These skills included:

Perseverance – the ability to continue working on something until it is completed.  To struggle through an issue, or problem without giving up, until a solution is reached… to not give up when it gets hard!

Discipline – to have a “stick to it” kind of attitude that is reinforced by gaining and maintaining control of ones thoughts and actions. To be able to stick to a schedule, complete a task and maintain a responsibility.

Tolerance – to have a fair and unbiased attitude towards others’ whose opinions, practices, ethnicity and culture are different than your own.  Having the ability to appreciate our differences and a willingness to learn about the lives of others.

Graciousness and Appreciation – To understand that in all things there is beauty and having the ability to be thankful for the many benefits and blessings you have. To give thanks for the kindness shown to you by others.

Team Work – being able to work with others on a team to complete an assignment or project; even when you don’t like the team members you are working with.

And lastly… Listening and Following Directions – being able to hear and understand instructions and completing an assigned task in the manner described in the directions.

Wow!  It rang so true!  All I could say was AMEN!! But not because I had that same wish when I was teaching, (but now that I think back on it… yes, it would have been nice to have my parents reinforce those skills with their kids.) I said AMEN because as a workforce development professional who works with adult job seekers I see the same critical need! What those teachers were describing are known as “Soft Skills” in a business setting and are extremely important to master if you want to be a successful employee (or entrepreneur) in the work place.

According to Kate Lorenz of AOL Jobs,  Soft Skills are defined as a “cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes and social graces that make someone a good employee and compatible to work with.” Ms. Lorenz continues, “Companies value soft skills because research suggests and experience shows that they (soft skills) can be just as important an indicator of job performance as hard skills.” (Hard Skills being those specialized skills you learn in order to perform the tasks of your occupation.)

So, when you are working with your child to make him or her a better student; you are also preparing them for future success in the work place by teaching them skills that are sought after by employers.  Many employers today are complaining that they see an alarming high number of job seekers that have good academic training and hard/technical skills, but lack the appropriate “people” (or soft) skills that are needed for success in the position.

Think about it… these are the same kind of skills that we were taught in the home and community.  It used to be that activities like going to church (or any place of worship) weekly;  attending the afterschool community center or even just something as simple as spending time with  “Grandma”  or “Uncle Bobby” would be enough to give most kids the soft skills training they needed. However, now it seems that this training has become the responsibility of the school; which adds to already overly burdened teachers and administrators who have too much to do with too little time and resources to do it. (Not to mention the standardized testing nonsense that has overtaken the entire educational industry. But that’s another story, for another posting.)

Keep in mind that many school districts do offer a form of soft skills training in the form of character education.  Broadly speaking, character education can be described as the teaching of children in various “life skills” that will help them develop into moral, civic minded, well mannered, healthy and socially acceptable people.

Check with your school district to see if a character education program is offered as part of you’re the school’s curriculum. If not, then maybe you should advocate for one to be put into your school. Learning and adopting these soft skills early in your child’s life will not only help them academically while they are in school, but they will also turn into valuable work place skills that will be critical later in your child’s professional life.

Remember though… what I ALWAYS say, “YOU are your child’s first and most influential teacher.” So when you are doing your lesson planning, be sure to include some “soft skills” development in your curriculum!

Below are some resources to get you started….

http://www.iseek.org/careers/soft-skills.html

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/01/26/top-10-soft-skills-for-job-hunters/

http://www.goodcharacter.com/

http://simplehomeschool.net/curriculum-choices-resources-for-character-education/

http://www.quintcareers.com/looming_skills_shortage.html

Peace and blessings family… I’ll talk to you later.

Well, the answer is… ALL OF THE ABOVE….  Truth is… there is no one purpose of education. The reasons for education are multiple and interwoven in the beliefs of our founding fathers who said we have the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness. In fact, from its inception, public education was created to ensure that all people, (especially, at the time, those living in rural areas) would have access to the same quality schooling of those attending expensive private schools in urban areas. Consider this quote from President John Adams in 1785.

“The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people and be willing to bear the expenses of it. There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves.”

It’s now over 200 years later and we are still facing the same challenge. High quality public education is still not accessible to all citizens of this country.  Remember this quote… “Quality Education is a Right, not a Privilege.  Parents should demand that they be able to send their children to a public school and receive the same high quality access learning and resources as do children who attend a private school. Yet there are far too many schools throughout this country where this is not true. We have got to change this… Think about it…If the goals of education are to achieve all the things previously stated; then, shouldn’t that be true for all citizens of this country? Do you really want to live in a country in which only an elite few actually achieve educational success?  I don’t… and I don’t think you do either…

I am the single parent of a Montgomery County, MD public school student. It is my expectation that my country and state make available to my child the same quality schools, teaching and resources that are available to students in private institutions.  Access to a quality public education is her right as a student and making sure she receives that access is my mandate as a parent.

Yes, we must even hold President Obama accountable! As much as I love the President and worked to help his re-election (Nia and I phone banked in Virginia, Wisconsin and Nevada) I do have concerns about some parts of his education policy.  (For example, I’m not totally sold on Race 2 the Top) So I will be watching…

Another Presidential initiative I will be following closely is his plan to improve the educational outcomes for African-Americans. The following is posted on the White House web site. Here is the entire press release… Now, this was announced in July, 2012, and I realize that the White House has been in re-election mode, in addition to dealing with the storm “Sandy” and the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. But now, it’s time to get down to business so I will be watching for the “deliverables” of this initiative. What reports and studies will be published? What “evidenced-based best practices” will be identified? What programs will be funded as a result? How will the success of the initiative be evaluated? What will we learn that we don’t already know? In short, how will the outcomes of this initiative “trickle” down to my community… so that Nia and all of her classmates throughout the country will benefit.

President Obama Signs New Initiative to Improve  Educational Outcomes for African Americans 

(taken from www.whitehouse.gov July, 2012 )

 

Executive Order Establishes the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans

On Wednesday, during his remarks at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans, LA, President Obama announced he would sign an Executive Order today to improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for African Americans.

The President has made providing a complete and competitive education for all Americans – from cradle to career – a top priority.  The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans will work across Federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education programs for African American students.  The Initiative aims to ensure that all African American students receive an education that fully prepares them for high school graduation, college completion, and productive careers.

In the nearly 60 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision put America on a path toward equal educational opportunity, America’s educational system has undergone a remarkable transformation.  Many African American children who attended substandard, segregated schools in the 1950s have grown up to see their children attend integrated and effective elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities.  Nonetheless, substantial obstacles to equal educational opportunity still remain in America’s educational system.  African American students lack equal access to highly effective teachers and principals, safe schools, and challenging college-preparatory classes, and they disproportionately experience school discipline and referrals to special education.

Significantly improving the educational outcomes of African Americans will provide substantial benefits for our country by advancing important outcomes, like increasing college completion rates, employment rates, and the number of African American teachers.  Enhanced educational outcomes for African Americans will lead to more productive careers, improved economic mobility and security, and greater social well-being for all Americans. 

Advancing Educational Achievement of African American Students

The President has set the goal for America to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. To reach this ambitious goal, and to ensure equality of access and opportunity in education for all Americans, the Obama Administration is dedicating new resources, through rigorous and well-rounded academic and support services, to enable African American students to improve their educational achievement and prepare for college and career.

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, housed within the Department of Education, will work with the Executive Office of the President and Cabinet agencies to identify evidence-based best practices to improve African American student achievement in school and college, and to develop a national network of individuals, organizations, and communities that will share and implement these practices.  It will also help ensure that Federal programs and initiatives administered by the Department of Education and other Federal agencies maintain a focus on serving and meeting the educational needs of African Americans. The Initiative will complement the existing White House Initiative that strengthens the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by working with Federal agencies and partners nationwide to provide all African American students with a more effective continuum of education programs.

To deliver a complete and competitive education for all African Americans, the Initiative will promote, encourage, and undertake efforts designed to meet several objectives, including:

Increasing the percentage of African American children who enter kindergarten ready for success by improving access to high-quality early learning and development programs;
• Ensuring that all African American students have access to high-level, rigorous course work and support services that will prepare them for college, a career, and civic participation;
• Providing African American students with equitable access to effective teachers and principals in pursuit of a high-quality education, and supporting efforts to improve the recruitment, preparation, development, and retention of successful African American teachers and principals;
• Promoting a positive school climate that does not rely on methods that result in disparate use of disciplinary tools, and decreasing the disproportionate number of referrals to special education by addressing root causes of the referrals;
• Reducing the dropout rate of African American students and increasing the proportion of African American students who graduate from high school prepared for college and career;
• Increasing college access, college persistence, and college attainment for African American students;
• Strengthening the capacity of institutions of higher education that serve large numbers of African American students, including community colleges, HBCUs, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and other institutions; and
• Improving the quality of, and expanding access to, adult education, literacy, and career and technical education.

The Presidential Advisory Commission and Federal Interagency Working Group to Enhance Educational Outcomes for African American Students

The Executive Order also creates the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans, to aid and advise the work of the Initiative. The Commission will advise President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on matters pertaining to the educational attainment of the African American community, including the development, implementation, and coordination of resources aimed at improving educational opportunities and outcomes for African Americans of all ages. The Commission will also engage the philanthropic, business, nonprofit, and education communities in a national dialogue on African American student achievement, and work with the Initiative to establish partnerships with stakeholders from these sectors to achieve the objectives of this Executive Order.

The Executive Order also establishes a Federal Interagency Working Group on Educational Excellence for African Americans. The Working Group will be chaired by the Initiative’s Executive Director, and will convene senior officials from the Executive Office of the President and several Cabinet and sub-Cabinet agencies to coordinate the Federal investment in education programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing outcomes for African Americans in early childhood education; elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education; career and technical education; and adult education.

***********

OK, you see it for yourself… It is important to note that the intent of this initiative is not limited to the African-American community. Similar initiatives have been announced for students in the Hispanic, Asia/ Pacific Islander, and Native American communities as well. In addition, he has allocated money and resources to sustaining and expanding programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (HBCUs)

So, in closing… Celebrate and Rejoice YES… Reflect and Remember, ABSOLUTELY … but in the end, it is NOW time to WORK! Work like your survival depends on it, because it does… Continue to ADVOCATE, ENGAGE and HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

Won’t you join me?

Check out these links to learn more…

http://www.theroot.com/views/improving-black-education-executive-order

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/look-obama-signs-initiative-on-educational-excellence-for-african-americans/politics/2012/07/26/44688

http://www.umbc.edu/window/obama_commission.html

http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/index.html

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/crdc-2012-data-summary.pdf

Peace and Blessings family…I’ll talk to you later.

PS. It’s gonna get crazy here in the DMV for Inauguration… if you’re coming…make your plans now!

This year so far has been a whirlwind! Full of change!  I’ve had a lot of transition in my life; changes in my professional, personal and family life… you name it. In a matter of months, there have been significant changes in just about every aspect of my life.  Mostly good, although, a few have presented some challenges. However, all in all, I am on course and lovin’ life…

Having said that, the process of my change has been stressful! You know… handling the logistics of change. I really needed to take some time to take it all in and process it.  Then last week, a dear friend and mentor called me on the phone to ask how I was. During our conversation, he said, “So TDanyel, what is on the horizon for Hello Family?” (In other words, “Oh… Trace…. Don’t you think it’s time to update your blog, dear? I’m getting tired of reading the same old thing every time I go there! LOL – thanks for the friendly reminder, Brother Ray!)

So as I sat here trying to focus on a topic, I began thinking about all the change going on with me. I also began reflecting on the many people I have met recently in my new line of work as a workforce development professional. Many of my clients are middle aged and facing a change in their career. Some are having to change jobs, industries and even having to go back to school for retraining. The change they are facing is difficult to say the least. Some are fighting depression, fear and a sense of hopelessness. So, I dedicate this posting to them and the process of CHANGE.

Exactly, What is Change?

Technically, Change is the “act or process of making something, or someone different.”

Moving from one situation to another; creating a new reality; or circumstance, are all expressions of change. Other words that describe change include; translate; alter, shift, vary, exchange, mutate and transform.  Change can be for the worst or for the best; depending on the person’s perception of change. Change is inequitable; it isn’t a respecter of race, class, socio-economic status; political affiliation, or any of that… Everyone, at some point will go through change…

Change can sometimes be uncomfortable because it forces us out of comfort zone; even when the change is good. The difficulty has to do with the rippling effects of change in your life. It forces you to create new routines, new ways of thinking or believing and new perceptions of the world around you.

Since change is inevitable, trying to avoid it will only lead to more stress, resentment and disillusionment. Those who are most successful in life tend to welcome change and look at it as an adventure; an opportunity for growth and life fulfillment. Think of the chameleon; able to change color in an instant. Your goal should be to be like a chameleon and have the ability to shift when the situation warrants it. So learn how to let change happen, enjoy the ride; go with the flow….

I was doing some research recently to help a person who had been laid off after 25 years of working at one job.  This person had spent a significant portion of their professional life at a company, but was laid off because the company was moving jobs overseas. (That’s a change we don’t need!)  In preparing to meet with this person, I ran across an article on how to handle change. It really helped! So I thought it would be good to share with you.

Taken from 6 Strategies to Handle Transition Fears, by Dr. Eva M. Selhub (The Huffington Post)

(This part of the article focuses on how your brain and body react to your fear of change; causing anxiety and stress; outcomes, obviously, you want to avoid. Here Dr. Selhub offers some advice on how to handle the fear of change.

Here are some tips to shift your physiology:

• Allow yourself to feel fear, anger or whatever negative emotion you feel — you have every right to feel this way.
• Connect with others: reach out to friends or other loved ones or a therapist or counselor and ask them for help. Tell them you don’t want advice, but just to be held; to have a space held for you so that you can rest and heal.
• Connect with your beautiful self: Do something loving for yourself because you deserve it — massage, retreat, etc. I call these “love me gifts.”
• Practice self-love always — do not berate yourself. Hug yourself. Look in the mirror and keep saying “You are fabulous!”
• Connect with something larger than you — you can take a walk in nature or you can connect with your imagination: Imagine golden light shining down upon you surrounding you in unconditional love and grace like a shield of light (Part of my SHIELD techniques). You can imagine a divine presence like a divine mother or father holding you and nurturing as if you were a baby. As you allow yourself to be held, say these words to yourself: “The support I need is here. I am loved and lovable.” Say these words often, over and over and eventually the subconscious will accept them as truth.
• Practice laughing out loud — start by saying Hahahahahaha slowly and then faster and faster. Laughter is the best medicine

“You have to break up the fear response, even if only for a short period. When you feel better, your transition just might move more smoothly.”

Family, the last one, “Laughing out loud” is my personal favorite! LOL (smile)

Well, it’s getting late and I have to get ready for work. One more thing before I end.

I am writing this post a few days after the horrible shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado… Imagine the change our family and friends out there are faced with… May I offer my personal condolences and prayers for healing and peace for all those affected… Selah….

Click on the link for a short musical reminder about change… Embrace the change in your life…. Hope you enjoy…

Talk to you later!

Hello Family!

This posting was done by my guest blogger, Dr. Donna Graham. Dr. Graham is a veteran technology teacher who retired from the District of Columbia Public Schools a few years ago. Since her retirement she has been busy consulting for various educational organizations, playing tennis and taking Tai Kwon Do! Enjoy this humorous look back on her experiences as a public school teacher….

Diary of a Mad Black Teacher

As we wind down another school year, I decided to reflect on some of my experiences as a teacher.  Over 30 years ago, a fellow teacher and very good friend (running buddy) decided we would write a book about our experiences as teachers.  At that time, the book, “Up the Down staircase” had just been published.  The book talked about a teacher’s experiences.  Of course, we have not as yet written our book.  I decided I needed to share my feelings, thoughts and experiences to my teaching and non-teaching friends.

My name professional name is Dr. Donna Graham.  However, for some reason or another, the students would call me “Ms. Dr. Graham”.  At the end of the day someone would always ask me “What hospital are you going to?”  I would tell them St. Elizabeth’s.  For those of you who don’t know, it’s the mental hospital in DC.  There’s also the Cafeteria Manager who asked me, “If Dr. was my first name.”   At that point I decided that you could call me anything but “bitch.”

Remembering the times

• I couldn’t pick the best students for my class.  The parents sent the best they had.  The good ones were home in the closet.
• I couldn’t have the best room assignment.  You were lucky if you had heat in the winter.  Not located on the 3^rd floor without an elevator.  Don’t think about air-conditioning and windows that didn’t open.
• I couldn’t take off from work because the school would fall apart.  I see now that’s not true.
• I remember the students who always needed a hug.  But had to remember you might be labeled as a sexual abuser, lesbian and/or a pedophile.
• I remember the student who I loved so much that I invited him to meet my family (he had been adopted by a gay couple after his mother, their housekeeper was steadily killed) during Spring break.  Unfortunately, the student was stabbed to death 2 days before at a Carry-out because someone thought he was “taking his girlfriend”.
• I remember a fellow teacher who died in his sleep at the age of 40 and was found died by his blind mother and a 5 year son.
• I remember the time when we had at least 9 or more administrators in a year and a half.  The joke was “we changed administrators more than some people changed their underwear”.
• I remember when the Principal asked that I and another teacher never seat together at a faculty meeting because we caused such a disruption at every meeting.  After that I would find a corner and sit with no one.  However, I discovered a teacher who knew sign language and that also caused a disruption.  So I sat on my hands.
• One day I asked my 2^nd grade class what was a “margin” and a student said, “that’s what you put on bread”.

Grade 5 student definitions for Geography

Plain – something that flies in the air.

Bank – where you put money.

Damn – a bad word.

All and all, I miss my students greatly.  They taught me about life, love and compassion.  I have no regrets in taking this path and would gladly do it again.  I would gladly do this again because if I could take my experiences as a teacher and a retired person, I would be a “Hell of a Teacher.” Bringing more experiences to my students about life and academics;  bringing more to the parents who need understanding and resources and bringing more to administrators who don’t realize we have done these programs in the past, they just changed the name.

 I dedicate this posting to my oldest brother, Clark Grayson, who if he had lived, would be celebrating his 60^th birthday next month….

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, I wanted to share with you a funny family story about my brother  Clark.

Clark was a “wannabe” jazz musician; he played the soprano sax. As a high school student, Clark would spend his Saturday afternoons hanging out at the Crawford Grill, which was the premier Jazz club in Pittsburgh at the time. Well, this one particular Saturday he heard that legendary pianist and Pittsburgh native Ahmad Jamal would be in town the following week. Clark knew he would stand a good chance of meeting him if he spent as much time at The Grill has he could, even if it meant missing school!

So that next Monday, Clark headed off to school in the morning just like any other day. But instead of actually going to school, he went up to the Crawford Grill, and hung around outside the building waiting for it to open. Usually it opened right before lunch time.

Sure enough, the next day, Tuesday, Clark goes into the Grill, saxophone in hand, hoping to get a glimpse of Mr. Jamal. Ahmad was there. He and some other musicians were rehearsing a set as Clark sat there and watched mesmerized for hours.

On Wednesday, Clark went back to the Grill to watch the rehearsal section again, and again, with his sax in tow, hoping Ahmad would notice him and maybe even ask him to join the session.

On Thursday, finally Clark’s prayers were answered!  Mr. Jamal noticed Clark and saw the eagerness in his eyes. He asked Clark to join the impromptu jam session that was going on that afternoon. Clark was on cloud nine, got his chance to play with the “big boys!”

Now, family you know me. One of my favorite sayings is “It takes a village to raise a child.” You recall back in the day, (which is how it should be now, but that’s another post) in our neighborhoods, if somebody saw you doing wrong, word of it got all the way back home to your house before you did! So, of course, the Crawford Grill owner at the time, Joe Robinson was friends with my grandfather, Wendell Stanton. The entire week,  Mr. Robinson knew Wendell’s grandson was cutting school to hang out at the Grill!  I guess he gave Clark the chance to meet Ahmad Jamal by not telling  on him right away, but by the weeks end, Mr. Robinson  had enough and phoned our grandfather to tell him of Clark’s true whereabouts.

Clark was busted… LOL 

Well, when Clark got home that evening it was like the Spanish inquisition. See, my grandfather was a District Attorney for western PA, so when one of us got in serious trouble,  he called FAMILY COURT into session; but in this court he was the JUDGE! (LOL) Our mother was the Prosecuting Attorney. There WAS NO DEFENSE ATTORNEY! (LOL) Various family elders and neighbors were the jury….

So of course Clark had to appear in court, and got the charges read to him… Our mother berated him for missing his class assignments and made him wonder how he was going to make it into college with that kind of behavior.  They fussed at him for what seemed liked hours. Now, you may be asking yourself how would I know because I was not a part of the court… well, being the sneaky little sister I was, I was sitting at the bottom of the steps just outside the dining room listening to the whole thing! If I had gotten caught I would have been in trouble too, so I was very quiet. LOL 

After the stern lecture on the importance of education was completed Clark was given his sentence… Grounded for 3 weeks, no telephone, or playing his music!  He had extra kitchen duty, and he HAD to take care of me after school, giving my mother a financial break.

So, when it was all over, Clark was almost in tears… he hung his head as our Granddad (the judge) asked him, “So, do you have anything to say for yourself?”   Clark somberly looked up at our grandfather, and in his eyes pleaded for mercy, I’m sure he was thinking how could Pop not understand as he said, “But, but…. It was Ahmad Jamal!”

“Boy, get your hind parts out of here before you get a month!” was our mother’s reaction. Clark ran out of the dining room and started up the stairs. He passed me by and of course I was cracking up laughing at him and mockingly repeated… But it was Ahmad Jamal!  LMBO   Then all of the sudden Clark’s foot hit my leg!  “Mommy!”, I screamed, “Clark kicked me!!!”  Mommy yells back… “And leave your little sister alone!”

Oh family… it was so funny. After Clark went upstairs to his room, everyone in the court room cracked up laughing too!

I want to thank Mr. Ahmad Jamal for allowing my brother to live out a dream and jam with him that afternoon at the Crawford Grill.  I want to thank Mr. Joe Robinson, who stepped in to help guide Clark in the right direction, that did ultimately lead him to Cornell University. Finally, to my dear brother Clark who I love with all my heart. I’m sure, big brother, you are  jamming with all the jazz legends now.

Thanks for listening family, I’ll talk to you later.

This is part of a reading assignment I was given while taking an  “Introduction to Instructional Technology” class during my graduate school program at Indiana University in Bloomington…. First day of class…. first reading

“Instructional theory and method have an ancient heritage that can be traced to the time when tribal priests systematized bodies of knowledge and early cultures invented pictographs or sign writing to record, preserve, transmit, and reproduce information. There is even good reason to believe that the first makers and users of tools, living more than a million years ago, systematically taught their children many kinds of skills, attitudes and concepts thought too complicated for mastery by unsupervised imitation.”

~Mark Hanna Watkins, “The West African Bush School,” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 48, no. 6 (1943), pp. 666-675

“If you know your past…. you understand your future……”   I’m just sayin……

About the only good thing I remember during that time was my selection to be in the Pittsburgh Scholars Program, which was a city wide accelerated learning curriculum aimed to prepare students for college.  I was placed in the reading and math track. I remember being so proud when I got the selection letter. My mother took me shopping and got my hair done to celebrate! LOL

So I breezed through elementary school math with no problems… the only time I had a little trouble was in 4^th grade when I had to convert fractions into percentages… but I got through it with the help of my older brother… (I recently had flashbacks when Nia came to this in her 4^th grade math curriculum, but she didn’t have a problem with it at all… they teach it differently now, it’s very visual…)

Anyway, I was fine until I got into 6^th grade and entered into junior high school (back then, junior high was 6, 7 and 8, and “middle” school (at least the term) didn’t exist. My 6^th grade math teacher was Mr. J. (just the first initial) To put it mildly, he was strange. First off, he always seemed to have an attitude; like he didn’t like coming to work every day to teach us. He would teach a concept then ask us if we understood it. If anyone dared say NO, he would start screaming and asking us what’s the problem… it’s easy…… he was very impatient; and short tempered. I remember feeling “beat up on” after leaving his class; afraid to ask questions, or say I didn’t understand, so I just shut down. In short, my breeze through grade school math came to a screeching halt!  I remember actually failing one of his math tests and I was devastated! I was so confused.  I asked myself, “How did I become so DUMB in math?”  

SO WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON IN MATH CLASS..

Towards the middle of the year, there were tryouts for the school play… I jumped at the opportunity because my then I had decided that I wanted a career as a performing artist… I remember distinctly going to the gym after school for my audition.  Much to my surprise, I discovered that the director of the play was going to be Mr. J! WHAT??…..  How did he go from being a math teacher to a drama teacher?  Shouldn’t he be in charge of the Math Club or something like that!

Well, I got in the play and remember rehearsals; Mr. J was like a different person when he was preparing us for the play. He was full of energy, happy, and very passionate about his role as director and choreographer. But back in math class….. OOOhhh, how I HATED his class!! 

At the end of the 6^th grade, my math grades had dropped significantly. I was put out of the Math Track of the Pittsburgh Scholars program and placed in the regular math curriculum. I feel humiliated and ashamed. There began my official “hatred” of math!!!

My negative feelings about math continued through 7^th and 8^th grade.  I had such severe anxiety about math, I blew it off; telling myself that I wouldn’t need it in my career since I was going to be a famous performing artist, (and I guess was going to have all my money stolen from me too, LOL)  I truly just did the minimal amount to get by to pass. My confidence in math had been shattered. I felt like math just wasn’t for me, and there was no one in my school or community to tell me differently.

Of course, once I entered high school, I had to take algebra and geometry to graduate. My 9^th grade algebra teacher, (the first female math teacher I had ever had!) noticed that an alarmingly high number of students coming from my junior high school were lacking the pre-requisite skills needed to take her algebra class. They determined that a majority of us had been instructed by Mr. J! (I could have told them that… all my friends were in class with me!)  Unfortunately I was one of those students. So by this time, we were so far behind, our 9^th grade math teacher ended up having to teach pre-algebra for most of the year, and only got to full algebra by the last quarter. I was so discouraged by then… I struggled through algebra and 10^th grade geometry. In 11^th grade, I bowled out of math all together and took a home economics class which served as the final math credit needed for high school graduation.

BIG MISTAKE!!!

Two years later, I am a freshman at Howard University and had to take the dreaded Functions Math class which was a university wide freshman requirement.

After miserably failing that class, I was put in a remedial math class in the math department in order to increase my skills to the level of being able to pass Functions.

IT WAS AS IF A LIGHT HAD BEEN TURNED ON

First time EVER I had an African-American math teacher. First time EVER I was taught about the rich legacy Africans have had in mathematics and science.  We were told that society had let us down. There was nothing wrong with us; there was something wrong with the educational system that discouraged young African-American students (especially females) from achieving in math and science. We were exposed to our historical greatness! We were told we came from a people who were at the forefront of inventions in science and math.   We were taught about the mathematics used by  t he ancient Egyptians who build the great pyramids; about great African math scholars, scientists and universities and how people from all over the world traveled to Africa to learn from them.  Wow! I had no clue… I just did not know… those lessons changed by entire perspective, and even though I was still going to pursue a career in theater, I was going to work my butt off to make it in that Functions class… Now, I knew, Mr.  J. was a jerk! He had low expectations of me and did not believe in my success. Therefore, neither did I, but all that had changed in an instant!  

When I re took the Functions class, I worked my A** off. I bugged the teacher asking for extra help. I got friends to tutor me and even got my Mom’s boyfriend to help! LOL I ended up getting a C in Functions! But, you could not have told me that a C did not feel like an A!

SO WHAT’S THE POINT?

As we continue to push our young people, especially girls in STEM related fields, let us keep in mind that there are still countless numbers of girls like me who are falling through the cracks. Many of these girls will not succeed in math; not because they lack the intellect; they continue to be stymied by a multitude of cultural and societal factors that have nothing to do with their brain.

Today’s global economy is urging young people to pursue technical careers that focus on STEM.  Our girls must be prepared by taking rigorous courses in science, math and technology in grade school.  We’ve got to spark a passion and love for STEM in these girls and encourage them to dream about career paths outside the box of what society says they should aspire to. You may think it sounds trite, but trust me… it will make all the difference in the world!

PARENTS: HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Advocate for your child! Make sure your school district offers the intense math and science classes needed for college entry.

•  Make math a learning activity in your everyday life; and make it fun! For example, buy a bag of MM candies and have your daughter estimate the number of green MMs she will find. Then count to see if she is correct. (Ask your daughter’s teacher for ideas that are grade level appropriate, most teachers would love to offer them!)

•  Make a cake, or brownies or something yummy! Reading recipes and following measuring directions is always a sure thing.

• Allow your daughter to operate a summer time or weekend lemonade stand; reinforcing math and entrepreneurial skills.

• Just like reading; make sure your daughter is practicing her math skills EVERYDAY for at least 15-30 minutes a day; depending on her grade level.  Oh, and that is AFTER the MATH HOMEWORK IS DONE!

• Expose your daughter to the great female pioneers in STEM!  Women like Ada Lovelace, Evelyn Boyd Granville, Madame Marie Curie and Mae Jemison (and so many others) should be household names

• Stay on top of your daughter’s math curriculum at school, work closely with her teacher and jump on any sign of trouble she is developing; hire a tutor if you have to… but be on point immediately.

• Make use of the many online math games and math education resources available on the internet. Go to the library if you don’t have a computer at home.

• Teach your daughter to network with STEM professionals, living and working in your community. Use community resources to find them.  Ask around! Seek out people through community centers, libraries, local businesses and universities, churches, social and civic groups, friends and family.  Be bold… go up to someone, introduce yourself and your daughter and ask if you could set up an “information interview.” (Really, what do you have to lose, most people would be flattered!)

• Encourage your daughter to join STEM related clubs at school; like the science club, IT club, etc… find summer time activities directly related to STEM. I plan on putting Nia is a robotics camp this summer.

• Finally, encourage your daughter to believe that she can do anything she wants!  if she wants to be in a STEM related field, then tell her to go for it… don’t let anyone, or anything stop her… the sky is the limit.

Here are some resources to get you started…. Get to it!!

 http://www.healthcarecolleges.net/blog/twenty-reasons-why-girls-dont-like-math/

http://www.ns.umich.edu/index.html?Releases/2005/Apr05/r041405

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Bibliography/African_Origins_Math.html

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/africa/science/numbers.htm

http://www.livingmath.net/MathSites/C1U1AncientsCultures/AncientsCultures/tabid/318/language/en-US/Default.aspx

http://www.stemedcoalition.org/

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Ten-Historic-Female-Scientists-You-Should-Know.html?c=y&page=2

http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/granvill.htm

http://www.drmae.com/

http://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/adalovelace/

http://www.math.com

http://www.webmath.com

P.S. I found out years later is that Mr. J had been a drama teacher in a school district outside of Pittsburgh. He had lost his job and was thrown into teaching a math class; having had no formal math education training; no experience teaching math… he just got the job…. SMH

Very briefly…. I prepared this document for Nia’s school and decided to post it on my blog in the event that there are any teachers, parents or administrators out there who need a quick and last minute resource to begin their Black History Month celebrations tomorrow!  It’s a “On This Day in Black History…” and gives an important fact for each day of the month…

Feel free to use and share!

 Happy Black History Month!!!

I’ll be posting again before the month is out, so stay tuned..

Click to download  > BHM-History Facts

TDanyel

I hope all is well in the new year for everyone….

During last summer while attending the SOS Conference and March, I had the pleasure of meeting Ruby Veridiano; Lit Corps and Social Media Ambassador for an organization called Lit World.  She was a featured speaker at a conference session I attended on education and it’s role in world literacy. I felt an instant connection with Ruby. Her warm and personable demeanor made it very easy for me to engage in conversations going on during our conference session. I admired her passion and drive as she discussed her role in Girls LitClubs in NYC. I was just really impressed with her and the organization she represents. (oh, and not to mention; too, she told me she is a native of one of my favorite cities on the west coast (shout out to Oakland, CA) (smile)  Anyway, Ruby and I became instant friends….

A few weeks ago, Ruby emailed me to ask if I’d like to help her spread the word about a special day coming up on March 7th, 2012 – World Read Aloud Day! Of course, I jumped at the chance.

Did You Know?
(Source: http://www.proliteracy.org)

Defined, literacy is the ability to read, write, compute and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a human being.

Now, you know that usually, I don’t like giving you a bunch of stats… however, when I was preparing this post, I ran across these and was amazed at the numbers. They are truly staggering. Take a look for yourself:

•  Over 700 million adults, approximately 16 % of the world’s population have only basic or below basic literacy levels in their native language.
•  Two-thirds of those with the lowest levels of literacy are women.
• In the U.S., 63 million adults (roughly 29% of the country’s adult population (those over the age of 16) do not read well enough to understand a newspaper story written at the eighth grade level.
• 43 % of adults with the lowest literacy rates in the United States live in poverty.
• The United States ranks fifth on adult literacy skills when compared to other industrialized countries.

In short, adult low literacy can be connected to almost every socio-economic issue in the United States; including (but not limited to):

•  65% of all state and federal correction inmates can be classified as low literate.
•  Low health literacy costs between $106 billion and $236 billion each year in the United States alone. (77 million Americans have only and 2-in-3 chance of correctly reading an over-the-counter drug label or understanding their child’s vaccination chart.)
• Low literacy’s effects cost the U.S. $225 billion or more each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.
• Globally, illiteracy can be linked to:
  o Gender abuse
  o Extreme poverty
  o High infant mortality and the spread of HIV/Aids, malaria, and other preventable   infectious diseases.

World Read Aloud Day

Therefore, I am happy to join in the cause and support Lit World’s World Read Aloud Day; being held on March 7, 2012, globally. I will be participating in a World Read Aloud Day event at Nia’s school as well as live tweeting. The thing that also really excites me is Lit World’s commitment to using technology which of course leads to an increase in global technology literacy as well! Folks, everywhere will be using Skype, Twitter, Face Book, U Stream and You Tube and other social media platforms to connect and engage. If you represent a group of students who would like to live chat with an author; or if you are an author that would like to live chat with students, Lit World will provide the platform for you. All you have to do is sign up.

Family, please join me on March 7th for this awesome event. Here is an opportunity to do something… big or small, to truly change the life of children and help put an end to global illiteracy in our life time.

Here is a link to get you started…. http://litworld.org/worldreadaloudday/

Thanks! I’ll talk to you later