NEWSHOUR SHARES - Computer Science Immersion Program

"Learning computer coding opens up ‘endless world’ for these kids" PBS NewsHour 4/10/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  In our NewsHour Shares moment of the day, a nationwide computer science immersion program sets up shop at a couple Virginia elementary schools.  The NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs has the story.

EDUCATION - Family Members as Summer Teachers

"Turning parents into teachers to fight the ‘summer slide’ in reading" PBS NewsHour 8/22/2014

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JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  As the new school year approaches, teachers have come to expect that many of their students will have forgotten some of what they learned earlier.  It’s called summer learning loss, and some teachers believe it’s inevitable.  Are they right?

Special correspondent for education John Merrow of Learning Matters reports.

SARAH PISANO, Springboard Teacher:  Everyone, turn to page three, please.

JOHN MERROW:  The traditional educator’s remedy for summer learning loss is more of the same, more hours and more days of classes and, of course, summer school.

SARAH PISANO:  Now we’re on page four.

JOHN MERROW:  But suppose there is another solution.

SARAH PISANO:  Good morning, Springboard families.  Please sign in.

JOHN MERROW:  What if schools enlisted family members as partners to help teach the children?  That’s what’s happening here at Russell Byers Charter School in Philadelphia.  For five weeks this summer, Sarah Pisano helps 6- and 7-year-olds get better at reading.

EDUCATION - Recess and Physical Education, Making a Comeback

"Schools reprioritize playtime to boost concentration and teach social skills" PBS Newshour 2/4/2014

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APRIL BROWN (Newshour):  The kids in Katie McLiver’s first grade class at Fox Hill Elementary School are no strangers to the dance floor.  Short brain breaks like this are part of regular, purposeful physical activities that take place every day at this suburban Indianapolis school, both inside the classroom and out.

TOM O’NEILL, Playworks:  As a grown man, playing games is a dream job.

APRIL BROWN:  Tom O’Neill is known as Coach Tom around here, the man who has a slew of games for every grade and helps make sure all Fox Hill kids have a chance to move and play during the day.

O’Neill is the school’s coordinator for Playworks, a national nonprofit that helps fund positions for coaches like him in low-income schools.

TOM O’NEILL:  By playing games, we learn how to socialize with each other.  We learn about fair play and respecting each other.  If we don’t play those games, how are we supposed go out and have a conversation with somebody if we can’t even play a game with them?