banner Compilation

Cultural Heritage Banner Compilation

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In 2012 we observed each of the national cultural heritage months recognized by Presidential proclamation. In doing so, we wanted the actions of the observation to be sincere and to be part of our professional development at West Wind. We decided that for each cultural heritage month we would have a brown bag lunch during which we would explore each culture with a discussion including such things as: identity and naming of the groups in the culture being observed; counter-stories to the stereotypes of the culture; and what are some of the issues children and families face in the educational system. These brown bags have been a great source of learning, debate, and growth for us. Continue reading “Cultural Heritage Banner Compilation”

What It Means to Say College and Career Ready

What It Means to Say College and Career Ready

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Most of us have an idea of what the terms college and career ready mean – the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary for a student to enter the workforce or postsecondary education.  And no doubt most of us have encountered several variations on college and career readiness and how we achieve it for all students.  Yet if we step back for a moment and consider these terms, the very order of the words seems to promote college readiness above career readiness.  Now, I realize that words must come in some order and perhaps it just sounds better.  Thinking too much about it could get us into a useless chicken or egg loop, but just humor me for a moment.  When I looked at word order and thought about what we value most, my gut reaction was that career trumps college because college is the preparation for the career.  But, the perennial student in me, kept saying, “College is not about a career.  It is about learning and growing.”  In fact college is about all of these – learning, growing as a person, and developing the skills to succeed in a chosen career. Continue reading “What It Means to Say College and Career Ready”

Laser Talk for Powerful Speaking

Laser Talk for Powerful Speaking

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Learning how to speak powerfully about critical educational issues is an essential skill for educators and advocates for students. RESULTS [1], an international organization that advocates for preventing poverty, has designed a practical format for creating powerful laser talks. A laser talk is a structured way to communicate a message succinctly and powerfully – highly focused, targeted and effective like a laser. Another name for a laser talk is an “elevator speech” – brief enough to deliver to that key stakeholder you meet during the few moments you happen to share on an elevator. The idea is that you have a talk prepared in advance and memorized so that you can deliver it whenever the opportunity presents itself. Having a planned presentation makes it easier to avoid the wandering, rarely convincing, and sometimes boring “lecture”. Continue reading “Laser Talk for Powerful Speaking”

West Wind receives New Communications Award

West Wind receives New Communications Award

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West Wind Education Policy Inc. is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a 2012 Commendation of Excellence in the Government division in the External Communications & Communities category of the Society for New Communications Research Excellence in New Communications Awards program. The prestigious awards program honors individuals and organizations pioneering the use of social media and Internet communications technologies. Continue reading “West Wind receives New Communications Award”

West Wind Aims to Provide Web Accessibility for All

West Wind Aims to Provide Web Accessibility for All

Reading Time: 2 minutes

In an effort to learn about ways to make websites more accessible to all, I had a conversation with Jonathan Green, Communications Specialist with the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) recently. Thank you to Jonathan for taking the time to share his knowledge.

His advice was very helpful with respect to being mindful about the difficulties some may experience looking at the internet or participating in webinars. Continue reading “West Wind Aims to Provide Web Accessibility for All”

Change of Crew at West Wind

Change of Crew at West Wind

Reading Time: 3 minutes

I love to sail. I love being out on the water, feeling the power of the wind, watching the sails fill with air and propel the boat across the waves, and being a member of a crew. When sailing with a crew, I am always impressed by the way the sailors work together. Each person knows what they are supposed to do and takes care of their own role, whether it is taking the helm, hoisting the mainsail, bringing across the traveler, trimming the sails to the wind, or hiking out to balance the boat’s weight. Continue reading “Change of Crew at West Wind”

The Power of Belief

The Power of Belief

Reading Time: 3 minutes

As I drove into work this morning, I realized that in a foreseeable amount of time (one month from now), a long-term goal that has been one of the biggest challenges I ever set out to achieve will culminate: I will defend my dissertation and have earned my PhD.  Though it’s easy to pat myself on the back for realizing a long-held dream, I think it’s important to acknowledge that I didn’t get here alone. Continue reading “The Power of Belief”

October 1, 2012 is World Bullying Prevention Day

October 1, 2012 is World Bullying Prevention Day

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Today is World Bullying Prevention Day. One in four students are bullied at school. Nine out of ten LGBT students are bullied. The effects of bullying include fear, anxiety, lack of self-confidence, and difficulty focusing in school.

Marking October 1 as World Bullying Prevention Day is one example of how awareness is being raised and action is being taken .

For more information on how to take action against bullying, please visit: stompoutbullying.com

 

Two Latino-Focused Events, This October!

Two Latino-Focused Events, This October!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Latino Midwest Symposium and Iowa Latino Conference are taking place in Iowa City October 11-13.

The University of Iowa Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, under the direction of three UofI professors (Claire Fox, Omar Valerio-Jimenez and Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez), organized the symposium which features a stellar lineup of academics well-versed in Midwest Latino influences across many fields. Continue reading “Two Latino-Focused Events, This October!”

No Two Students Are the Same:  The Potential of Competency-based Education

No Two Students Are the Same: The Potential of Competency-based Education

Reading Time: 7 minutes

I am a mother.  And this may shock you, I often resort to reading child-rearing books – usually about discipline.  Uncover your mouths.  It’s true.  The other day I came across a statement from Alan E. Kazdin, the Director of the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic, in a discussion of helping children to develop appropriate behaviors.  Dr. Kazdin says, “Instead of thinking of it as a series of benchmarks that have to be met by such and such a calendar date, think of it as the process of your child achieving a level of mastery of behaviors you want”  (Kazdin 2008).  This certainly seems true as far as discipline and behavior for my own children and it immediately struck me that this idea of mastering behaviors at different times and in different ways can also apply to the way children learn in a classroom.  Any parent with multiple children will tell you that no two kids learn at the same pace or master the same skills in the same way, yet our schools work on a system based around the Carnegie unit – the idea that credit in a subject is gained by the amount of time spent in a classroom and with an instructor.  The notion of children mastering a subject in different ways, demonstrating that mastery, and then moving at an individual pace towards a diploma is not part of the design in most classrooms. Continue reading “No Two Students Are the Same: The Potential of Competency-based Education”

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