BBC
22 January 2017
Radio / Over 15 Minutes
Shanghai, China
Shanghai students have consistently performed at the top of the world on math tests - a 15 year old in Shanghai scores better than most 18 year olds in the UK. Sometimes called "the mastery method," the Shanghai model assumes everyone can be a "maths master" and never separates students according to ability. Teachers introduce new topics gradually and ensure all understand before moving on. This radio piece explores whether Shanghai's idea can work in the UK and other countries.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/a-better-way-to-teach-math
David Bornstein
The New York Times
18 April 2011
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Can we improve the methods we use to teach math in schools — so that everyone develops proficiency? A grade-school math program is changing how children learn based on the assumption that all children can achieve a high level of understanding.
http://www.pulitzer.org/files/2012/public_service/assault09.pdf
Kristen A. Graham
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network)
1 April 2011
Text / 800-1500 Words
Palm Beach County, Florida has many of the same social problems that Philadelphia has, including “gangs, drugs, and poverty.” However, their school system has managed to keep students safe by employing “safe-school case managers” who build relationships with students, and they offer a youth court that is a system run by students who peer-review cases of unrest. The initiatives in this county has prevented school violence from happening without metal detectors and just two police officers.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/a_new_model_of_school_reform
Jeremy Adam Smith
Greater Good Magazine
21 May 2014
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is transforming educational systems in Oakland by forming mentor relationships between adults and students. Unlike other models, though, the adults are the ones held accountable.
https://medium.com/bright/a-peek-into-silicon-valley-s-latest-bet-altschool-abf6c6973ecd
Mary Jo Madda
Bright Magazine
1 July 2015
Multi-Media / Under 800 Words
AltSchools use a completely different education system - interconnecting technology and hands on experiments - to help students achieve a higher degree of learning. Students are grouped into small, personalized cohorts so they can be both mentors and mentees for their fellow peers, creating a collaborative learning space for all.
http://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/its-just-math-preschoolers-can-do-more-than-we-might-think
John Higgins
The Seattle Times
2 August 2015
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Due to recent brain development research, educators are working to add more math education into pre-school and kindergarten classes. Studies show that children of this age are actually extremely receptive to numbers and learning geometry.
http://seattletimes.com/html/education/2024894748_edlabsmallclassesxml.html
John Higgins
The Seattle Times
28 October 2014
Text / 800-1500 Words
Research in the U.S. suggests that a small class size is not enough but in combination with teacher training it leads to a change in achievement.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/projects/2013/native-american-education/running-in-place.html
Swikar Patel
Megan Garner
Lesli A. Maxwell
Education Week
4 December 2013
Text / Over 3000 Words
Native American student graduation rates are much lower than that of any other demographic. The Red Cloud school teaches students on a reservation in South Dakota about the Lakota history to empower the kids and encourage resilience.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/local/bayarea/item/Even-Odds-Day-2-23198.php
Jill Tucker
San Francisco Chronicle
18 August 2013
Text / 1500-3000 Words
In Oakland, black males are almost as likely to be killed as they are to graduate high school. One school is giving them special classes with black mentors to better address their emotional needs and keep them in school.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/local/item/Even-Odds-Part-3-23284.php
Jill Tucker
San Francisco Chronicle
18 August 2013
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Young black males in Oakland are suspended more frequently and graduate high school at a much lower rate than their peers. A charter school specifically designed for African American boys focuses on providing them with role models to create a supportive environment, combat the effects of trauma, and push them to succeed.
https://digital.vpr.net/post/education-lessons-maine-new-hampshire
Patti Daniels
Jane Lindholm
Vermont Public Radio
7 April 2015
Radio / Over 15 Minutes
As Vermont struggles to create legislation regulating school district management and financial efficiency, the state looks to models in Maine and New Hampshire for guidance. In Maine, school districts have tried to save money and resources through consolidation; in New Hampshire, officials have reworked the way schooling is financed altogether.
Our issue area taxonomy was adapted from the PCS Taxonomy with definitions by the Foundation Center, which is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 International License.
Photos are licensed under Attribution Non Commercial 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license / Desaturated from original, and are credited to the following photographers:
Fondriest Environmental, David De Wit / Community Eye Health, Linda Steil / Herald Post, John Amis / UGA College of Ag & Environmental Sciences – OCCS, Andy B, Peter Garnhum, Thomas Hawk, 7ty9, Isriya Paireepairit, David Berger, UnLtd The Foundation For Social Entrepreneurs, Michael Dunne, Burak Kebapci, and Forrest Berkshire / U.S. Army Cadet Command public affairs
Photos are licensed under Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license, and are credited to the following photographers:
Ra'ed Qutena, 段 文慶, Fabio Campo, City Clock Magazine, Justin Norman, scarlatti2004, Gary Simmons, Kathryn McCallum, and Nearsoft Inc
Photos are licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license / Desaturated from original, and are credited to the following photographers:
Burak Kebapci and SCY.
Photos are licensed under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) and are credited to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Conference attendee listening to speaker, Jenifer Daniels / Colorstock getcolorstock.com.
Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Sonia Narang