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"We call on educators, policymakers, business leaders, families, and community members to work together on a whole child approach to education. What will prepare each young person to work in careers that have not yet been invented; to think both critically and creatively; and to evaluate massive amounts of information, solve complex problems, and communicate well? Research, practice, and common sense confirm that a whole child approach to education will develop and prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. Every school, community, classroom, educator, student, and family has unique challenges and strengths, and has a role to play in ensuring that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Collectively we have the knowledge, skill, and ability to meet these challenges and share these strengths. Join us and our whole child partners as we change the conversation about education and move from a vision for educating the whole child to action that results in successful, well-rounded young people. Explore resources and opportunities for action here and on ASCD.org, and together we'll change the face of education policy and practice. Taken together across all five tenets and the central necessities of collaboration, coordination, and integration, our indicators related to each whole child tenet may serve as a needs assessment, set of strategic goals and outcomes, framework for decision making, or the definition of what a whole child approach to education truly requires."

Positive Discipline is a program based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs and designed to teach young people to become responsible, respectful and resourceful members of their communities. Based on the best selling Positive Discipline books by Dr. Jane Nelsen and co-authors Lynn Lott, Cheryl Erwin, Kate Ortolano, Mary Hughes, Mike Brock, Lisa Larson and others, it teaches important social and life skills in a manner that is deeply respectful and encouraging for both children and adults (including parents, teachers, childcare providers, youth workers, and others). Recent research tells us that children are "hardwired" from birth to connect with others, and that children who feel a sense of connection to their community, family, and school are less likely to misbehave. To be successful, contributing members of their community, children must learn necessary social and life skills. Positive Discipline is based on the understanding that discipline must be taught and that discipline teaches.

During the past twelve years, young Latinos have emerged as a population with incredible strengths as well as many challenges. Since 1997, The National Latino Children's Institute (NLCI) has served as a champion and voice for young Latinos by advocating on behalf of young Latinos, creating innovative programs, working with community-based organizations and spearheading El Dia de los Ninos - Celebrating Young Americans. NLCI's mission is to focus the nation's attention on the contributions and challenges of young Latinos by advocating for their success and well being through partnerships and programs. NLCI envisions communities and a nation where young Latinos are heard, valued and a priority for the future of our nation.

ACEI is a global community of educators and advocates who unite knowledge, experience, and perspectives in order to exchange information, explore innovation and advocate for children. ACEI acts as a knowledge broker, sharing innovative ideas and practices from a diverse community of individuals and institutions. ACEI members take action as advocates for social change and education reform to uphold the child's right to achieve his or her full human potential.

John Dewey wrote extensively about philosophy, psychology, education, political science, and the arts. In his very full 92 years of life (1859-1952), he not only wrote about the breadth of life, he participated in it as a teacher, social critic, political activist and involved family man. This fully produced video introduces students to his philosophy and his critical studies of education, the arts and the implications of democracy for the lives of individuals and their communities. Dewey lived in a different era of history than we do, but many of his concerns are very relevant to life today. Maintaining a democracy in the face of diverse ethnic values, educating the young to participate fully in the life of their community, and expanding individual perceptions through participation in the arts were among the issues he examined. Contemporary examples of the influence of his work include film sequences of noted educator Deborah Meier's Mission Hill School in Roxbury, Massachusetts; commentary by literature authority Louise Rosenblatt on Dewey's theories of democratic behavior and philosopher Larry Hickman's comments on the ways technology changes our experiencing of the world. (Dr. Hickman is also the director of the Center for Dewey Studies in Illinois.) Terminology and the historical context necessary for understanding Dewey's work are provided by historical materials, newly shot visuals and clever graphics. With Larry Hickman, Ph.D. This is a short clip from the film. Further information is available at www.davidsonfilms.com.

"The Best Websites for Teaching and Learning honors websites, tools, and resources of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the American Association of School Librarians' Standards for the 21st-Century Learner. New for 2011, the Top 25 Websites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. The Landmark Websites are honored due to their exemplary histories of authoritative, dynamic content and curricular relevance. They are free, web-based sites that are user-friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover and provide a foundation to support 21st-century teaching and learning."

Compassionate Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in the year 2004 by Kelly Palmatier, a vegan (vegetarian) foster/adoptive mom with a background in business, communications, and web design. Compassionate Kids, Inc. is dedicated to helping teach children compassion towards the Earth, people, and animals. The website, CompassionateKids.com, has articles, book reviews, and free printable activities. There are local chapters all across the country that host compassion-oriented field trips and community service events approximately once a month. Field trips and events vary from month to month and from state to state, but are always related to compassion. A field trip to an organic farm can teach about helping the Earth. A canned food drive benefits people. A visit to an animal sanctuary teaches about the value of all living creatures.

The #1 ranked resource for 'parental involvement in public schools' in Google, & Yahoo! As a parent it can be a struggle sometimes to figure out how much and how exactly to be involved with your child's school life and community. It is important to have a resource to turn to that is universal to parents across the United States. Project Appleseed provides resources for parents who want to be involved in their children's schools and for schools who seek their involvement. From volunteering to home life to communication, you will find valuable information in all areas here at Project Appleseed, the national campaign for public school improvement!

Welcome to the National Black Child Development Institute online. For the past 40 years, the National Black Child Development Institute has been steadfast in its mission to improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education. Along with our affiliate network - composed of volunteers from across the nation - we have worked to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and provide vital information regarding our children's health. As we are now well into the new millennium, it is critical that we continue to dedicate ourselves to giving every child a chance. We believe that such a vision should recognize the pivotal role that all members of our community must play if equity and access are to become a reality for our children. This includes parents, the faith community, social and civic clubs, barber shops, and schools - all of us must become part of the mobilization on behalf of our children.

Established at Johns Hopkins University in 1996, NNPS invites schools, districts, states, and organizations to join together and use research-based approaches to organize and sustain excellent programs of family and community involvement that will increase student success in school.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a national organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student. As the United States continues to compete in a global economy that demands innovation, P21 and its members provide tools and resources to help the U.S. education system keep up by fusing the three Rs and four Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation). While leading districts and schools are already doing this, P21 advocates for local, state and federal policies that support this approach for every school.

This site contains inclusion resources for teachers, paraeducators, administrators, youth, parents & family members, self-advocates, related services providers, and community members.

The schools of Reggio Emilia embody principles of The Reggio Emilia philosophy and approach to early childhood education has developed and continues to evolve as a result of over 40 years of experience within a system of municipal infant-toddler centers and preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Parents, who started the schools in the 1940s, continue to participate to ensure the schools reflect the values of the community. From the beginning, the late Loris Malaguzzi, leader, philosopher and innovator in education, who was then a young teacher, guided and directed the energies of those parents and several teachers. Through many years of work with them, he developed an education based on relationship, which has become widely known and valued. The Reggio Emilia approach is built upon a solid foundation of connected philosophical principles and extensive experience. Educators in Reggio Emilia have been inspired by many early childhood psychologists and philosophers, such as Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky, Gardner and Bruner.

HighScope Educational Research Foundation is an independent nonprofit research, development, training, and public outreach organization with headquarters in Ypsilanti, Michigan. HighScope's mission is to lift lives through HighScope Headquarters - Hutchinson House January 2008education. We envision a world in which all educational settings use active participatory learning so everyone has a chance to succeed in life and contribute to society. HighScope activities include - Training preschool and elementary teachers and administrators Conducting research projects on the effectiveness of educational programs Developing curricula for infant/toddler, preschool, elementary, youth development, and movement and music programs Developing early literacy curricula and assessment materials and conducting related research Presenting an annual International HighScope Conference for teachers and teacher-trainers Publishing books, videos, curriculum materials, and assessment tools for educators and researchers Operating a Demonstration Preschool in Ypsilanti, Michigan, that serves children in the local community and provides a model of "HighScope in action" for visiting educators Operating the HighScope Retreat and Meeting Center in Clinton, Michigan

Teaching is a rewarding and challenging profession where you can make a lasting impact. You can have a positive influence on students, schools, and communities now and into the future. Schools across the nation are in need of a diverse set of talented teachers, especially in our big cities and rural areas, and especially in the areas of Math, Science, Technology, Special Education, and English Language Learning. The TEACH campaign is an initiative of the United States Department of Education designed to raise awareness of the teaching profession and get a new generation of teachers to join the ones who are already making a difference in the classroom. At TEACH.gov you can learn what it's really like to be a teacher and get the tools you need to launch your own career in education.

Established in 2001, the Oregon Resiliency Project (ORP) is a research, training, and outreach effort aimed at social and emotional learning, mental health promotion, and social-emotional assessment and intervention practices in schools. ORP is directed by Dr. Ken Merrell, professor of school psychology at the University of Oregon. The ORP team includes Dr. Merrell, graduate students from the University of Oregon's College of Education, and our partners in public schools and mental health agencies. Since the inception of ORP in 2001, more than 35 graduate students have participated on the ORP team, and are now "alums" of the project. Alumni of ORP are in positions of influence nationally: in school systems, universities, state departments of education, children's hospitals, community mental health centers, and research institutes, where they are continuing their work related to the aims of the project. ORP currently has two primary efforts. We are are continuing to research and refine our innovative Strong Kids social-emotional learning curricula, which include the Strong Start, Strong Kids, and Strong Teens programs. These evidence-based programs are designed to teach essential life skills that will result in greater emotional and social resiliency and coping, and better mental health. We are also currently working on research and development efforts related to an innovative new strength-based social-emotional assessment system, the Social-Emotional Assets and Resiliency Scales (SEARS). Click on the "Current Projects" link to learn more. Use the links on the left side of this web page to learn more about ORP. We welcome your interest in the Oregon Resiliency Project!

The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children's media. KIDS FIRST! evaluates, rates and endorses children's films, DVDs, CDs, TV shows and games using volunteer, community-based juries of adults and children from diverse backgrounds and offers a variety of means to showcase and enhance consumer awareness of sponsored products. KIDS FIRST! is supported by more than 17 million teachers, librarians, media professionals, lobbyists, policymakers, child advocates, educators, parents and families nationwide. Campaign support for the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program comes from national nonprofit organizations that include the National Education Association, REEL Fathers, National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Council of Women's Organizations, with a cumulative membership of over 17 million.

Almost every family has experienced a time when their child behaves in ways that seem very different from her usual behavior. There are many types of challenging behavior that may seem confusing, inappropriate or even frightening. Some children may act out in violent ways, like biting, kicking, or hitting themselves or others with objects. Understanding why this behavior occurs and addressing it in a positive way can help prevent future occurrences. This link will take you to information on challenging behavior.

This Scholastic web site contains a plethora of useful early childhood resources and information.