The Learning Communities Project: The small origins of large-scale school reform in Mexico
27 Oct2014
A Talk by Dr. Gabriel Cámara Cervera
November 12, 2014, 1pm – 2pm
Lehman College, Carman Hall, Room B-04
Dr. Gabriel Cámara Cervera is an internationally recognized Mexican educator and expert on alternative models for basic education. Dr. Cámara has pioneered the development of “tutorial networks,” a classroom-based approach to school reform built on 1:1 dialogue-focused “tutorial relationships.” Over the course of his career, Dr. Cámara has worked in various private and public education systems, including the Intensive Basic Education Centers (Centros de Educación Básica Intensiva) for young urban dropouts (1980-1984) and the Post-primary Centers (1996-2003) in small rural communities in Mexico.
Dr. Cámara’s recent publications include: Otra Educación Básica es Posible (2008), Enseñar y Aprender con Interés (2006), Comunidad de Aprendizaje: Cómo Hacer de la Educación Básica un Bien Valioso y Compartido (2004), all three published by Siglo XXI Editores. Also, Learning for Life in Mexican Rural Communities: The CONAFE Post-primary Centers, CONAFE (2003) and “The small origins of a large-scale school reform”, in Helen J. Malone (ed) (2013) Leading Educational Change, Teachers College Press, N.Y.
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~ Dr. Gabriel Cámara is speaking at Lehman College, Princeton, Boston College, and Harvard on his November visit to the United States.
~ View documentary with the English subtitles
~ The homepage of the documentary in English or Spanish
~ For more info, check out short blog posts about experience working with his organization by Sarah Vogel in the Huffington Post:
– One on One Tutoring Mexico Education
– How to Fix a Failing School
– Schools Should Not Be Islands: Building Bridges in Mexico Through Academic Encounters
Jessica Anderson, Lehman Alumna, Provides a Model Site for UPK Initiative
22 Oct2014
Kiderific Nursery School is a private school in the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx that serves children from 2 to 5 years of age. Jessica Anderson graduated from the Lehman College Early Childhood Education Program in May 2009 and is owner, director, and head teacher at Kiderific. In 2010, Kiderific obtained a contract with the City of New York to provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) classes and in 2014 expanded to provide a full day UPK program. Kiderific’s partnership with the New York City Department of Education afforded the school the opportunity to participate in the Work Sampling System, an exemplary research-based authentic assessment system, in which students’ progress is documented through anecdotal records and student work.
The Kiderific curriculum consists of thematic units that directly connect to the Common Core State Standards. The teachers address specific standards and work towards School Readiness Goals in their activities and lessons. The Kiderific curriculum addresses seven domains: social/emotional, language/literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, and physical/health. The data from The Work Sampling System is then used to determine how students specifically and Kiderific generally are progressing toward meeting School Readiness Goals. The Kiderific curriculum provides guidance for differentiating teaching for students with special behavior, linguistic, or learning needs. Each child is allowed to develop at his/her own pace.
In addition to her roles at Kiderific, Jessica is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Early Childhood/Childhood Education Department at Lehman College. Her Lehman education has provided her with the tools both to grow her Kiderific program and to give back to the School of Education. New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña recently acknowledged Jessica’s hard work at Kiderific and dedication to early childhood education during a visit to the school.
Pictured (left to right): Amanda Herrera, Alissa Rivera, Maria Noll, Carmen Fariña, Jessica Anderson, Stephanie Rivera
Educational Leadership Professor Rivera-McCutchen Targets High Stakes Testing and Common Core Impact on PK-12
22 Oct2014
Sponsored by the Network for Public Eduction, “Public Education Nation”event on October 11th featured several panels including one on Testing and Common Core. NYS Principal of the Year Carol Burris lead a discussion with educators Dr. Rosa L. Rivera-McCutchen, Takeima Bunche-Smith, and Dr. Alan Aja on the impact of high-stakes testing and the Common Core on PK-12.
Dr. Rivera-McCutchen’s talk (Video timestamp 16:45) drew from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail to provide a framework for moral leadership in examining power and privilege in resisting high-stakes tests and the Common Core.
Finding Her Way as a New Pre-K Teacher
22 Oct2014
Listen to the WNYC interview or read the article by Robin Shulman. This is the next chapter in a series about CUNY Lehman College’s new pre-kindergarten teacher training program! From Friday, October 3, 2014
Teacher Ruby Miree takes her pre-k class on a walk (Robin Shulman/WNYC)
Basic Training for Pre-K Teachers!
22 Oct2014
Listen to the WNYC interview or read the article by Robin Shulman about CUNY Lehman College’s new pre-kindergarten teacher training program! From Thursday, August 14, 2014 As a project in her CUNY program, Tahese Warley made a diorama showing a pre-k classroom layout. (Robin Shulman/WNYC)
Chancellor Fariña’s Remarks on Vision for NYC Schools
22 Oct2014
On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, Chancellor Fariña shared her vision for NYC schools. She states, “We are looking beyond test scores and focusing on making sure that each school has what it needs for sustained and continuous growth. And we have developed a framework that mirrors the essential elements we see in schools that continually improve.” Read the full speech >>
CUNY Graduate Education Fair at Lehman College!
22 Oct2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
With a commitment to teaching and learning, our campuses prepare a culturally diverse pool of students to be effective educators in a variety of settings. Come to this fair to learn more about CUNY’s program options in education, including Special Education, Early Childhood, Childhood, TESOL/Bilingual, Science and Math Education, Ed Leadership, and much more. Graduate Education programs experts from Lehman College, Baruch College, Brooklyn College, the City College of New York, the College of Staten Island, Queens College, and Hunter College will be available to answer all of your questions. Financial aid experts and career advisors will also be available. Details/Flyer >> Registration >>
