EmpoweredEd2020

The trajectory of children’s lives can be changed if parents understand the primacy of language and know how to deliver “Language Nutrition.” Research funded by United Way has revealed that many children lack access to quality health care, housing, nutrition, early care, learning services and support. Far too many children also experience the trauma of stress and violence in their homes and neighborhoods, inhibiting their ability to learn and grow. The study also determined that efforts to change long-term literacy outcomes and consequences must begin early—long   before children enter kindergarten.   We looked at some of the root causes for why a child might not be reading. This exploration encompassed early brain development and the power of verbal interactions with infants and toddlers, attendance in preschool and grade school, summer learning loss, and the influence of health on all aspects of early learning and development.   In an effort to change the outcomes, we l...

Proficiency in reading by the end of third grade is a crucial marker in a child's educational development.  In the early years, learning to read is a critical component of education. But beginning in fourth grade, children use reading to learn other subjects, and therefore, mastery of reading becomes a critical component in their ability to keep up academically.  Children who reach fourth grade without being able to read proficiently are more likely to drop out of high school, reducing their earnings potential and changes for success.

Art exploration is not only fun and entertaining, but also educational. Here are some tips for growing your budding artist. Children are naturally curious. From the minute they gain control of their limbs, they work to put themselves out into the world to see how it all works. They explore, observe and imitate, trying to figure out how things operate and how to control themselves and their environments. This unrestricted exploration helps children form connections in their brain, it helps them learn—and it’s also fun. Art is a natural activity to support this free play in children. The freedom to manipulate different materials in an organic and unstructured way allows for exploration and experimentation. These artistic endeavors and self-directed explorations are not only fun, but educational as well. Art allows youth to practice a wide range of skills that are useful not only for life, but also for learning. Skills youth practice when participating in art activities include: • Fine mo...

82 percent of parents look for ways to encourage their children’s learning through play, according to research results found in The Toy Association’s “STEM/STEAM Formula for Success" report.  The first three years of life are a critical period for children’s brain development. During this time, the brain is especially responsive to external input due to the brain’s ability to shape itself. Introducing the right toys at the right time can help infants adapt to change and explore the world around them, as learning happens naturally through play.

I have read countless articles about the lessons handed down by moms to there sons…here is a list that you may find amusing especially if you have an Italian mom. Now that you have become parents you may find yourselves using these very pearls of wisdom. 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.” 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.” 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!” 4. My mother taught me LOGIC. ” Because I said so, that’s why.” 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.” 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.” 7. My mother taught me IRONY. “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.” 8. My mother taught m...

Summer learning has long been a primary strategy in efforts to advance early school success. With research showing that  children in low-income families can fall 2.5–3 years behind by fifth grade , The Campaign for Grade Level Reading has worked together to support local communities in developing high-quality, comprehensive summer learning systems and programs.   Dozens of studies now confirm the positive benefits derived from these programs. In fact,  CGLR community coalitions across the country  have identified effective strategies that leverage summer learning as a part of efforts to move the needle on grade-level reading achievement.   This year, with the disruption caused by the Covid-19 crisis it is more important than ever to leverage the best practices of summer learning to keep kids engaged and on track after the extended school closures and the unpredictable plans for the return to school this fall.   Responding to this challenge, programs are shi...

Just as healthy food nourishes a growing baby’s body, language nutrition nourishes a baby’s brain. Quantity and quality of nourishing language, like healthy food, is critical to brain development. Language-rich adult-child interactions, beginning at birth, have a direct impact on social-emotional and cognitive development and language and literacy ability. The impact of adult-child interactions on the brains of infants and toddlers is unparalleled by any other stage of development, as this is the time when they are forming the neural “connections that build brain architecture – the foundation upon which all learning, behavior and health depend” (Center for the Developing Child, Harvard University).  And a solid foundation of language nutrition - the use of language, beginning at birth, that is sufficiently rich in engagement, quality, quantity and context that it nourishes the child socially, neurologically and linguistically - is critical in developing a child’s capacity to learn....

There's more to selfies than meets the eye, especially among the millennial artists of "The Selfie Generation."  What exactly are selfies, and why are they everywhere? Whether you happen upon them on Instagram or Snapchat, or literally run into people taking cellphone photos of themselves on the street, the selfie is a pervasive yet elusive aspect of how people visually communicate today. More than just a picture, selfies provide a lens through which other people view you, and a peek into how you see yourself. With that in mind you can see why artists like Van Gog and Guagin have always painted selfies. And then like now the selfie is ripe for critique by artists.   Artists of the selfie generation use social media to build their persona or brand, while also using themselves in their work. In this IRL-URL fluid space, they crisscross from the digital to the physical, exploring and playing with the overlap between the two. One of the new breed of digital artists is Brookly...

According to the United States Department of Education,  more than 85% of America’s black male 4th grade students are  not proficient in reading. In an increasingly global and knowledge-based economy,  poor reading skills among young black boys today will produce  black men who are unprepared to compete in the workforce  of tomorrow.  Four key factors contribute to low reading proficiency  among black boys: limited access to engaging reading material;  lack of black men in black boys’ early childhood learning experiences;  few culturally competent educators; and  educational systems that are  unresponsive to Black boys’ individual learning needs. I would be in favor of not de-funding the police but redirecting some of the funds for programs that help change this trend Language Nutrition is free.  Parents don’t have to have fancy puzzles, toys, or  even be able to read. All parents have to do is talk,  interact, and en...

Well the web and google have certainly put all the answers I need at my fingertips but has that wreaked havoc on my ability to remember even the simplest trivia? Doh! I can’t remember the name of the movie last saw last month starring Don Cheadle. Or that restaurant where I ate babaganoush just last week, and what is babaganoush anyway? With an Internet connection and a few keystrokes, I can probably figure out the answer in a matter of minutes, tops. My mom had me googling every half hour. What happened to Zasu Pitts? Or where is the Singing Nun today?  These were just a couple of her most obscure searches. The flip side, suggests new research in the Journal Science, is that when you rely on having information stored somewhere, you may be less likely to remember it yourself. “We are becoming symbiotic with our computer tools, growing into interconnected systems that remember less by knowing information than by knowing where information can be found,” the study authors write. But b...

Remember high school? In Catholic school you had to choose either Latin or Spanish. I thought, “What in the world could I do with Latin?”  I was fortunate to take both and of course now in retrospect Spanish turned out to be very useful. Today, enlightened school systems know better. Second languages are introduced in elementary school. Little kids do learn more easily than high school students. But current research says to really do it right, start even earlier. Start when the child is learning a first language when kids have an astonishing ability to absorb. And in today’s complex world, a second language is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. We know now that studying a second language offers surprising benefits to children. There appear to demonstrate an improved ability to communicate, have better cognitive development, richer cultural awareness and, ultimately let’s face it, better job opportunities for those who know a second language. Research suggests that from birth through a...

Our future depends on our youngest citizens. On how many words they hear in their first months of life. On how often they are held. On the kinds of experiences they have.

As we continue to process the reprehensible murder of George Floyd, and the many others whose lives were lost at the hands of those who vowed to protect them, we are reminded of the systemic racism that plagues our society. This deep rooted racism has existed in this country for far too long and has impacted the daily lives of the children, families, and communities we serve.  As protests around the country continue, we are reminded that there are those of us who are willing and ready to fight injustice. This moment in history is an opportunity for us to stand side by side, working together for a better and more just society. At Empowered Education, we are proud of those who are making their voices heard – it is time for action. What do we do as a family? What do we tell our children? How do we serve our communities who struggle to combat structural racism, systemic poverty, hate and oppression? I don’t have all of the answers, but, what I do know is – leadership matters – actions ...

John Beale of Focus Features shared this poignant tidbit. I have always been a fan of Mr. Rogers and here is another example of why. In 1969, black American were not allowed to swim in “white-only” swimming pools. Mr. Rogers invited a black officer on his show and asked if he wanted to cool off by dipping his feet in his inflatable pool. Mr. Rogers joined him, breaking the color barrier on live televison.

This is a piece that appreared in USA Today that I thought needed to be reposted. Should we tell the children? How? Those are among the many questions parents are asking after the deaths of  George Floyd ,  Ahmaud Arbery  and  Breonna Taylor . Many white parents wonder whether to talk with their kids at all, while parents of color swallow their grief and fear to have "the talk" once again. These deaths are part of a more complex story, one some parents have been telling for generations, and others have long felt they've had the luxury to ignore. Experts in child psychology and race-based stress say these conversations are essential for all parents to have, and they underscore that there are developmentally appropriate ways to talk to children of all ages about racism and police brutality. "Silence will not protect you or them," said Beverly Daniel Tatum, a psychologist and author of "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Oth...