New Day for Learning, Part I

If you are not already aware of the new report, A New Day for Learning, you should be. Given the early buzz, this report of the Time, Learning, and Afterschool task force, funded by the C. S. Mott Foundation, is likely to have a lasting impact on the way we view time for learning.

Of course, I have not read it yet, which is why this post says "Part I." I will provide comments once I digest it!

The Edutopia website hosting the report also includes several interesting commentaries. Jodi Grant of the Afterschool Alliance provides a good review of the political and funding landscape for after-school programs.

Cyberchase at the NY Hall

If you live in New York and have kids, you may want to take them to the NY Hall of Science in Queens this weekend. The stars of the WNET-produced PBS animated series Cyberchase will be there.

If you aren't going to the event, you may still be interested. It is an example of good collaboration between museum and media to engage and educate young people in science and math.

Mind-expansion on the Playground

Check out the new playground that has been proposed for lower Manhattan. It is designed to be interactive and spur imagination.

When I taught 5th grade, my students once helped build a playground at a local science museum. Google helped me find the designer of that project, Tom Rockwell, and several others projects that his team has done. Cool stuff!

I also had a recent conversation with the Trust for Public Land about their efforts to preserve and create green spaces, including parks near public schools. Nature makes its own playground!