Have you read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell?

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Kelly.

This is the same author who wrote Blink and the Tipping Point, both really interesting books. This latest book is based on a theme that it takes 10,000 hours to be an expert at something and that you need a particular set of circumstances to be really successful. Basically, be in the right place at the right time with the right set of characteristics.

He has a really interesting view on education. If it takes 10,000 to become an expert, then the country that brings more education faster to its students is going to be more successful. He then compares our corn growing based culture with rice growing cultures. In a corn growing culture we have one main crop; we work really hard for 6-8 months a year, but basically take 3-4 months off. In a rice-growing community they have three harvests a year, they work every day, all day, every day of the year. It’s no surprise that rice growing cultures have their kids in school most of the year. The idea of taking three months off from learning/working is just alien. In a corn growing culture though, taking the summer off is normal, it’s expected, it’s a time to relax.

My children have been on summer vacation for the past two weeks. I keep thinking about how they are playing X-box, texting their friends and doing nominal chores while others kids in this global economy are studying math and science. How those kids are getting closer to their 10,000 hours faster than my kids. That just by the circumstances of the culture they were born in determines how much they learn in a year.

I have this nagging feeling my kids are missing out. Read the book, or just read the section on education. It’s very thought provoking.

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Spotlight: Summer Interns!

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Molly Sumpter.

Meet Andrew!

Major: History

Favorite Subject: African History

Why are you interning at LEV: I’m a strong advocate of education

What does the future hold? Finish up my senior year at UF

Spare time? Hosting social gatherings

In Kindergarten…? I wanted to be a baseball player because I really liked playing baseball.

Favorite TV shows? Family Guy, Southpark, and Weeds

Favorite Quote: “With great power comes great responsibility”

Meet Elle!

School: Whitman College

Major: Sociology/Education/Spanish

Favorite Subject: Sociology, of course!

Why are you interning at LEV: I’m interested in learning more about Washington State’s educational system and how legislation impacts our schools directly and indirectly. I’ve learned lots about schools on the micro level, I thought it was time for me to learn about the entire system. Also, my beliefs correspond very strongly with LEV’s mission and vision- I believe that our schools need to be changed in order to give our students the futures they deserve.

What does the future hold? Going back to Walla Walla to start my 3rd year of college.

Spare time? I love to dance, hang out with my family and friends, have picnics in the park, play board games, read, and explore new neighborhoods on sunny Seattle days.

In Kindergarten…? I think I wanted to be a kid’s doctor (pediatrician).

Favorite TV shows? Wishbone and Ugly Betty! (I don’t watch much TV, I can’t think of any others.)

Favorite Quote: “You give little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” - Kahlil Gibran

Meet John!

School, Major: Skyline High School, Major: NA, would like to do International Relations in college

Favorite Subject: History

Why are you interning at LEV: Education is in my opinion the most important issue in politics today, and I enjoy working on things that are bigger than me.

What does the future hold? I’d like to work in the Foreign Service, and eventually be a teacher myself.

Spare time? Sports: Swimming, Taekwondo, Capoeira. I also love to cook.

In kindergarten…? I wanted to be a zoologist, because I loved animals but didn’t want to conform and say I wanted to be a veterinarian like everyone else.

Favorite TV shows? The West Wing, Friends, Top Chef

Favorite Quote: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” -Mark Twain

Meet Katarina

School: Franklin High School

Favorite subject: I don’t have a favorite class. I always especially enjoyed art class

Why are you interning at LEV: I loved interning last summer, I learned so much and had a lot of fun.

What does the future hold? Continue with school.

Spare time: Spend time with my family and friends, play volleyball, watch movies, listen to music, draw and paint.

In kindergarten…?: I wanted to be a “pilot”. But I thought a pilot jumped out of planes as their job. (I thought pilots were skydivers). I thought jumping out of planes would be fun!

Favorite TV shows: I don’t watch much tv but The Big Comfy Couch, Gilmore Girls, and anything on the Food Network.

Favorite Quote: For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Meet Lindsey!

School: Wake Forest University, North Carolina

Major: Political Science and Communications

Favorite subject: political science and communications

Why are you interning at LEV: to gain experience in the non-profit sector

What does the future hold? Finish my senior year at college and pursue a Masters in Management degree from Wake Forest

Spare time: cook, hang out with friends, workout

In kindergarten…?: I wanted to be a teacher

Favorite TV shows: Friends, Grey’s Anatomy, and Saved by the Bell

Favorite Quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” Eleanor Roosevelt

Meet Molly!

School: University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Major: Political Science, Minor: Earth and Space Sciences

Favorite Subject: American Politics

Why are you interning at LEV: After interning at Senator Cantwell’s office and for a State House campaign, I wanted a taste of what work in the Non-Profit sector would be like.

What does the future hold? Rock my senior year, go to Graduate School, hopefully end up with a career in Emergency Management.

Spare time? Diddle on my blackberry, kick around a soccer ball, read Harry Potter, and play Phase 10.

In kindergarten…? I wanted to be an FBI Agent, because Mulder and Scully from the X-Files were my favorite.

Favorite TV shows? Jeopardy, NCIS, and Project Runway.

Favorite Quote: “Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.” from Hope Floats

Meet Nitya!

School: University of Washington,  M.Ed. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Favorite Subject: Anything sociology related

Why are you interning at LEV: I’m interning at LEV because I want to learn about what is happening in education in Washington (I just moved from CA last year).  I also wanted to work in a non-profit and connect with the Seattle community.  Finally, I hope to build some new skills.

What does the future hold? Finish my Master’s degree and possibly go for a PhD!

Spare time? I love to dance, practice yoga, explore Seattle, hike, eat…

In kindergarten…? Don’t remember

Favorite TV shows? Three’s Company, Weeds, Project Runway

Favorite Quote: “Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can. “ -Martha Graham, Pioneer of Modern Dance

Meet Sara!

School: University of Washington,

Major: English

Favorite Subject: English, International Studies

Why are you interning at LEV: I am interested in the intersection of education and public policy

What does the future hold? Career in education and public policy

Spare time? Read, dance, bike, kayak, explore Seattle

In kindergarten…? I wanted to be a writer because I love reading novels and creative writing

Favorite TV shows? Gilmore Girls, House MD, Jon Stewart

Favorite Quote: “It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts… it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves.”- Robert Hutchins

Meet Xuan!

School: Garfield High School

Favorite Subject: Math

Why are you interning at LEV: I feel that LEV can offer me a unique experience that I’ll learn a lot from.

What does the future hold? I’ll have schooling for another year, and then I plan to further my studies at the University of Washington.

Spare time? I like to read and spend quality time with family and friends.

In kindergarten…? I wanted to be a veterinarian because I thought at the time, that it would be fun to treat and take care of animals because I loved them so much.

Favorite TV shows? I don’t really watch TV. I’m more of a reading person.

Favorite Quote: “Sometimes we all get caught up in maintaining or exceeding our success, but it’s good to take a step back and appreciate the simple things that make us happy.”

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Dr. Bette Hyde @ Denise Louie Education Center

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Bonnie.

Dr. Bette Hyde has been on the job as director of the Department of Early Learning (DEL) for a short time - but she has been busy. She has crisscrossed the state, meeting with children, parents, and early educators to increase DEL’s understanding of the real issues facing families today. Last week Dr. Hyde visited Denise Louie Education Center (DLEC) in Beacon Hill. Many of you may know that I’m a proud DLEC board member and volunteer.

Dr. Hyde spent two hours touring the center, meeting the children and teachers, and discussing the opportunities and challenges moving forward in Washington State.   In addition to representatives from DLEC, representatives from the Children’s Home Society and Neighborhood House (including a home visitor) also attended. We were grateful for the opportunity to meet with Dr. Hyde and show her what we’re doing to change lives and create opportunity. While there are many challenges to this goal, including the biggest recession since the depression, it is clear that DEL’s new director is deeply engaged and wants to partner with us to create the change children need.

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A Program I Support

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Xuan.

Hi, I’m an intern at LEV this summer. I wanted to introduce myself since I’ll be blogging every week. My name is Xuan, I’m an upcoming senior at Garfield High School as well as a Rainier Scholar.

The mission of Rainier Scholars is to “cultivate the academic potential of talented and motivated young scholars from ethnic minority backgrounds. By offering access to exceptional educational opportunities and ongoing comprehensive support to our scholars, [they] work to increase their college graduation rates and to develop new generations of leaders.”

Rainier Scholars annually recruits roughly 60 students the summer after their 5th grade and supports them through college. In recruiting students, Rainier Scholars first cognitively tests for academic potential then conducts interviews. Once accepted, students begin the program with an academic phase in which they take supplementary courses in math, science, literature, and history over a span of 14 months (2 summers and a school year). From 7th-9th grade, they’re given Academic Counseling and Support Services (ACSS), which means meeting with a counselor about once a month. In addition to that, Rainier Scholars offers fun events on Saturdays, designed to tighten relationships between students within their own and different cohorts. From 10th-12th grade, students complete five three-day leadership development retreats, receive ongoing monthly counseling and opportunities to intern or become an academic advisor to the cohorts in their academic phase, and receive support while applying for colleges. Through college, Rainier Scholars provides ongoing counseling and support.

I’ve been a part of Rainier Scholars since the summer before my 6th grade and reflecting on all that I’ve accomplished with their help, I truly feel grateful. Rainier Scholars has not only challenged me academically, but emotionally and mentally as well. I’ve included a link to their website for those of you interested in learning more about the Rainier Scholars organization.

For my future blogs, I’ll be focusing on Advanced Placement (AP) courses and teacher certifications.

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Education news for July 1

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Heather.

In the eye of the tiger: New school’s first class picked

369K reasons to smile: Head Start programs receive federal stimulus money

Pink slips for paychecks: Campaign saves seven Bainbridge teachers; District finds funds to retain teachers

Here the Feds come to save the day? Community colleges see demand spike, funding slip

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Publicola Party Tonight!

Posted on 01. Jul, 2009 by Bonnie.

If you are cool enough to read our blog, chance are you are a big fan of Publicola. I know I am.  That’s why I’m going to their party tonight. The open bar is just an added bonus.

Here is the invite from their website:

Please join the Cola staff (including les Nerds) tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1 at 5:30 at The Rob Roy in Belltown—2323 2nd Ave. between Bell and Battery.

Open happy hour bar courtesy of PubliCola and a few PubliCola Angels. (Thanks Linda Derschang, Lisa MacLean/Moxie Media and Lynn Claudon.)

MusicNerd will DJ.

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