Relational Strategies in After-School Settings: How Staff-Youth Relationships Support Positive Development

Relational Strategies in After-School Settings: How Staff-Youth Relationships Support Positive Development:

Via Youth & Society. Follow link above to learn how to suscribe and view the full article.

Staff–youth relationships are a key strength of after-school settings, though more research is needed to understand the actual processes whereby these interpersonal connections lead to beneficial outcomes. This qualitative study focuses on the relational strategies that staff employ within an urban youth organization, and the ways in which those strategies contribute to a positive developmental climate. Researchers observed staff–youth interactions for a year and conducted a series of interviews with 17 youth between the ages of 12 and 18. We found three specific relational strategies that staff used to develop relationships with youth. These were minimizing relational distance, active inclusion, and attention to proximal relational ties. These strategies contribute to an overall supportive culture, suggesting a relational pedagogy in this after-school setting. The staff–youth relationships serve as the foundation for both youth engagement in programs and the promotion of positive developmental outcomes.

Rethinking Youth Political Socialization: Teenage Activists Talk Back

Rethinking Youth Political Socialization: Teenage Activists Talk Back:

Via Youth & Society. Follow link above to learn how to suscribe and view the full article.

This article draws from the experiences and narratives of teenage activists throughout the Americas in order to add a needed dimension, that of peer political socialization, to the larger political and civic socialization literature. The authors argue that although the existing literature emphasizes the roles and responsibilities of adults in shaping young people’s civic capacities, the roles that young people play in socializing each other for political engagement is underexplored. Based on two qualitative studies of teenage activists throughout North and Latin America, the authors argue that teenage activists, who are largely left out of this literature, represent a different process by which youth engage in politics. We use teenagers’ narratives about their own youth-led political socialization to extend the existing theorizing on youth civic engagement, rethink some of its core tenets, and elucidate the roles that young people themselves play in the processes of political socialization.

Bullying Behavior, Parents' Work Hours and Early Adolescents' Perceptions of Time Spent With Parents

Bullying Behavior, Parents' Work Hours and Early Adolescents' Perceptions of Time Spent With Parents:

Via Youth & Society. Follow link above to find how to suscribe and view the full article.

This research investigates the relationships among bullying behavior, mother’s and father’s work hours, and early adolescents’ perceptions of whether they spend sufficient time with their parents. In cross-sectional models, we find maternal work hours are modestly associated with increases in bullying behavior. However, in more rigorous change models, our findings indicate that over time maternal work hours bear no direct relationship to bullying behavior. Moreover, in our final models, an interaction between father’s work hours and perceptions of time spent with him has one of the most robust associations with bullying for adolescents. When paternal employment is full- or overtime and youth perceive they do not spend enough with their fathers, bullying behavior increases. Other important factors that shape bullying behavior are the quality of the home environment and the adolescent’s school performance.

Big expansion, big questions for Teach for America

Big expansion, big questions for Teach for America: In a distressed neighborhood north of Miami's gleaming downtown, a group of enthusiastic but inexperienced instructors from Teach for America is trying to make progress where more veteran teachers have had difficulty: raising students' reading and math scores.

Via Seattle Times. Follow link above for full story.

Kids who count blessings multiply satisfaction

Kids who count blessings multiply satisfaction: Jeffrey Froh, an assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University, says that "grateful kids are happier and more satisfied with their lives."

Via Seattle Times. Follow the link above for the full story.

Arts Education In Seattle's Public Schools

Arts Education In Seattle's Public Schools: Monday, November 28 at 10:00 a.m. on "Weekday"

Via Weekday Newsletter. Follow the link above for the full story.

Arts education has declined in public schools for decades, but some organizations haven't given up. They're still trying to bring theater, visual arts and creative writing into classrooms. What do children gain from an arts education, and who's funding these organizations' efforts?

Mayor McGinn: Working to improve access to the arts in education

Working to improve access to the arts in education:

Via Mayor McGinn

At a time when we are facing further education cuts at the state level, the recent passage of the Families and Education Levy demonstrates Seattle remains committed to ensuring every child will graduate school ready for college or a career. This is a bold vote of confidence that will help our youth and families succeed and compete in the global economy.

The City’s Office for Education administers levy dollars. Our intent is to offer many opportunities for collaboration and partnership in the interest of dramatically improving academic results for students in Seattle public schools. When it comes to investing in our children’s future we are seeking a broad range of partners, including schools and nonprofit, community and arts organizations.

We’ve written in the past about the proven educational benefits of the arts. We wanted to make sure that local arts organizations were informed and ready for the opportunities to help kids get access to arts programming through the Families and Education levy, so last week the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Office for Education co-hosted a workshop designed to introduce arts organizations to the process of qualifying and applying for levy dollars.

The arts are an essential ingredient in a complete education. While evidence suggests that when schools invest in arts education, students demonstrate academic gains, we won’t rely on the research alone. We will design programs to achieve clear outcomes and hold service providers accountable, ensuring that the programs we fund are delivering measurable results. We will make our investments based on data, and we will adapt those investments if the data shows something is not working.

Thank you to the voters of Seattle for renewing their commitment to Seattle’s youth and families.

Obesity Prevention Summit 2012

Obesity Prevention Summit 2012:

Via SOWA Live (So Alive!)

by Virginia Eader, School's Out Washington MSW Student Intern

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Obesity Prevention Summit in Tukwila which was put on by the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.

The day was packed full of information, statistics, and research with a focus on policy solutions for a healthier Washington. We began with a deliciously healthy breakfast and warm welcome by American Heart Association Board Member, Chris Gorey. He introduced some alarming statistics: currently only 8% of elementary students get daily physical activity during the school day. For middle-schoolers the numbers decrease to 4% and for high-schoolers only 2%. Twenty-two percent of schools do not require ANY physical activity. To make matters, worse 83% of food purchased by students at school, outside of the USDA food program, are fried and high in fat.

State Representative Laurie Jinkins gave the keynote address beginning with a rundown on the current state budget dilemma and possible solutions to produce more revenue rather than continuing to make cuts to much needed services. She also introduced two bills: House Bill 1801 which focuses on bringing healthier food to the USDA food program and House Bill 1700 focusing on bike transportation and ride sharing.

We then heard from Andrew Dannenberg, MD, MPH, and a panel of public health professionals across the state about the impact of the Built Environment on public health. This public health framework includes urban and suburban development, access to parks, air quality, public transportation, and even the idea as simple as the ‘walkability’ of your neighborhood. The panel members shared stories about how the state of Washington is making progress in these areas with campaigns such as the safe routes to school program and the healthy corner store initiative.

After a beautiful spread of delicious salads and sandwiches, I attended the informational panel on fighting childhood obesity and hunger with school breakfast. My favorite quote of the day was by panelist Don Sloma, with Healthy Communities Partnership. Without hesitation he said, “Healthy kids learn better. Start with breakfast”. Statistics show us that kids who are hungry have a more difficult time in the classroom.If we want kids to reach their fullest potential we must ensure they start the day out right. The current work being done to promote these efforts is the Fuel Up First with Breakfast Challenge, which is a strategic and innovative approach to improving the current USDA breakfast program in schools.

SOWA is committed to advocating for the health and well-being of young people in Washington State. Currently, SOWA sits on the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, Washington Summer Meals Partnership workgroup, the Afterschool Meals workgroup, and the Coalition for Safety and Health in Early Learning, who just released a comprehensive report on child care nutrition and physical activity standards. SOWA also administers the Healthy Youth, Healthy Futures mini-grant, which focuses on building public awareness around the role afterschool and youth development programs play in promoting healthy youth behaviors, and the Feed Your Brain grant, which provides funding for Summer Learning programs to address the gaps of summer learning and summer nutrition.

Six Schools Recognized as Academic Achievement Schools

Six Schools Recognized as Academic Achievement Schools: Six schools in Washington state have been recognized as Title I, Part A Academic Achievement Schools, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today.

Via OSPI. Click the first link for the whole story.

Three Building Bridges Partnerships Awarded Grant Funding

Three Building Bridges Partnerships Awarded Grant Funding: Three organizations have been awarded grants to help students stay in school and graduate, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today.

Via OSPI. Click the first link for the full story.

OneWorld Now! partners with Obama administration to send underserved Seattle kids abroad

OneWorld Now! partners with Obama administration to send underserved Seattle kids abroad:

Last Tuesday, local non-profit and social venture OneWorld Now! (OWN) organized the Seattle Strong Luncheon to announce Seattle’s partnership with the Obama Administration in the 100,000 Strong Initiative. The initiative aims to strengthen US-China ties and American familiarity with China by diversifying and increasing the number of American students studying abroad in China.

For the past 9 years, OneWorld Now! has taught Chinese after school at Seattle high schools. OneWorld Now!’s model focuses on critical language classes (Chinese and Arabic), leadership training, and study abroad opportunities for underserved youth. OWN’s track record and students make them a natural lead agency in Seattle, where the goal is to not just increase but also diversify who goes to China.

Seattle has been selected by the Obama Administration, along with Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., as one of the four leading cities to participate in the Initiative. Seattle is the westernmost American state and has a large deepwater port that serves as a gateway for goods to and from Asia. We have a large and vibrant Chinese and Chinese-American population, and many Chinese focused organizations such as the Seattle-Chongqing Sister City Association, the Washington China Relations Council, the Seattle Chinese Garden, Chinese Information and Service Center, and many others. Recognizing the importance of constructive ties with China, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith just returned from our sister city of Chongqing, where he was leading a Seattle delegation.

Through the Seattle Strong partnership, OneWorld Now! hopes to generate funds and opportunities for underserved Seattle youth to study abroad in China. Seattle Public Schools Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield spoke at the event, as did OneWorld Now! alumnus Philmon Haile. U.S. Ambassador to China and former Washington State governor Gary Locke spoke at the event via video and expressed his support for the initiative and the work of OneWorld Now!

Via Mayor McGinn

Shortening the School Year is Not the Answer

Shortening the School Year is Not the Answer:

By Janet Frieling, Network Director

I read with interest the article in the Seattle times the other day saying that Washington school superintendents are pushing for a shorter school year as a budget fix. In a recent study published by The Education Trust-West, and other groups such as RAND, The National Center on Time and Learning, shortening the school calendar has dramatic impacts on those children and youth who are already struggling. Yes, times are tough and budget decisions need to reflect these unique times, but do we really want to sacrifice the ability of thousands of Washington’s children to make a livable wage?

Low income children and youth and children of color are more likely to suffer if this approach is taken. Not all families in our state will be able to supplement additional learning opportunities for their children and youth if the school year is shortened. For many, this extra time may translate to more time in front of a TV or video game, or more time hanging out at the mall with friends. Is this really the best that we can do for our kids when research clearly shows us that more quality learning opportunities need to be made available to all children and youth to allow for experiential learning, increased social and emotional development, and more time to practice putting academic theory into daily practice.

The current school year calendar is already woefully inadequate in both of these areas-do we really want to reduce learning opportunities even more? Low income families will have to make tough choices and finding high quality activities for their children if the school calendar is shortened for extra learning options will not rise to the top of their list of “must fund” items.

Other states are actually looking at increasing school schedules by partnering with community based organizations to offer quality learning time in multiple settings-especially during the summer months. Across the world, the United States' instructional calendar is already one of the shortest. This solution will only cause our kids to fall further behind and the persistent achievement gap to widen at an even greater rate. Let’s look for other solutions to our budget crisis.

Via SOWA Live (So Alive!)

Dorn Discusses Funding, Better Teacher Evaluation System, Innovative Schools - State Superintendent presents legislative agenda; vows to “hold the line” on education funding

Dorn Discusses Funding, Better Teacher Evaluation System, Innovative Schools - State Superintendent presents legislative agenda; vows to “hold the line” on education funding: Education funding cannot be cut more than it already has, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said at a speech this morning, adding, “Don’t shortchange a generation of children because adults have a problem they can’t solve.” Via OSPI.

Historian blasts education reforms

Historian blasts education reforms: Education historian Diane Ravitch blasted the education-reform movement as a "well-funded, well-coordinated campaign to privatize as many schools as possible" during a sold-out speech in Seattle on Thursday night. Via Seattle Times.