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New Horizons for Learning Online Journal
Vol. X No. 1, Winter 2004From the Editor
Dee DickinsonThe focus of New Horizons for Learning's Winter Journal is on Positive Outcomes for All Students. Although the U.S. Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has laudable goals, it is critically under funded! The Act requires higher academic standards, high accountability, greater flexibility for states and school districts, research-based education, and more parental options, yet there is little in terms of financial or other support for attaining these goals and severe penalties for not doing so. There is not even sufficient funding to cover the costs of the increased testing nor the costs of additional teacher training.
Despite these challenges and the adverse situations that many educators face, there are many who are meeting the needs of diverse populations of students and helping them to improve their ability to learn successfully. In this issue we have gathered articles about some of these examples of excellence. Is it magic? No. It is hard work and dedication in environments that are nurturing and supportive to both students and their teachers.
You will find some common denominators:
• a common, clearly agreed-upon mission
• a sense of urgency to improve student learning
• a collaborative approach among teachers, school administrators, parents, and students
• high expectations about achieving standards that everyone understands
• supervision and mentoring by knowledgeable and supportive people
• effective on-the-job training related to the needs of students and staff
• on-going, formative assessment that reveals to both students and teachers whether students are learning and can apply what they have learned.We invite your sending us information about additional exemplary models of schools in the process of positive change. We are especially interested in hearing about teachers who have not abandoned the arts and other creative, hands-on activities in order to prepare students to do well on tests. (These may be the very tools that many students need to be successful learners.)
Our Spring Journal will focus on "How Do We Know Our Students Are Learning?" We are gathering articles about the kind of assessment that is an ongoing, clearly connected part of the learning process. Please send us your suggestions.
We remind you that all our past Journals remain archived and easily accessible. Our most recent issues include: Learning Through the Arts, Technology as Tools for Learning, Multicultural Education, Environmental Education and Project-based Learning, and Leadership in Education.
Our website hit a new high of 3,300,000 hits during the month of October! We are delighted that our information is being widely used and are anxious to remain responsive to your requests and suggestions. You can reach us at building@newhorizons.org.
From home you have reached
- Tenzin Tsundue, Tibetan Freedom Fighter
The Horizon here.
From here to another.
Here you go.
From there to the next
next to the next
horizon to horizon
every step is a horizon.
Count the steps
and keep the number.
Pick the white pebbles
and the funny strange leaves.
Mark the curves
and cliffs around
for you may need
to come home again.ARTICLES:
Powerful Schools Rebecca Sadinsky and Greg Tuke
Present and former directors of Seattle's Powerful Schools describe what they have learned about organizational change in this remarkable inner-city project.Welcoming Spirit Into Our Schools Gary Tubbs
The principal of Seattle's The New School makes a case for creating intentional communities where adults honor the spirit of the child.How Do You Get Black Kids to Learn? You Just Teach Them! A Conversation with Anitra Pinchback Jill Hearne
Interview with an award-winning teacher from the African American Academy about her successful strategies for raising the academic achievement of her students.Alderwood Middle School Makes a Difference Pat Steinburg and Suzie Baier
A Special Education specialist and a school principal share their strategies to create a learning environment that resulted in improved test scores, school participation, and parental satisfaction for students with disabilities.A Principal's Vision Lorna Spear
The Principal of Bemiss Elementary School (with more than 85% of the students on free or reduced lunch) explains how the program provides students with the academic and social skills and abilities they need to make choices in their lives.School Improvement Process Works at Hood Canal School George Holmgren
A School Improvement Facilitator shows how school success results from hard work, dedication, staying the course and being intentional with the use of data to drive decisions.Student Academic Progress: Making A Difference Hajara Rahim
Principal of Van Asselt Elementary School describes a successful program that supports identified needs of students and their community.Catching the Children Who Fall Through The Cracks Trina Westerlund
The founder and Executive Director of Children's Institute for Learning Differences (CHILD) shows the program helps children with special needs to learn by meeting their individual needs and teaching them to self regulate.Place as Knowledge • Knowledge as Place Steven Bingler and Bobbie Hill
Pioneering school architects envision a school building as a three-dimensional encyclopedia of learning tools.A New Wave of Evidence: Relationships Between Effective Parental Involvement and Student Achievement compiled by the Washington Alliance for Better Schools
A synthesis of the latest research finding a positive and convincing correlation between family involvement and benefits for students.The Story of Echo Glen Doris Lyon
A research analyst for the Washington Education Association describes the success of the Echo Glen Juvenile Detention Center's academic program and their participation in the "Keys to Excellence in Your School" program.Giraffe Club Marilyn Handeland
A thirty-seven year teaching veteran shares the success of the innovative community service program used in her second grade classroom.Making Thinking Visible David Perkins
Harvard Professor describes ways to help students to develop higher order thinking skills essential for today's world.Manufacturing Knowledge Donalee Markus
The prominent psychology and creator of Design for Strong Minds discusses basic tools for thinking and learning.Advanced Placement as a Positive Outcome for All Students Kathleen Plato
The Supervisor for Advanced Placement Programs at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction conveys the powerful effect of advanced placement programs on the state and nation.Inspiring All Children to Learn Julie Cain
The Executive Director of Seattle SCORES explains how children in low-income urban neighborhoods are inspired to learn through this innovative after-school program.The Impact of Quantum Learning Bobbi DePorter
Leader in accelerated learning explains the principles of quantum learning and shares research on its impact in United States' schools.Rainier Scholars Sarah Smith
This innovative and highly successful program works to encourage the academic achievement of students whose potential has too often gone unrecognized and underdeveloped.Education at the Museum of Glass Susan Warner
Director of Education for the Museum of Glass describes the value of active, integrated project-based learning in their program.The Window: Saving Creativity in Teens Sebastian Lockwood
A college teacher and bard urges educators to teach students to understand and develop the processes of creativity while they are young.The Work Continues John Morefield
A retired school principal and member of the UW Center for Educational Leadership shares another report from a new school leadership program he has begun in Cambodia.CHOLEN: Approach to Promote Education in Ethnic Communities in Bangladesh Munmun Salma Chowdhury
A successful program in Bangladesh focuses on increasing access to basic education, improving the quality of basic education, and improving the system through increasing accountability and capacity building.The Journey to Excellence Continues: A Chugach Update Wendy Battino
After winning the Baldridge Award in 2001, this Alaskan school district was swamped with requests for guidance from schools around the world, and that has led to the creation of a non profit organization to help all schools in their quest for change.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Click on book title for more informationTeaching and Learning Through Multiple Intelligences Linda Campbell, Bruce Campbell, and Dee Dickinson
Teaching With Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach Edited by Sam M. Intrator and Megan Scribner
Classroom Management That Works: Research-Based Strategies for Every Teacher Robert J. Marzano with Jana S. Marzano and Debra J. Pickering
Differentiated Instruction: A Guide for Middle and High School Teachers Amy Benjamin
Differentiated Instructional Strategies: One Size Doesn't Fit All Gayle H. Gregory and Carolyn Chapman
Closing the Achievement Gap: A Vision for Changing Beliefs and Practices Edited by Belinda Williams
Teaching Kids With Learning Difficulties in the Regular Classroom Susan Winebrenner
Motivation Matters: A Workbook for School Change Margery B. Ginsberg
Creativity: The Flowering Tornado Ginny Ruffner
Unfolding Learning Societies 2
Mumbai, India • January 15-21, 2004Organized jointly by Shikshantar, Abhivyakti, IDSP, Multiworld Network, Arab Education Forum and UNESCO Collective Consultation of NGOs. The conference will bring together approximately 35 leading 'thinker-doers' and 35 'walkouts' from around the sub-continent (and from some other parts of the world) who are active in challenging the monopoly of factory-schooling and in nurturing diverse learning communities.
Small is Not Enough: Creating High Achieving Schools for All Students
Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon • January 30-31, 2004Council for Exceptional Children 2004 Convention and Expo
New Orleans, LA • April 14-17, 2004
HAVE YOU SEEN?
The Access Center
The Access Center is a national technical assistance (TA) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs to improve educational outcomes for elementary and middle school students with disabilities.Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically under served individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)
The Center serves organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. It offers a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technology (AT). Whether you're an organization, a parent, an educator, or an interested friend, we hope you'll find information that supports you in your efforts to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities.Learning Disabilities Association of America
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) is a non-profit grassroots organization whose members are individuals with learning disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them. LDA strives to advance the education and general welfare of children and adults with learning disabilities.National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Information about Federal law.Movie: To Be and to Have/Etre et Avoir
Distributed in the U.S. by New Yorker Films. A chronicle which follows an academic year in the lives of twelve school kids, ages 4-10, who are taught every subject, from math to gym, by one single dedicated teacher, Georges Lopez. Read reviews at these sites: http://www.frenchculture.org/cinema/releases/philibert/etre.html, http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2003/09/26/to_be_to_have//index_np.htmlFranklin Hill and Associates
US New & World Report recently identified the top 100 high schools in America. Franklin Hill, Ph.D., of Franklin Hill & Associates, in Bellevue, Washington, is an educational futurist and facility planner involved with 8 of these schools. See his website for articles and information about school planning.IDEAnews online magazine
IDEAnews includes IDEA-related news briefs, upcoming conferences and events, and new product and resource announcements.FREE website
Twenty one new learning resources in arts, health, math, science, and social studies have been added to this website provided by the US government. FREE makes it easy for teachers, parents, students, and others to find teaching and learning resources from more than 40 federal organizations.Centre for Creative Communities
Established in 1978, the Centre for Creative Communities is an independent charity with extensive national and international experience. It works in arts and education, cultural exchanges and urban regeneration, promoting the building of creative and sustainable communities, where creativity and learning have pivotal roles in personal, social and cultural development.Talking with Kids about Tough Issues
Talking With Kids About Tough Issues is a national initiative by Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation to encourage parents to talk with their children earlier and more often about tough issues like sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, alcohol, and drug abuse.
Go to New Horizons Online Journal Archive
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