Tri-County Sentry
Friday
MAY 2, 2014
Page 5A
News On Education Word-Finds
Find and circle the words in the puzzle. The words read forward, backwards, up, down and diagonally. People Prophets Rises Savior Transform Whole Distress Exalted Flesh Fool Forbear Gladly Glory Grace Measure Messenger
Answers on page 12A
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, place a number into each box so that each row across, each column down, and each small 3 x 3 square with the larger diagram (there are 9 of these) will contain every number from 1 through 9. In other words, no number will appear more than once in any row, column, or smaller 3 x 3 square. Working with the number already given as a guide complete each diagram with the missing numbers that will lead to the correct solution. Answers on page 12A
Sudoku
It's already known that low-income students of color generally have less experienced teachers, but a new study from the Center for American Progress reveals they have less effective teachers, too. The Center For American Progress report analyzed the evaluation scores of teachers in low-income and affluent districts in both Massachusetts and Louisiana. Throughout the past few years, states have been incentivized to adopt new teacher evaluation systems through Race To The Top funding. The teacher evaluations in Massachusetts and Louisiana -- two states that are unique in making evaluation scores public -- rate teachers based on measures like student scores on standardized tests and effectiveness dur-
ing classroom observation sessions. In Louisiana, where teachers are rated as either "ineffective," "effectiveemerging," "effective-proficient" or "highly effective," researchers found that “a student in a school in the highest-poverty quartile is almost three times as likely to be taught by a teacher rated ineffective as a student in a school in the lowest-poverty quartile.” Similarly, students in schools with a high concen-
tration of minorities are more than twice as likely to have an ineffective teacher than students in schools with a low minority enrollment. Massachusetts teachers receive ratings such as "unsatisfactory," "needs improvement," "proficient" or "exemplary." Although Massachusetts has fewer teachers with poor ratings than Louisiana, students in high-poverty schools are three times as likely to be taught by a teacher rated STUDENTS, See page 12A
Summer is near, and many students are anticipating their summer jobs or summer internships. Many, however, are procrastinating and have not yet applied for the many opportunities that are available. Each year, minority students especially seem to be waiting to the last minute to apply. Last summer for example, the Black teen unemployment rate was at an alarmingly high rate, and this added to the already devastating statistics of Black unemployment. With all that being said, it is not too late and there are many programs that are still accepting applications – not just for the summer, but also for the upcoming fall and winter. Below is a list of the top 2014/2015 minority internships: #1 – The AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship
is a summer program for minority students interested in a career in journalism. Learn more at www.findinternships.com/2014/02/ the-aaas-minority-sciencewriters.html. #2 – The Year Up IT Internship Program is an intensive training program that helps urban young adults increase their technical skills and prepare for a career in information technology. Learn more at www.findinternships.
com/2013/06/year-up-itinternship.html. #3 – The Explore Microsoft Internship Program is for current college undergraduate minority students pursuing a degree in computer science or software engineering. Learn more at www.findinternships.com/2013/04/ Explore-Microsoft-Internship-Program.html. #4 – The White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship INTERNSHIPS, See page 12A
One of every five adults are procrastinators, and college students are even worse -- 70 percent of them put off tasks, according to a DePaul University study. At just 11 years old, Walter Levin knows that is not the way to get things done. “Both kids and adults need to set goals and then get into the habit of working toward them,” says Walter, who recently published his first book, “The Kid Who Went to the Moon,” (www. spacekidbooks.com), and is working on his second in the series. “I set aside a day and time, or days and times, every week to work on whatever project I’ve got. When it becomes part of your routine, you just do it!” Walter’s book is also about a kid with a big goal, and the creative ways he and his best friend go about accomplishing it, including creating YouTube
videos that go viral. “Even though my book is fiction, I wanted it to be believable, partly because I like fantasy books that have enough real elements to make you think, ‘This actually could happen,’ but also because I want the kids who read it to really believe they can accomplish whatever they dream of,” Walter says. Whether you’re a kid – or an adult – who procrastinates on working toward goals, Walter offers tips for success based on his firsthand experience. • Focus on how you’re going to feel once you’ve made some progress. “If you’re a person who has a hard time sitting down to work on something, whether it’s an essay for school or cleaning your bedroom, think about how good it feels when you’re almost done,” Walter suggests. “Being almost there
can actually feel even better than finishing!” (Numerous studies back up Walter’s observation: We’re happiest when we’re making progress toward our goals as opposed to when we achieve them.) • Have faith that whatever you’re trying to do will get a lot easier with practice. Walter is also an avid unicyclist, but he lost his balance more than once when he first tried to pedal a unicycle. “I’m really glad for the experience of learning how to ride a unicycle because it was so hard for a long time. I thought, ‘This is impossible!’ and I wanted to give up,” he says. Something, though, made him keep trying, day after day. Eventually, it became the easiest thing in the world. “Whenever I’m trying TIPS, See page 12A
The Top Last-Minute Summer Internships for Minority Students
Crossword Companion
Across 1. My _____ Monster 4. Me and ______ 7. Greeted 10. TLC’s While You Out 11. Continuing series story line 12. Hank Hill’s nextdoor neighbor 13. Dry 14. Cheerleader’s shout 15. Survivor setting, often 16. Maude costar (2 words) 19. GI’s address (abbr.) 20. Diamond girl 21. ______ and the Man 24. _____ a Life 25. Goal on Challenge Golf 28. ______ Place 29. Time periods (abbr.) 30. Shopper’s delight 31. Grow older 32. Here and Now actor Pee ______ Love 33. She wrote for Alan Brady 34. Scottish cap 35. Baywatch lifeguard’s shade 36. He had a “show about nothing” (2 words) 43. Sheriff Taylor’s boy 44. Cover 45. Toast topping 46. Clampett, to Drysdale 47. Before, in poetry 48. Paper purchase 49. Cpl., e.g. 50. Agreed! 51. Where the Bradys watched TV Down 1. Where Lima is
Minority Students Don't Only Get Less Experienced Teachers, They Also Get Less Effective Ones
11-Year-Old Author Shares Tips for Kids with Big Dreams
2. Life Choices cohost Chapman 3. Original Amateur Hour host (2 words) 4. Sons of Thunder costar Sanchez 5. Spoken 6. _______ Navy 7. Show featuring Radar and Klinger 8. Roc costar Joyce 9. 90210 fan, often 10. Family Law’s opening song 12. Timepiece face 17. ______ Sharkey 18. Insect egg 21. Henry Phyfe, for one (abbr.) 22. Witch 23. Anger 24. Post-college test (abbr.) 25. Rocky, to Bullwinkle
26. ______-American Girl 27. Law & Order’s Det. Curtis 29. Sherman of Amen 30. Role for Foxx 32. Apple’s ______ 33. Francisco Beat 34. Star_______: Deep Space Nine 35. Changes in the height of the ocean 36. Ritter of Hooperman 37. Narrative poem 38. Puerto _____ 39. Roma Downey’s homeland 40. Confederate Robert _____ (2 words) 41. Rest against a wall 42. DeLuise of Lotsa Luck Answers on page 12A