The Hispanic OutlooK-12 Magazine 04/04/2016 by Hispanic Host

APRIL 4, 2016

VOL.2 NUMBER 1 from the publisher of The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Celebrity Alumni Reflect On How The BGCA Impacted Their Lives

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Jennifer Lopez appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" early this year (ABC/Randy Holmes)

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CONTENT VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Turns 85

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Celebrity Alumni Reflect on How the BGCA Impacted Their Lives

Making the Grade

MAKING THE GRADE

Veteran Educator Offers Advice to Teachers and Parents

Happy Hundredth Birthday, Ezra Jack Keats

HONOR ROLL

Special Guest Column by World Renowned Scientist Martin Pope on His Friendship with Keats

Read Any Good Books Lately?

SCHOOL LIBRARY

This Month OutlooK-12 features the works of Ezra Jack Keats

Learning Through Play

RECESS

Educational Toys and Games Featured at the New York Toy Fair 2016

News and Trends

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

The Latest Education-related Stories from Across America

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Boys & Girls Clubs

of America Celebrity Supporters as Part of Alumni & Friends Club

TLANTA – In the fall of 2015, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), launched their new Boys & Girls Clubs - Alumni & Friends Club to engage its estimated 16 million Club Alumni. Alongside Alumni & Friends Club spokesperson Shaquille O’Neal,

Story compiled by Mary Ann Cooper numerous other celebrity ambassadors, hundreds of local Boys & Girls Clubs, corporate and media partners, BGCA called for former Club members to join the movement in building great futures for the next generation. The response to their call has been nothing short of impressive.

And why not? For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring and responsible citizens. The organization’s vision is that all Club members graduate from high school with a plan for the future,

PHOTO COURTESY OF BGCA

Twenty-one notable Boys & Girls Clubs of America alumni including Denzel Washington and Jennifer Lopez (co-national spokespersons), Ashanti, General Wesley Clark, Misty Copeland, John Paul DeJoria, Cuba Gooding Jr., Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mario Lopez, Ne-Yo, Edward James Olmos, Lucille O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal, Smokey Robinson, CC Sabathia, Martin Sheen, Courtney Vance, Kerry Washington and Shaun White.

8 · April 04, 2016

Since 2010, in fact, Jennifer Lopez has been a national spokesperson for BGCA. She says the Club set her on a path to future success. “It gave me a place to go. It started my kind of creative side,” she said in a public service announcement for BGCA. “I would dance and spend my afternoon there and go home to have dinner and dream about the next day and what we were going to do, and it just gave me a great sense of hope. It’s never something that’s going to get old – the kind of nurturing children or helping them dream or giving them self-esteem or giving them a sense of community. It is something we’re always going to need. It’s just as important now as ever.” Of course, if it wasn’t for Lopez’s mother, Guadalupe, she might have missed out on this life-changing experience. Her mother, a kinder-

“It’s never something that’s going to get old – the kind of nurturing children or helping them dream or giving them self-esteem or giving them a sense of community.” —Jennifer Lopez

PHOTO COURTESY OF RADIO DISNEY AND ABC MEDIA

demonstrating good character, citizenship and 21st century leadership skills as well as leading a healthy lifestyle. While BGCA’s reach is unparalleled, the crisis facing America’s kids remains paramount. In the U.S. every afternoon, 11 million kids (one in five) leave school with no place to go, and they risk being unguided and unsafe. It’s estimated that one out of every 16 Americans has been a Club kid at one point in their life. In an effort to reconnect, BGCA is leveraging the power of social media and rallying its celebrity alumni and friends as part of this effort with well-known supporters like Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Evander Holyfield, Nick Cannon, Queen Latifah, Victor Cruz, Michael Phelps and others encouraging their social media fans and followers and the millions of Club Alumni to join.

www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

PHOTO COURTESY OF BGCA

garten teacher, knew first-hand how valuable this program could be for Jennifer who was 14 at the time. It was 1983, and the Kips Bay, South Bronx Boys Club had just expanded its reach to include girls. There, Jennifer met Larry Maldonado, someone who had himself been a Boys Club member and was giving back to the community by teaching dance in the Kips Bay Club. Larry’s 10 · April 04, 2016

brother Harold (who also taught club members at the same time) told WebMD’s Rebecca AscherWalsh that Lopez showed signs of superstardom even as a young teen. “Jen was immediately one of the more active members of our dance program. Every day she would say how much she looked forward to being with Larry to take dance classes, and she was always involved

in teaching the younger students. One day, Larry said, ‘Jen is going to make it,’ and I said, ‘All the kids are going to make it.’ He said, ‘Yes, but there’s something special about her. She shows that certain potential.’ She was very motivated.” On Kip Bay Club’s website, Lopez acknowledges that the Maldonado brothers and the BGCA team changed her life. “The staff recognized a spark of performing potential in me and brought that spark alive. Soon, I was singing and dancing in regular Club performances and before long was part of the Club’s traveling troupe. I can honestly say I don’t know where I’d be today without the Club.” Aside from honing her artistic skills, BGCA helped form Jennifer’s passion for and commitment to making a difference in the world. In addition to her work with BGCA, Lopez works with children via The Lopez Family Foundation, a not-for-profit organization she founded with her sister, Lynda, to improve the health and well-being of women and children around the world through health education and increasing the quality of medical care available to them. The organization, in partnership with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, opened its first telemedicine center in Puerto Rico in 2010 and seven new centers in Panama since. The foundation also recently opened the Center for a Healthy Childhood in the Bronx, New York, in partnership with the Montefiore Medical Center, which aims to promote healthy eating, exercise and improve outcomes and access to care for women, children and families.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC MEDIA

Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach Jennifer Lopez on Radio Disney.

An actress, recording artist, producer, fashion designer, author, entrepreneur and humanitarian, Jennifer Lopez was honored with the Hero Award at the 2015 Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA), in recognition of her fervent and unceasing philanthropic efforts in the U.S. and around the world. “Boys & Girls Clubs have impacted the future of multiple generations with 54 percent of our alumni saying that their Club saved their lives,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO of BGCA. He stresses the importance of reconnecting with the millions of former Club kids so that they can be part of a “call to action to come together as advocates and ambassadors for Clubs around the country. The goal is make sure that “every kid in America has an open door to a great future.” “It is imperative for all Club Alumni to come together to sup-

port kids in this country,” said Larry Young, president and CEO of Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Larry and his wife Colette co-chair BGCA’s Alumni & Friends initiative. “My Boys & Girls Club was an important part of my childhood and also taught me the importance of giving back. I’m inviting all alum to join me to help build a great future for the next generation of leaders.” In a recent survey of Club Alumni, over a third (33 percent) reported that without the Club they would have dropped out of high school. Nearly 66 percent of alumni reported that they became more committed to their education because of the Club, and 64 percent said that the Club helped them improve their grades. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns,

public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Nielsen Survey, 54 percent of alumni say the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. “We can build a better future for our nation’s kids,” Clark said. “Who better to do that than the millions of Club Alumni whose lives were forever changed at a Boys & Girls Club? We encourage everyone whether you are alumnus or friend to join us and be a Boys & Girls Club member for life.” • www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

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Great Futures for These Celebrities Started at the

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA …

Martin Sheen “The Boys Club was one of the pillars of our life growing up. You know there was the church, the home, the school and Boys Club. Just a place to go, you know, and learn new skills. I went to a small, very poor school. There was no gym, and so we couldn’t learn any of the skills of athletics. They had a football team, which you could join later, but that was an outdoor sport. But during the winter, there were very few activities in schools so to learn anything like team sports – basketball, wrestling, boxing, tumbling (we would learn gymnastics as they called it) – so all of those sports, which developed us physically, were terribly important. But I’ll tell you the fundamental, most important thing we learned was working with each other – black and white – because it was the only place that was integrated. In that long ago we learned as children that we are all equal. It was one of the great experiences of my life growing up from 1947 to when I left home in 1959. I was a member of the Boys Club, and I loved it.” 12 · April 04, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF BGCA

oys & Girls Clubs of America alumni across the world attest to the fact that their futures started within their Club's walls. In our cover story, Jennifer Lopez spoke about how much the Boys & Girls Clubs helped her become the woman she is today. However, she is not alone. Here are some additional well-known alumni who were influenced by their hometown’s Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Mario Lopez and current BGCA members

Cuba Gooding Jr. “I just remember the whole organization being so open. You know, you’d go there and not recognize an adult there, but they'd say “come on in, you’re supposed to be here.” “Oh, we were told…” “no, no, it’s ok, we get it.” Everyone was so helping. Specifically, when I had a few guys I used to break dance with, and we used to carry our radio, the boom box and cardboard, and we used to go out in front of stores and get chased off and chased off, and there were also some bad elements that tried to influence us to join them for protection and that kind of stuff. We really couldn’t practice anywhere. We couldn’t practice at home because some of us didn’t have houses, you know. And then there was the Boys & Girls Club. At the time in 81, 82 it was the Boys Club, and they said “listen, you can play your music as loud as you want, you can breakdance as much as you want, but you have to start with your homework.” So that is the thing that we did. We would come in, bring our homework, work on that for an hour, and then the rest of the day, we could spin on our heads.”

Kerry Washington “The Boys & Girls Club is instrumental in creating great citizens. People who know how to interact well with others. Kids who believe in themselves. Kids who know they are capable of greatness. There was a very special

PHOTO COURTESY OF BGCA

Denzel Washington “You know, I loved the club. It’s the reason I’m here. It taught me so

many lessons. I could talk about it in a positive way, an honest way for the rest of my life. In your town or in your community your role models are the people you deal with that are in your faith that you can talk to, ask questions to, not necessarily some basketball player or actor on screen. So I had great role models going back to when I first joined in 1959. In our club when any kid went away to college, they would bring back their pennant and put it on the wall of the hallway going into the gym. So after a while there were more and more and more. It allowed you to imagine places you’ve never been to or thought about. We had a guy who actually played for the NBA (Gus Williams) who won a championship with the Seattle Supersonics in 1970, and he went to USC. I would look at that pennant and say “wow, California, I wonder what they do out there.” Then there was Notre Dame and other schools, and it was a way to make you dream bigger than your four square box.”

A young Denzel Washington as a member of BGCA.

dance teacher at our club named Larry, and I actually have these beautiful memories of Larry Maldonado doing duet dances with Jennifer Lopez because she was one of the big girls. So the little girls would crowd in the wings backstage and watch the two seasoned dancers rule the stage. And he was a very important mentor to me. I remember one weekend he gave me a lead, one of the big dance numbers, and I was so excited, and then the next day he kind of forgot and gave it to another girl, and I was devastated. And he saw me kind of really upset in the corner and pulled me aside because that’s what adults do at the Club, they really care and pay attention, and he said “what’s going on,” and I said “oh, I don’t know if I did something wrong,” and then he remembered and said “Kerry, you always have to speak up for what’s yours,” and I will never forget that. The Boys & Girls Club is a place where somebody knows who you are, they know where you’re from, they know what you care about, they know what you want to be and they’re there to help you with all of that. You can’t replace that.” Mario Lopez Lopez, as the Alumni Ambassador of Fitness of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, told FOX News Latino that he credits his involvement with these clubs for growing up a healthy, successful man. “Both of my parents worked, and there were lots of opportunities for me to get into trouble or gang activity — and these clubs were a big reason why I didn’t. The Boys & Girls Club introduced me to wrestling, which was a very important part of my life. Now, I travel around the country, talking with kids about the importance of being active and healthy. I love that I’m able to give back and do cool stuff like this!” He told Bonton.com, “It was a nice place for me to not only be safe but to be surrounded by great people.” • www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

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RAYTHEON, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA inspire more girls to study engineering …

ALTHAM, Mass. -- Women represent only 13 percent of the engineering workforce in the United States. With that imbalance in mind, Raytheon teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to introduce more girls to the field of engineering and the career options it offers. Recently, during Engineers Week, Raytheon, a sponsor of DiscoverE ‘Girl Day,’ hosted events for hundreds of girls at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. Engineers visited the clubs and led hands-on learning activities that demonstrated engineering concepts such as building basic electrical circuits and designing the strongest skyscrapers. “There are incredible opportunities for young women to fill the engineering jobs of tomorrow, and these jobs will be plentiful,” said Rebecca Rhoads, an electrical engineer and president of Raytheon Global Business Services. “Not only do engineering jobs tradition-

14 · April 04, 2016

ally pay well, but they are exciting and challenging and allow you to work on solutions that matter and make a difference in the world.” The average engineer’s salary in 2014 was $93,630, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well above the average wage of $47,230 for all occupations. Engineers who just graduated from college were among the highest paid in the class of 2015, averaging a $64,367 annual salary. Through its flagship program MathMovesU, Raytheon has invested more than $125 million in science, technology, engineering and math initiatives. It has also pledged $10 million in new, multi-year partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Student Veterans of America to help military families succeed through education. Funds support the development of “Centers of Innovation” at the Boys & Girls Clubs and affiliated youth centers in military communities, as well as expanding access to Student Veterans of America’s programs and support. •

“There are incredible opportunities for young women to fill the engineering jobs of tomorrow, and these jobs will be plentiful.” — Rebecca Rhoads, an electrical engineer and president of Raytheon Global Business Services.

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MAKING THE GRADE

by Gary Cooper

IT'S USEFUL AT TIMES TO HAVE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO “MAKE THE GRADE.” WITH THIS IN MIND WE HERE AT OUTLOOK-12 HAVE CREATED A SPECIAL COLUMN WHERE YOU, OUR READERS, CAN WRITE TO US WITH YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS AND GET PERSPECTIVE AND INSIGHTS FROM OUR RESIDENT AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION VETERAN AND CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST GARY COOPER. AN EDUCATOR FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS, GARY HAS TAUGHT STUDENTS FROM NURSERY SCHOOL TO COLLEGE AND IS ALSO A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

Q: I’m a substitute teacher, and Mr.

Cooper, I am sick of being looked down on just because I’m not full-time. I don’t mean the students. Kids are always going to try to pull something with the sub. No, I mean from my fellow teachers and from the administration. There’s this real snooty attitude at the school where I sub. It’s all subtle things - just the way they look at me and their tone of voice and attitudes in general. But I’m sick of it, and I’m sick of them, and I want to knock them off their high and mighty horses, so they stop looking down on the subs in general. What should I do?

A: I’m one of those people that believe

doughnuts solve most problems. Years ago, I worked with a middle-aged man who served as a substitute teacher. I remember one day he came into the faculty lounge, sat down quietly and read a newspaper. A few days later, he came into the lounge again prior to the beginning of the school day with a couple of boxes of doughnuts. He announced that he was Guy the substituted guy and offered the faculty members there the doughnuts as an ice breaker. Quickly, Guy the substitute guy became the most popular substitute teacher in the school. Our principal hired Guy more frequently than any other substitute. He was very popular with the student body, and at the end of the year, our principal offered him a full-time position. Interestingly, Guy turned down the job, explaining he had accepted a sales rep position for a major education company. Now, I am not endorsing that you purchase pastries for your fellow educators. Just simply get to know some of the teachers and let them get to know you. Seek their input and advice, and most faculty members will appreciate your contributions and skill set.

Q: I’m a high school history teach-

er, and I’m facing suspension. I’m a real political junky, and with all the buzz about the presidential race and all, I tend to run my mouth. I made some statements during class about my political views. Looking back now, I guess what I said was pretty sarcastic and could be viewed as insulting depending on which party you’re with. I hadn’t planned on talking about politics at all, but that class was right after lunch, and it just so happened that day I got into a really heated debate with a fellow teacher about our political views and was still all hyped up when I went to class. So I guess you can imagine what happened next. Some of my students complained to their parents, the parents complained to the principal and I am facing suspension. Is there anything I can do at this point?

A: In my opinion you have commit-

ted the cardinal sin of expressing your personal opinion on political positions. It is acceptable to express your views with your colleagues, but you should almost always refrain from discussing your viewpoints. For example, I strongly believe teachers should not inform their class of who they would or would not vote for in an upcoming election. Teachers are to provide unbiased information and steer clear of personal thoughts and feelings. In general the only time I might endorse a teacher speaking on political issues is to oppose the expression of hate speech. Learn from this experience, so you don’t step into this rabbit hole again and offer the needed apologies.

Q: I am a fifth grade teacher and have organized my class into a group learning format like the one you’ve described in your previous articles and columns. My experience with this teaching method has been a joyful success. Unfortunately, my vice principal views these methods of learning as just a desktop activity. He feels more is learned by keeping students in rows. What can I say to my administrator?

A: Evidence done nationwide supports

that standardize test scores rise dramatically from utilizing this style of education. In addition, discipline problems are considerably reduced. Tell him you know that going into a school year using a group learning format will greatly increase any teacher’s chances for success. It is true that a good instructor will adjust the presentation of lessons to shorter instructions aimed at learning specific information or skill. Remember, it is not what you teach but what your students learn. Although many excellent teachers use traditional methods, many education experts view this style of teaching as a bit obsolete. Good luck with your vice principal. It is always more difficult to achieve anything without administrative support.

If you would like to write to Gary for advice, please email admin@k12hispanicoutlook.com www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

HONOR ROLL

A MEMORY …

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ERZA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION

Too often when we read about famous people who has made a long-lasting positive impact on the world, we are given only an arms-length account of the “main points” of their lives. Rarely do we have a chance to truly get to know them through a first-hand account where we see not only who they were but also the world and period of time in which they lived. This is why we at OutlooK-12 are delighted to be able to share with you a special article about beloved children’s author Ezra Jack Keats who would have celebrated his hundredth birthday this year. Written by world-renown scientist and Keats’ very close friend Martin Pope, the story paints a vivid picture of The Great Depression, artistic inspiration and the enduring power of friendship.

One of Erza's many classroom visits. 16 · April 04, 2016

By Martin Pope

y task here is to provide a sense of the times in which Ezra and I lived and forged bonds that held us together for essentially all of his life. I met Ezra in 1933 when I was 12 years old. He and I were students at Junior High School 149 in Brooklyn. From that time until his death, 53 years later, we had the good fortune to remain close friends. He was an artist-illustrator and author of children’s books, and I am a scientist. How did we become friends? We met as children with embryonic skills but with similar curiosity about the surrounding world. We lived in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools, shared the same cultural background, suffered the same hardships and read many of the same books, always enjoying each other’s retelling of those stories. Our relationship developed into one similar to brotherhood without the complications of sibling or any other form of rivalry. Our interests were complementary. We taught each other to see the same scene through different windows. We took each

other for granted, to be called upon at any time for advice and/or assistance. Neither the passage of time nor the distance that sometimes separated us had any impact on our shared memories, and each of our conversations throughout our lives was a continuation of other endless conversations. During the years that we were in Junior High School 149 and continuing until the beginning of World War II, this country and the rest of the industrial world were in the grip of the Great Depression. Our families were poor. Securing food and shelter was the major focus of our lives. There was little or no money for anything else. Our mothers had incredible skill in making something out of nothing: soup from bones, and clothing from fragments of cloth. Potato soup was delicious and went a long way; bread was home-baked and cheaper than at the store. Borrowing and lending of small kitchen necessities among neighbors was a way of life. Yet, although women could be neighbors for decades, they never called each other by their first names; Mrs. Katz would always address her dear neighbor of many years as “Mrs. Blatt.” We never learned how to roller-skate, and it was well into later years that we learned how to ride a bike. Both of us and most of the boys on the block peddled candies, pretzels and ice cream to supplement family income and to earn the five cents to pay for an occasional movie. Our chief form of intellectual excitement came from reading. We were both voracious readers, consuming everything in sight—Horatio Alger’s rags-to-riches tales, Nick

Carter detective stories, the Tarzan of the Apes series, Zane Grey adventures, Tom Swift’s inventions and other books written for our age group. Other favorites included Jack London, P.G. Wodehouse, Booth Tarkington, Rudyard Kipling, Jules Verne, Mark Twain and O. Henry. We never bought any of these books, but they appeared miraculously, passing from hand to hand, and disappeared just as mysteriously. We also managed to read every book of interest to us in our local library: all the books on art for Ezra and all the books on science for me. The most popular for us were biographies of the masters. Like most children, we looked at the lives of the great for guideposts to a future in our chosen fields. For us, the movies were the ultimate in entertainment. Adventure and comedy were our chief fare. For comedy, we had Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Ben Turpin and Our Gang. For adventure, we had Douglas Fairbanks; for westerns, we had Tom Mix, Harry Carey, William S. Hart and Bill

It was a time for idealism, and Ezra was captivated by the dream of a humane, just and truly democratic society. www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

Boyd. The westerns came in a series of weekly episodes, and we couldn’t wait to see if all of our plot predictions were correct. For thrillers, we had Dracula, Frankenstein and The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney. In 1932, we entered Thomas Jefferson High School. Ezra lived less than two blocks from me, and both of us were less than one block from the school. He lived on the third floor, and I lived on the top floor of four-story walk-up tenements. On the first floor of his building in Apt. 3 lived one of his good friends who was also an artist. This probably influenced his choice of the title for his book “Apt. 3.” The roof was our 18 · April 04, 2016

the notion of being anything other than an artist. To continue as an artist would mean a life of extreme uncertainty at best. There would be times of financial distress, and who would support him? His older brother, Kelly, had just married and left home, and his older sister, Mae, was the sole support of the family. It was clear that he would have to find a steady income and earn his livelihood as a commercial artist. His first job offers came from the field of comic books. Sometimes he brought work home to finish, and in his absence, his mother would invite her neighbors in to admire the beautiful work being done by her magnificent son, the child who had inherited her own, untrained artistic talent. He worked in comic books for about a year while still living at home but kept up his fine art skills and interests by attending classes at the Art Students League. From comic books, he moved into work as an artist in the Federal Arts

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ERZA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION

He [Ezra] loved children, and when engaged with them, his entire persona changed. He was completely open. He accepted their comments with patience and humor and provided encouragement to them in their efforts.

mountaintop. We had unobstructed views of the great expanse of the sky. We marveled at the grand maneuvers of the pigeons guided by the hobbyist pigeon fanciers. Ezra painted scenes from his roof. It was a time for idealism, and Ezra was captivated by the dream of a humane, just and truly democratic society. A ray of hope was generated by the landslide presidential election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who quickly initiated work programs including the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Our discussions touched on every concern of bright, idealistic young people. We spoke out for issues that now everyone takes for granted but that then were considered to be Utopian fantasies: unemployment insurance, social security, financial support for education, health benefits, a respectable form of welfare or public support for the hungry. We fully expected that someday soon the exploitation of humans would come to an end. Ezra’s sympathies were distinctly with the underdog, and his eloquent paintings during this period focused on the despair and loneliness of the unemployed. In addition to his undisputed position as the master artist in school, Ezra was an honor student whose wit, sense of humor and talent as a storyteller made him popular with his peers. He was also the captain of the fencing team, an athletic skill compounded by his exquisite eye-hand coordination and his romantic flair. After graduation from high school in 1935, Ezra faced a dilemma. He was without a doubt a gifted painter, skilled in oils. Internally driven, he never entertained

Erza's brother William

Village when we heard that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. In 1942, we were separated by the war. I went to the Far East, and Ezra stayed in the United States in an army camouflage unit, using his artistic skills. He returned to civilian life in 1945 and shortly thereafter was hospitalized with a serious bout with stomach ulcers. I returned early in 1946 and met and married Lillie shortly thereafter. Ezra became a part of both of our lives. Our close friendship resumed, and Ezra was a frequent visitor at our home. Lillie was active in getting some of Ezra’s paintings sold and in general was solicitous of his well-being. He accompanied us on several of our vacations, one of which was a trip to a visually spectacular part of Arizona. His inspiration for “Clementina’s Cactus” came from that desert adventure. Ezra was a deep thinker, constantly probing for universal and just principles of behavior. We dis-

cussed his artistic work when he was having problems such as with an agent, an editor or a critic. He consulted me about the nature of the planets when he was doing “Regards to the Man in the Moon” and whenever he was unsure about some law of nature. Ezra was highly intelligent, good-looking and widely read, had a marvelous sense of humor and was a spellbinding storyteller. With all of this, and his artistic gifts and stature, he was attractive to women. He formed serious attachments to several women during his life. They were intelligent, interesting, attractive, talented and self-reliant. However, he could never come to terms with marriage. He loved children, and when engaged with them, his entire persona changed. He was completely open. He accepted their comments with patience and humor and provided encouragement to them in their efforts. He enjoyed my children and those of his other friends.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ERZA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION

Project, part of the WPA, set up by Roosevelt to provide employment for artists while giving them opportunities for creative expression in the service of society. He introduced me to the works of the great Mexican muralists, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera. But most important to us were the menacing events in Europe and Asia. The world political situation had worsened considerably. Hitler had taken over in Germany and attacks on Jews were a frequent occurrence. Stalin had instituted his purges in the Soviet Union. The Japanese had seized Peking, Shanghai and other cities in China and Franco was winning his war against the legal democratic government in Spain. During our endless conversations, Ezra would walk me home, I would turn around and walk him home, and this would go on until we would finally say farewell midway. On December 7, 1941, Ezra and I were walking in Greenwich

Erza's sister Mae

New York tenements, 1930s www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

20 · April 04, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ERZA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION

He especially took pleasure in his brother’s daughter, Bonnie, born in 1943. Pets play an important part in Ezra’s books. When we were youngsters, the only pet that could satisfy our need to nurture another living creature and that fell within the bounds of frugality, cleanliness and the limits of space was a goldfish. As an adult, Ezra took great comfort from his dog, Jake, and at the end, from his cat, Samantha. Jake was a Weimaraner who “wrote” delightful letters to Bonnie. Samantha was a red Persian who often perched inches from whatever work occupied Ezra, watching his brush as if it were a mouse. Samantha was still alive when this memoir was written, in 1993, 16 years old and enriching the life of one of Ezra’s admirers. At the age of 67, a heart problem that Ezra had experienced earlier returned. He was experiencing angina pains, despite having undergone open-heart bypass surgery, and he had to be hospitalized. He asked me to serve as intermediary with his physician. It was my responsibility to question his doctor about his latest diagnosis and prognosis, to interpret the answers in a manner that would be understandable and optimistic to Ezra and to share in the decision-making. However, Ezra’s heart was seriously damaged, and nothing was available at the time to prevent his death in the hospital. Ezra’s themes in the books he wrote and illustrated can in many cases be traced to his childhood experiences. His suffering in early life from economic privation and anti-Semitism coupled with his firmly held belief in a more equal

A tenement scene, photographed by Lewis Hine

society for all people and his love for children made the minority child a natural subject for his creativity and for the expression of his artistic genius. It is clear to me that in writing stories about Peter, Louie, Roberto, Susie and Amy, Ezra was writing about himself and all children who endure through hardship to realize their dreams and use their talent. In fact, the schools we attended and the neighborhood in which we lived are now inhabited by the very children of whom he wrote. I was privileged to have his friendship over almost the entire span of his life. He was cultured, attentive and curious; he taught me how to look at and read a painting; he kept me in stitches with the humor in his stories; and he encouraged me when I had doubts.

He graced my home and enchanted my children. His work has had a profound influence on children’s literature in the 20th century and will be loved by children in the next century. When I look back on the days when we walked arm in arm as youngsters on our way to the library laughing much of the way and recall that grim time at New York Hospital when with disbelieving eyes I was horrified to see his life slipping away in my hands, I feel as if we were actors in a Greek tragedy, moving about with apparent freedom of choice but all the while in the grip of the Fates who had predestined the alpha and omega of our friendship. (Adapted from the book “Ezra Jack Keats, Artist and Picture-Book Maker,” by Brian Alderson.) •

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Read Any

GOOD BOOKS Lately

ometimes in publishing, stories come together in ways that one could never have imagined. A year ago, the first issue of

OutlooK-12 magazine premiered. From the beginning, we had a School Library section, and the very first book we reviewed was Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day.” Now, with our magazine celebrating it’s first birthday and with the Ezra Jack Keats’ Foundation celebrating what would have been Keats’ hundredth birthday, we are dedicating this month’s School Library to Keats’ timeless children’s books. We would like to thank the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation for the book summaries, fun facts and cover images. To learn more about the foundation’s ongoing activities and events in honor of Keats’ birthday, visit http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/

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22 · April 04, 2016

SCHOOL LIBRARY

“Jennie’s Hat”

“Goggles!”

1966 - ISBN: 978-0142500354

ennie can hardly wait for the new hat her aunt has promised her. “It will be big and beautiful and flowery,” she tells herself happily. But when the box finally arrives, there is just a plain hat inside. Although a disappointed Jennie tries hard to make the best of it, nothing quite works…until a magical gesture of friendship makes her dream come true.

Fun Fact: Ezra was inspired to make “Jen-

Peter’s best friend who takes center stage in “Hi, Cat!” and “Pet Show!” Ezra once said that of all his characters, Archie was his favorite. Quiet but ingenious Archie was based on Ezra’s best friend, Martin Pope.

nie’s Hat” by a very tiny picture, the size of a postage stamp, of an old couple feeding pigeons that came to rest on their shoulders and arms. As you can see, almost anything can be used to tell a wonderful story!

“John Henry”

1969 - ISBN: 978-0140564402

1965 - ISBN: 978-0394890524

eter has found a rare treasure, a pair of old, beat-up motorcycle goggles. He and his best friend, Archie, are on their way to Archie’s front stoop with their prize when they run into a neighborhood gang that wants those goggles too. What the bullies don’t understand is how hard it is to catch two smart boys and one crafty dog.

Fun Fact: “Goggles!” introduces Archie,

about John Henry that Ezra could have adapted, he decided to write his own version. He wanted to portray the man as well as the legendary figure and let the bold illustrations tell a bigger story, mixing history, realism and myth.

he legendary steel-driving man who was born, and died, with a hammer in his hand comes to life in this dramatic tale of heroism and destiny. Each page seems to radiate the vital force that led John Henry to challenge a steam drill to a rock-drilling contest—and win.

Fun Fact: With all the songs and stories

“Louie”

1975 - ISBN-13: 978-0142400807

“A Letter to Amy”

1968 - ISBN: 978-0812436426

eter is having a birthday party, and he’s asked all of his friends to come. But Amy is a special friend because she’s a girl, so Peter decides to send her a special invitation. When he rushes out in a thunderstorm to mail it, he bumps smack into Amy herself and knocks her to the ground. Will she come to his party now?

Fun Fact: On the back cover of “A Letter

to Amy,” the graffiti on the fence includes a number of scribbled names. This was an amusing way for Ezra to give a secret shout-out to his friends.

ometimes without warning, you can look up and see someone or something you love with all your heart. That’s what happens to Louie at Susie and Roberto’s puppet show. Everyone is there, hushed and excited as Roberto’s mouse puppet introduces Susie’s puppet, Gussie. That’s when Louie opens his heart to Gussie with a big “Hello!” and a smile. It’s the first time Roberto and Susie have heard him speak, but they recognize love when they see it.

Fun Fact: Ezra often used details from his

childhood in his books. In this case Gussie is not just the name of puppet loved by Louie but also the nickname of Ezra’s mother, Augusta.

“Pet Show!”

1972 - ISBN: 978-0142300008

rchie wants to enter his cat in the neighborhood pet show—but where is the cat? Archie keeps on looking even after all the other kids have given up, but his pet is nowhere to be found. Ingenious Archie decides to enter the contest with a most surprising creature!

Fun Fact: The book title on the original

cover of “Pet Show!” was not drawn by Ezra—it was the work of kids who had written to him! The cover was changed in later editions, but if you look at the first page, you’ll still see the original letters drawn by Ezra’s fans in the early 1970s. www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

SCHOOL LIBRARY

“The Snowy Day”

“Hi, Cat!”

1962 - ISBN: 978-0140501827

n this Caldecott Award-winning book, a small boy named Peter experiences the joy of a snowy day. First published in 1962, this now-classic book broke the color barrier in mainstream children’s publishing. The vivid and ageless illustrations and text, beloved by several generations of readers, have earned a place in the pantheon of great American children’s literature.

Fun Fact: In “The Snowy Day,” Ezra cre-

Fun Fact: In “Hi, Cat!” Ezra shows how

ated a visual language to convey a young child’s sensations with his inventive use of color, pattern and materials. He had never used collage before he made it famous as an illustration technique. He created a shadowy background by dipping a toothbrush in ink and spattering it across white paper.

“Regards to the Man in the Moon”

1970 - ISBN: 978-0670885466 rchie is walking down the street eating ice cream. It’s a beautiful day, and he is on his way to meet his best friend, Peter. Suddenly stopped by a newcomer to his neighborhood, Archie says, “Hi, cat!” The cat sits, looks him up and down and purrs. It turns out to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Keats’ vibrant palette brings this humorous, fast-paced story to life. important animals were to him. As a boy, he desperately wanted a pet, but his family could not afford one. The grown-up Ezra fulfilled his dream: he had a dog named Jake and a cat named Samantha.

1981 - ISBN: 978-0670011377

ouie is unhappy because the other kids call his father “the junk man.” But his father knows it’s not just junk. “All a person needs is some imagination! And a little of that stuff can take you right out of this world!” So Louie builds a spaceship fueled entirely by imagination—and he and his friends blast off into an amazing adventure.

Fun Fact: Louie’s spaceship in “Regards to the Man in the Moon,” may be fueled by fantasy, but Ezra wanted his illustrations of space to look as realistic as possible. So he consulted a renowned scientist, Martin Pope, who happened to be his best friend.

“Whistle for Willie”

“Dreams”

1964 - ISBN: 978-0670880461

“Peter’s Chair”

1967 - ISBN: 978-0140564419

eter has a new sister. First, his father paints Peter’s old cradle and crib pink. Then his parents want to paint Peter’s chair! “Let’s run away, Willie,” he says to his dog. And they do. This is a gentle, reassuring story about sibling rivalry.

Fun Fact: “Peter’s Chair” is the only book

in which Peter’s father plays a central role. A devoted dad, he helps Peter adjust to his new role as big brother to a new baby. Ezra’s stories focused on children, but loving parents were never too far away. 24 · April 04, 2016

n this charming sequel to “The Snowy Day,” an older and wiser Peter wants to learn to whistle. Wouldn’t it be the perfect way to call his dog, Willie? Peter tries so hard to whistle that his cheeks hurt, but he doesn’t give up. With a very light hand and his legendary illustrations, Keats creates a world in which effort yields results.

Fun Fact:

Ezra often didn’t settle on a book title until he finished the book. He felt that he had to choose carefully because the title would sum up “the experience of the book.” So “The Funny Day,” which had a dog named Henry, became the more memorable “Whistle for Willie.”

1974 - ISBN: 978-3518112670

t’s late, and everyone is asleep except Roberto. Looking out his window, he sees Archie’s cat trapped by a big dog. Roberto doesn’t know what to do. Then something incredible happens: the cat is saved by the most surprising hero ever! Swirls of color evoke the dreamlike yet intense beauty of a summer night.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Ezra was a

guest on the acclaimed TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood?” On one of his visits, he showed how to make marbled paper, a technique he used to create the swirling colored sky and windows in “Dreams.”

Award Winning Game The best gift you can give your child! A fun, new and amazing way to learn about money!

Perfect for homeschool, in class, life skills transitional and after school programs. All Students can learn through games! Available in 5 languages Ages 8+

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Fun Toys That

Educate Inspire and Comfort

ach year the Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City presents the opportunity for toy makers and distributors to up their game and prove that they belong in this highly competitive marketplace. OutlooK-12 visited this year’s fair to find products that imparted true educational value and also could be beneficial to some Hispanic students who may not have the strongest English-language skills. We were very encouraged by what we saw. The products we were most impressed with ran the gamut of games, dolls and construction toys as well as one that is sure to develop geography skills.

26 · April 04, 2016

It can also open dialogue possibilities between parent and child. The National Parenting Center agrees. In 2015, they awarded Worry Eaters the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval stating in their product review, “Worry Eaters serve a very useful and helpful purpose in a very subtle way while being fun and amusing at the same time. Kids are often plagued with worries and can’t

or don’t know how to express them. Worry Eaters are an excellent tool parents can use to help understand what their kids are feeling and what is worrying them. To add to the appeal, Worry Eaters are super soft, lightweight, easy to take on-the-go and gender-neutral. Recommended Age: three and up.” All Worry Eaters are washable, either by hand or on machine gentle cycle.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HAYWIRE GROUP

Worry Eaters A doll with a zipper might be the easiest way to calm a small child’s fears thanks to the plush characters known as Worry Eaters, soft huggable dolls that lives up to their name. Distributed by the Haywire Group, Worry Eaters, known as Sorgenfressers in Germany, have a hang tag that explains to tots as young as three years old that if they write their concern on paper – or draw it if too young to write – and toss it into the plush’s zippered mouth, their Worry Eater will hold on to that fear for them, so they can get a good night’s sleep. In the morning, their fears usually don’t look so large after all. Coming in eight different personalities with names like Polli, Flamm and twins Bill and Betti, we think Worry Eaters is the perfect tool for guidance counselors trying to persuade reluctant students to open up about their problems and fears.

Worry Eaters

PHOTO COURTESY OF OCHO AND KNUCKLE STRUTZ

OCHO Building Sets One of the most popular categories of toys that many parents choose for their children are construction or building toys. Kids love them because of the possibility of making things with their own little hands and showing their mom or dad what they have made. Parents are delighted to discover that a toy can educate and boost the creativity level of their children. After sampling toys of all kinds at the Toy Fair, we found that Incredibly Interconnectable Toys’ latest innovative building sets, KnuckleStrutz® and OCHO, are educational toys that encourage creativity, imagination and STEM learning in ways that no other construction toy can. OCHO is the perfect learning construction set for younger builders. The uncomplicated nature of OCHO pieces and connections makes the toy the ideal choice for children ages three and

up. The pieces easily stack, crisscross or even slide through each other. The octagonal geometry of OCHO allows connection in eight (OCHO) different angles. These easily mastered, simple connections give children the opportunity to build whatever they can visualize without the need of instructions. However, inspirations are included to build amazing models that children of all ages will enjoy. OCHO teaches dozens of valuable learning skills including Geometry, Problem Solving, Pattern Recognition, Sorting & Classification, Action & Reaction, Colors & Textures, Creative Thinking and Memory, as well as many others. KnuckleStrutz KnuckleStrutz is an educational toy that encourages and builds on the existing creativity and imagination in a child. Growing up with the individual, it can be enjoyed as a

basic toy for younger builders then advance to a complex engineering system for more advanced players as mathematic and physics skills expand. The fun and sophistication of KnuckleStrutz goes way beyond traditional block toys. Each KnuckleStrutz piece can be connected to the next in a huge variety of ways, making solid, bendable, spinning and even morphing joints. The unique design of the pieces allows completed KnuckleStrutz creations to move, collapse and expand all while still connected. KnuckleStrutz has several model building toy sets, but for the ultimate educational experience, nothing compares to the Geometry Construction Set. It's made of interlocking geometric shapes and with the morphing power of KnuckleStrutz joints, these building toys can transform while all of the pieces are still connected. Creative construction toys are a great way to gauge a child's way of thinking about space, size and critical thinking. They figure out how things fit and how to make things happen. Construction toys are utilized by schools, doctors and parents to see where a child’s problem-solving abilities lie. This is particularly important to assess what help, if any, a child will need with mental development issues. As a child grows, these toys can be used to gauge a child's interaction with others when working in a group environment. This helps to find and correct any behavioral issues early on as well. KnuckleStrutz and OCHO offers versatile and unrivaled building toy products for specific age ranges to accommodate a child at every stage of development. www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

The game comes in English and can be ordered in translation packs of English/Spanish, English/Chinese, English/French and English/Vietnamese.

Key to the Front Door The next product that impressed us was created by an even more impressive Amarillo College professor named Deb Avara. Her board game, Key to the Front Door, tackles one of the most important life lessons for adults and students alike – financial literacy. Her inspiration came from her own life. Although she was well-educated, she (like many others) didn’t know enough about money management and long term planning. “My mom taught me to save and pay bills on time and save and stick to a budget and save and don’t buy things you can’t afford and save. But she never taught me about compound interest – because she didn’t know either,” Deb explained. “And that upset me. I had run several success28 · April 04, 2016

ful businesses; I prepared taxes for 13 years, even taught tax school. I considered myself pretty money savvy. So I figured – if I didn’t know this – my students probably didn’t know this either.” And that realization inspired Key to the Front Door. An award-winning educational reality money game, Key to the Front Door is suitable for ages eight and above. This board games is perfect for home, ESL, G&T, life skills, transition classes for special ed and helps meet the financial literacy requirements for schools. The goal of the game is to furnish an apartment all while paying bills, saving for emergency, college/retirement and vacation, maintaining a budget, make wise shopping/buying decisions choosing wants vs needs and much more.

Hugg-A-Planet Next, for an out of this world and in this world learning tool, there’s Hugg-A-Planet, one of the few toys shared by presidents, governors, senators, congressmen, many other world, business and religious leaders. It’s a positively huggable soft plush 12-inch globe with more than 600 labeled locales. It’s embraced by many movie, television and music celebrities. In fact, since September 11, 2009, Hugg-A-Planet planets have been orbiting earth aboard the International Space Station traveling seven km per/sec. Circles once every 90 min, 5,860 orbits per year. So far they have traveled over 850 million miles and orbited around the Earth 18,500 times! Geography can seem like a remote and dull subject for students. A plush toy like Hugg-A-Planet, which can also be tossed around like a ball, makes geography come alive for children. It’s been shown that children as young as two can start learning geography. For preschooler on up to eight th grade, children are exposed to the media always mentioning geography in the news, or they can find references while reading books and magazines or even listening to music. Different than a heavy metal globe on a stand, Hugg-A-Planet can always be in arms' reach for easy reference. Often this becomes an opportunity for the parent, grandparent and child to interact; where is that

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCS DIRECT INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUGG-A-PL ANET

place or where does grandma live or even planning vacations. Hugg-APlanet’s product line includes other planets, the moon and a soft pillow map of the United States. Hugg-A-Planet also comes with a subtle message. Its creators say it, “helps children learn about caring for Planet Earth. When you HuggA-Planet, you just hugged seven billlon+ people.” SCS Direct’s Tall Tales: The Game of Infinite Storytelling One of the reason that creative writing is so difficult for many students goes beyond written English proficiency. Many students have not been trained to exercise their imagination and think outside the box when it comes to creating

a story and find creative writing intimidating. We are on technology overload as well, which can stifle creativity. To that end SCS Direct Inc. has launched Tall Tales: The Game of Infinite Storytelling. Tall Tales, brings back the classic magic of imagination through electronic-free fun. Playing Tall Tales is simple– players choose a story card for their setting, draw random story elements from the bag and create an ever-changing original tale. Some of the 24 - story card settings include: a quirky game show, a colorful ocean, a fun theme park and a crazy circus. The story bag contains a wide range of 3-D pieces including: a treasure chest, a baby, a unicorn and a rocket ship.

Tall Tales can be a great tool for teachers. They can put together groups of students who work as a unit to come up with a story that they can write and share with the rest of the class. It is also a fun family activity. This creative, non-competitive game is suitable for all ages. For students who are in ESL programs and have to improve their language skills, this game allows them to stretch their imagination and creativity while practicing their verbal skills in a stress-free setting. Tall Tales comes from SCS Direct Inc. which is a consumer products company that develops best of breed products across the toy, baby, housewares, home improvement, personal care and outdoor living categories. • www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

…

News & Trends in K-12 Education from Across America …

Wellesley College W

Celebrated 200th Anniversary of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

30 · April 04, 2016

ELLESLEY, Mass. -- In the past few years, mashups—like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies—have meant classic works have undergone radical pop transformations at the hands of Hollywood. Wellesley College took a decidedly more unique approach in its celluloid celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of one classic text, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” The college’s popular movie series, Cinephile Sundays, honored Shelley herself (and by extension the iconic horror story of science gone awry) by screening several films on campus. Some films alluded to Shelley’s life; others reflected on her famous monster and the issues brought up by her novel. The most famous film screened was the “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), which was the first sequel to “Frankenstein” (1931). For the all-women’s college, however, the true star of the celebration was Shelley since she embodied an artist who, despite a literary world hostile to women writers, produced one of the most enduring stories.

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

National Robotics Week Celebrates STEM Fields

EDFORD, Mass. -- National Robotics Week is a week-long series of events and activities aimed at increasing public awareness of the growing importance of robotics and the tremendous impact that it will have on the future. Established by Congress and iRobot in 2010, it is taking place until April 10, 2016. Led by founder and lead organizer iRobot, along with support from a partner advisory council, the family-friendly week seeks to inspire

involvement, educate participants and celebrate robotics and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-related fields (STEM) through robotics events at schools, libraries and universities as well as contests, competitions and other learning focused activities. “When you successfully link fun experiences to education, it makes a world of difference in getting kids interested in learning and understanding the fundamentals of sci-

ence and math,” said Anthony ‘Mr. Roboto’ Nunez, CEO, Infamous Robotics LLC. For more information about National Robotics Week, go to: http://www.nationalroboticsweek. org/.

Ukuleles for Ukraine

AN DIEGO -- Ukuleles for Ukraine, a California based non-profit charity, has released a new self-titled documentary based on their 2015 trip to Ukraine to supply children’s homes with clothing, school supplies, medicine and musical instruments – specifically providing music lessons on the ukulele to encourage the creativity of children across the homes in central Ukraine. “The purpose of this documentary to encourage people to volun32 · April 04, 2016

teer and impart their skills. If families watching are inspired to adopt a child, that would be a secondary benefit. We are raising funds to continue donating instruments and giving music lessons, plus achieve our goal of installing computers to enable a 21st century standard of education,” said Quinn Boylan, founder of Ukuleles for Ukraine. The non-profit raised over $5,000 from individual donors and corporate sponsors and coordinated

PHOTO COURTESY OF UKULELES FOR UKRAINE

Releases Powerful Music Documentary

the donation and delivery of over 150 ukuleles and other musical instruments.

SCHOOL NEWSPAPER

Maryland’s Jemicy School

is First School in the Country to Become Accredited by International Dyslexia Association

ALTIMORE -- Jemicy School, which educates students with dyslexia and other related language-based learning differences, is pleased to announce that the school is the first in the country to become accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). IDA evaluated Jemicy’s curriculum, classroom instructors and oneon-one and small group specialized instruction during the accreditation process to determine that Jemicy is

meeting the “IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.” These standards define what all teachers of reading need to know and be able to do to teach all students to read proficiently, not just those with dyslexia. “If teachers are knowledgeable about and using these practice standards, all but the most severe reading problems can be ameliorated,” said Suzanne Carreker, Ph.D., CALT, QI, secretary of the IDA

board of directors and one of the three independent evaluators who looked at Jemicy during this pilot program. For more information, visit www.jemicyschool.org.

Workstation and laptop donations support Highline School District’s nationally recognized computer science program

EATTLE -- Inspirus Credit Union donated 34 computer workstations and nine laptops to the Highline School District to support its nationally recognized computer science program. The White House recently praised Highline among 25 public school districts nationwide. The workstation and laptop donation, valued at more than $12,000, helps support the district’s growing computer science program, which now includes all its high school campuses and is

expanding to middle schools. This is Inspirus Credit Union’s first major in-kind donation to the Highline School District, which is home to more than 19,000 students in the communities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Boulevard Park and White Center. “We’re honored to help support Highline’s vision to ensure all students graduate tech-savvy and tech-literate,” said Inspirus Vice President of Information Technology Kris Hanson. “Schools are so

grateful to receive up-to-date surplus technology, and it’s one more meaningful way for us to give back to education.” www.k12hispanicoutlook.com K

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activities and evening “tertulias.”