A couple of weeks ago I noted that Diane Ravitch, co-author of one of my must-read blogs, Bridging Differences, received an honorary degree from Siena College in Albany. This week her co-blogger, Deborah Meier, described the Hudson Valley Writing Project, and it's parent organization, the National Writing Project, as "an amazing group."
If you're unfamiliar with the Writing Project as a source of professional development and support, check them out for the some of the most innovative ideas and materials for writing at every grade level and every subject.
The National Writing Project has almost 200 sites throughout the country and our region is blessed with two of them. In addition to the Hudson Valley Writing Project based at SUNY New Paltz we have the Capital District Writing Project at SUNY Albany.
One of the many resources developed by the National Writing Project is this book published last year by Jossey-Bass.
THV is particularly excited and honored to be bringing the Writing Project's strategies and spirit to this summer's institute.
Molly Fanning, a language arts teacher at Guilderland's Farnsworth Middle School and a member of the Capital District Writing Project's leadership team, will present Digital Storytelling as a THV field experience option.
Participants will discuss using digital storytelling to improve student writing and make their own place-based movie using Microsoft Photo Story. Get more information.
Free Saturday seminars featuring hands-on, teacher-led demonstrations of effective strategies for teaching writing and improving literacy instruction.
Development and delivery of in-service programs tailored to local needs.
An invitational summer institute designed for exemplary teachers of writing -- all disciplines, K-16 -- to present and discuss their own teaching practices, examine and critique current research, and engage in professional and personal writing.
Summer workshops open to teachers of all grade levels and disciplines who want to incorporate successful writing practices into their classrooms.
Summer programs for student writers, grades 5-12. Daily writing, collaborative instruction with HVWP's experienced teachers, inspiring prompts and activities, plus celebrations and a final publication help students develop as strategic writers and thinkers.
. . . for high school chemistry students to apply for an amazing opportunity.Two full time, eight week, paidinternships beginning later this month. Interns will do research with Bard College chemistry faculty and students.
The internship, which pays $2500, is funded by the American Chemical Society. Bard is located in the Town of Red Hook, Dutchess County.
For more information,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit Project Seed.
Program requirements include:
1. Students must have finished one year of high school chemistry and be entering their junior or senior year of high schoolthis fall
2. Students must provide their own transportation
3. Deadline for submission is June 10th
4. Total family income eligibility -- $45,000 or less per year for a family of four
Accident insurance is provided. And, students have an opportunity to return for a second summer and are automatically eligible for a $5,000 college scholarship.
Bard's chemistry program is in the Reem and Kayden Center for Computation and Science (pictured at right), which includes the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Laboratories for teaching and research, built in 2009.
More than 150 Local Resources to Help Educators and Students Explore Farms and Food
Teaching the Hudson Valley today released “Farms & Food,” an educational guide featuring more than 150 local places and organizations, media and other resources for exploring food-related subjects - from culture, civics and history to economics, math and science.
We love the topic of farms and food because it is a compelling starting point for exploring so many issues. Food is a high-interest topic that generates strong opinions – from the kindergartner who hates peas to the newly minted teenage vegetarian. Our guide helps educators take advantage of that interest through the Hudson Valley’s rich and varied agricultural resources.
“Food is something that every child can relate to," said Gwen Hill, Director of Science Barge Education at Groundwork Hudson Valley. A featured THV destination, Groundwork Hudson Valley is an environmental justice non-profit that works with communities to improve their physical and social environment.
Gwen explains further. "The exploration of farms and food provides students with a unique, hands-on learning experience that reinforces both classroom studies and current events. Farm-based learning encompasses history, nutrition, natural science, social and environmental studies and more! The THV guide is a tremendous resource for both teachers and students.”
“Farms & Foods” highlights include:
Planning your visit – THV teacher tips for before, during and after your visit
Farms – A list of farms willing to share their operations and expertise, as well as their passion for food and agriculture, to help young people understand where their meals come from
Land Trusts – Groups that are actively preserving open space, including farmland
Annual Events – Harvest celebrations, festivals, fairs and demonstrations in all four seasons
Historic Sites and Museums – Sites that have identified agriculture as a topic of interest or developed related exhibits or programs
Garden Learning – Find a community garden that might welcome a visit
Students are immersed in food messages and issues every day, from school menus to eating disorders and local jobs. Talking through and understanding these issues in context provides students with opportunities to practice critical thinking and become active, informed consumers, decision makers and community members.
“Farms & Food” was conceived and researched by THV Student Conservation Associate Hadley Galbraith and THV coordinator Debi Duke.
Educators Deborah Meier(top photo) and Diane Ravitch(bottom) have sometimes been at odds on education policy. In recent years, though, their shared passion for improving schools for all children has them finding more and more common ground on the big issues.
Bridging Differences, their blog at Education Week, is one of my favorites. It takes the form of letters in which they offer their insights and encourage each other's thinking on what matters most in education.
I particularly admire Ravitch for her willingness to publicly rethink long-held positions. Now in her seventies and a research professor at NYU, she was an early supporter of No Child Left Behind and served in the education department under President Clinton and the first President Bush.
More recently, though, she has joined Meier in sharply criticizing high stakes tests, school privatization, and attacks on teachers' unions.
I tell you all this because last week Ravitch received an honorary degree from Siena College in Albany. She was impressed by what she saw and heard, and I thought educators might take heart from her blog post about the liberal arts college, its students, and what we can learn from both.
Near the end of the post Ravitch writes, "Those of us who truly care about children and the future of our society should find ways to share our ideas, to discuss our differences amicably, and to model the behavior that we want the young to emulate.
"I want to advance the ideals and values that are so central to the Siena community: compassion, responsibility, integrity, empathy, and standing up against injustice."
“Farms & Food” is available for free in 
I tell you all this because last week Ravitch received an honorary degree from Siena College in Albany. She was impressed by what she saw and heard, and I thought educators might take heart from her blog post about the liberal arts college, its students, and what we can learn from both.