smart-schools.com » Urban Schools

“School Pride” on NBC

Smarty — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:50:27 +0000

NBC fishes for new ratings by testing the public’s interest in education. Schools in Los Angeles were part of the episodes. Let’s hope the interest spurs NBC to renew the series. You can watch some episodes here.

http://www.nbc.com/school-pride/

Crips And Bloods: Made in America

Smarty — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:36:07 +0000

Important & extremely relevant film by Stacy Peralta looks at the L.A. gang situation.

http://www.cripsandbloodsmovie.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4pP-1NWoA&feature=player_embedded

15,000 people dead over 20 year period? Stacy Peralta succeeds in putting a fresh face on the issue and imploring us all take another look. The movie’s website also has a viewer’s guide, Community outreach plans that can be used to host screenings, and information on the Youth PROMISE Act.

CRIPS AND BLOODS: MADE IN AMERICA helped shine a light on the issue of gang violence in our inner cities. But to really address this problem we need to take a new approach – as the former NFL great and gang intervention leader, Jim Brown, says in the film “If more police or jails was the solution, we would have solved the problem 30 years ago”.

That’s where the Youth PROMISE Act comes in. PROMISE stands for Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support and Education. Instead of simply incarcerating people, the Youth PROMISE Act represents a revolutionary new approach that is much needed if we are ever to address this issue in a meaningful and effective way.

The Act is based on programs that work with local schools, community centers, faith-based organizations and parents to prevent violence and offending before it begins. The whole idea is to give kids another way, an option instead of joining gangs.

Introduced by Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D – VA) and Mike Castle (R – DE), the CRIPS AND BLOODS team is proud to support the Act. The film was screened in Congress at a rally in support of the Act but we need your help to ensure this much-needed legislation is passed.

SayNoToCuts.Com Addresses California Budget Cuts Directly to the Governor

Smarty — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:08:31 +0000

Hot for Teachers w/ Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green from Megan Fox

www.saynotocuts.com

Sign the Petition

Award Winning Video from LACOE’s Roger Espinosa Sheds Light on Incarcerated Students, Improving Lives & The Learning of Trades

Smarty — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:38:04 +0000

: Roger Espinosa, Teacher and Documentarian at Kilpatrick High School

Roger Espinosa and students produced this Digital Voice Award-winning video about a successful vocational education program for incarcerated students. The contemporary video has a personal feel, shedding insight on students’ lives while demonstrating valuable lessons on electrical trade skills.

Roger is a teacher at Camp Kilpatrick in Malibu, California. “Kilpatrick High School” is part of Education Programs at Los Angeles County Office of Education, and helps incarcerated students get an education. Roger is also a successful grant writer and recipient.

It’s teachers like Roger that contribute a great deal to the kids who most need strong insight, inspiration, encouragement and hope.

Click here to see the video.

Challenges of The Urban Education Grind

Smarty — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:43:57 +0000

At a TED Conference, Shukla Rose talks about changing lives by reaching kids in the slums of India….one at a time…and getting transformed in the process. It is a story that great teachers everywhere are familiar with.

LAUSD School Choice Reform Board Decision Results

Smarty — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:29:06 +0000

February 23 2010

The tally:

NEW CAMPUSES (24 )

-19 teacher-district proposal

-4 Charters

-1 Mayor’s Partnership for Los Angeles Schools

____________________________________

EXISTING SCHOOLS (13)

-10 teacher-district proposal

-2 Mayor’s Partnership for Los Angeles Schools

-1 Youth Policy Institute

-0 other charters

____________________________________

1. There was an election, involving parents, students, community members, employees.

2. Superintendent Cortines made his recommendations

3. Board made final decision

____________________________________

Challenges for Charter Management Organizations:

Vernerable charter organizations, Green Dot, ICEF, Alliance proposals not approved.

Charter parcel tax, and Proposition 39 issues remain.

____________________________________

We wish the best to all!! Innovation is afoot!

New KCLS Series: The Teacher’s Hour: Response to Instruction and Intervention

Smarty — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:15:02 +0000

ANNOUNCING the NEW KLCS SERIES!

The Teacher’s Hour: Response to Instruction and Intervention

The first broadcast is tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 24, 2010,
beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Tune in to your local KLCS station to view best practices happening all
over LAUSD!

This Wednesday’s show features Cienega ES, Van Nuys MS, South Gate HS
and how they are addressing students’ needs through a multi-tiered
framework of instruction.

During the show:

Call in to ask questions at: 1-800-527-8839 or 1-800-LA-STUDY
or
Submit your questions and/or comments at:
http://sites.google.com/site/lausdrti/

Won’t be near a TV? The show may also be viewed live by webstream at:
http://sites.google.com/site/lausdrti/

Mark your calendars for the next three The Teacher Hour shows:

       March 24, 2010, 7:00 p.m. Topic: Problem-Solving Process
       April 28, 2010, 7:00 p.m. Topic: Data-Based Decision Making
       May 26, 2010, 7:00 p.m. Topic: Academic Engaged Time

Classroom 2.0 Seminar for L.A. School Principals

Smarty — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:31:06 +0000

How do teachers integrate 21st Century technology into a seamless learning and teaching environment? … including interactive whiteboards, document cameras, student responders and countless other tools?

It’s easy to see the benefits of many of the 21st Century learning tools & techniques, but having an effective integration plan and knowing what tools, when to use them and how to integrate it into curriculum, effectively, is not easy.

This seminar, designed for School Principals and Administrators, will host a continental breakfast.

It will be a morning of current & relevant content for the K-12 education environment in Los Angeles, which is both very demanding and very budget weary.

Tuesday March 23, 2010

Embassy Suites Los Angeles-Glendale

800 N Central Avenue

Glendale, CA 91203

8:30 -9:00 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am to 12:00 pm Classroom 2.0 Seminar

Seminar designed for School Principals, Key Administrators and Technology Leaders.

How do you define 21st Century Learning?

How can technology increase student engagement?

Are your teachers 21st Century educators?

How do you seamlessly integrate 21st Century technology into the learning environment?

Seminar for Registered Guests. Hosted by Troxell Communications & Presented by Eduscape Learning.

Linked Learning: Better way to prepare H.S. students for real life w/ Multiple Pathways

Smarty — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:17:37 +0000

Whats the big deal? This effort helps High School Students prepare for real life, both additional schooling afer high school and vocational readiness. This is opposed to simply delineating between college bound and career worker students, and hopes to utilize small learning communities to grow overall life skills for all students.

What is the Linked Learning initiative? Originally called “Multiple Pathways”, this is a effort by a consortium of public and corporate entities. It is a new way of teaching and learning, a new way to deliver curriculum, including online strategies.

Here is the latest draft ofthe initiative, Assembly Bill 2648 Multiple Pathways Report

More Info here on new Report, dated Jan 15 2010

African American US History on Display: by Mayme & Avery Clayton

Smarty — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:18:51 +0000

When I look at students, sometimes I see the whole family, their recent history or even the long line of ancestors that lead up to that student there today. I wonder who in the line of relatives before them had sacrificed in order to give to the following generations … which leads to where that student is today. Is this what the ancestors hoped for? Would they be suprised or elated.

History of family lines can be lost surprisingly quickly. Teachers are sometimes where the rubber meets the road in guiding even a small part of that student’s future.

At Huntington Library through Feb 8: African American US History

For all students today, there is an important collection being shown in Culver City that highlights an often overlooked U.S. history of African Americans. Mayme Clayton and her son Avery have amassed perhaps the largest collection of African American history artifacts. These will be housed in a permanent exhibit in Culver City, but can be previewed now at the Huntington Library through Februrary 8, 2010.

This history is on the verge of being forgotten, partially because it brings up strong feelings in people of all races including anger, shame, guilt and more. Still, it’s valuable and great to look at. It is an especially good exercise to help students learn to appreciate where they are, what they do have, and where they can go.

“Central Avenue and Beyond: The Harlem Renaissance in Los Angeles”

through February 8, 2010 at the Huntington Library

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA

626-405-2100

http://www.huntington.org