Once Again, Banning Books

There are some events that we wish would become obsolete, so we didn't have to revisit them year after year. But censorship seems alive and well, so we are writing again about Banned Books Week, which began on September 25th and runs through October 1st this year.

This event is spearheaded by the American Library Association  (ALA) and its Office of Intellectual Freedom. We've written about Banned Books Week before: in 2011, 2013, and 2014. [This is our 933rd post, so we beg your indulgence if we revisit certain subjects.] But the list of banned books keeps changing. The 2015 list, for example, includes Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, two books that became extraordinary Broadway productions and which won Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Musical, respectively, in 2015.

Many classic books also have been banned in different places at different points in time, including The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird, and 1984.

It's instructive to see where challenges to books originate, and the ALA has created a graphic illustrating this information. One of the benefits to our digital age is that access to books no longer depends on the standards of a local library, school board, or bookstore. Books are available in numerous formats from a wide variety of sources, and there is an extraordinary trove of information that readers of all ages can access as they make their decisions about what to read.

Why are some books challenged? The reasons seem to change over time, since the subject matter of contemporary books tends to reflect our society's focus and concerns, but sexuality and religion seem to be the most frequent reasons. Of course, parents need to make sure that the books their young children read are suitable for their level of understanding and reflect values with which they are comfortable. But making certain titles unavailable for older teens and adults in a community violates the Library Bill of Rights established by the ALA, which includes such rights as:

• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

• Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

• Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

                               

Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association

Shakespeare’s First Folio to Tour the Country

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. It’s impossible to quantify the impact of Shakespeare’s work on (primarily, but not solely) the English-speaking world. Shakespeare’s observations about human nature are timeless. His plots, which have mesmerized readers and audiences for centuries, still have the power to captivate. And it is estimated that he added 1,700 words (e.g. countless, laughable, grovel, dawn) and numerous everyday phrases (e.g. break the ice, it’s high time, for goodness sake, what’s done is done) to the English language.

In recognition of the significance of this year, Washington, DC’s Folger Library is sending one of its most prized artifacts on a tour through all 50 states: the 1623 First Folio. (Yes, that Folger. The library’s founder, Henry Clay Folger, was not only an enthusiastic collector of Shakespeare-related artifacts; he was also the nephew of J.A. Folger, founder of San Francisco-based Folger’s Coffee.)

As its name suggests, the First Folio is the earliest collection ever amassed of a number of Shakespeare’s plays. Assembled by Shakespeare’s friends and colleagues seven years after his death, it contains eighteen plays that, were it not for the folio, may never have been preserved, including Macbeth, The Tempest, and The Taming of the Shrew. Printing a folio was expensive, so few copies of the book were made and even fewer survive today.

This rare book may be viewed in New York City at the New York Historical Society  from June 7th through July 17th; to find out where else it will travel, use this interactive map. Can’t wait that long to see it in person? You can read a digital copy of the First Folio in its entirety while you wait. In addition, the Library’s website offers excellent resources for teachers and for parents and kids.

Those with an addiction* to Shakespeare because of his madcap*, zany* comedies; his monumental* histories; the remorseless* savagery* shown by some characters in his tragedies; and the overall radiance* of his words may consider it torture* to contain their excitement* as they await this ode* to the great man himself.


*word coined by Shakespeare

Hillside Arts Interview Day

Last week your blogger had the opportunity to meet an amazing group of high school seniors at a New York City public high school - and to see how a new school has grown and developed into a community of learning and achievement.

Hillside Arts and Letters Academy (HALA) is one of several small "co-located" schools in the vast building that had housed Jamaica High School from 1927 until its last class graduated in 2014. Under the guidance of founding principal Matthew Ritter, HALA enrolled its first students in 2010 and this year's graduating class will be its second. This was also the second year of the "Interview Day" program, where the 100 members of the senior class met with community members representing a wide array of professions - law, medicine, teaching, law enforcement, arts, and others -- and were interviewed for fictional internships in their chosen fields. 

We had visited HALA in 2012, when we attended their Portfolio Day at which students presented samples of their work in different subjects and explained their work to visiting adults. We've followed the school's development over the years (full disclosure - our favorite teacher, Matthew Yellin, has been with the school since it began) and seeing the maturity of these 12th graders as they shared their resumes, goals, and experiences, was a gratifying experience. 

One important aspect of the HALA curriculum is the advisory program, which provides intensive, personalized support for each student.. Advisory classes enroll about 17 students, who engage in a curriculum especially designed to acclimate them to high school, prepare them for college, and expose them to important topics such as identity, anti-bullying, and culture/race/gender stereotypes.

HALA is an incredibly diverse community. In keeping with the population of its Queens, New York location, the students represent dozens of countries and cultures and there are a number of new-to-America arrivals who are English language learners. We were most impressed to learn that among the students graduating this year was one of 13 city-wide winners of a New York Times scholarship, awarded to high-achieving students from poor families. Still another HALA senior is a winner of a Gates Millennium Scholarship, particularly notable because it funds not just four years of college but also graduate studies. While no New York City public high school is without problems -- and the use of metal detectors at entrances is demeaning to both students and visitors  -- HALA is impressive in the education it provides and in the enthusiasm for learning that is evident in students and teachers alike.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Happy National Children's Dental Health Month!

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), developing good oral care habits early can help start kids down the path to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. Not only is it painful, but dental disease can cause kids to miss school, which negatively impacts their learning. The good news is that tooth decay is preventable!

The best way to observe Children's Dental Health Month, of course, is to encourage kids to brush twice a day for two minutes at a time. There are numerous tools available to help make sure kids brush for long enough, from simple timers to hourglasses  to this zany, light-up critter named Molar Mate.

There are lots of fun ways to help youngsters learn about their teeth and oral health, too.

Children will enjoy doing the experiments provided in a fun card pack from Renaissance Dental. These simple activities will help them learn about the importance of flossing, the powers of fluoride, and more, all in a hands-on way.

For game-lovers, the ADA has put together an activity pack of word searches, connect-the-dots pictures, coloring pages, and more. Online gamers will find plenty to do on Colgate's Kids World page. There are plenty of free games to choose from for children as young as two and as old as nine.

The temptations of Valentine's Day candy mid-month will put kids' dental hygiene habits to the test. Make sure they're ready to take a bite out of tooth decay with healthy practices!

Celebrate Banned Books Week

Happy Banned Books Week! From September 21st – 27th, libraries, authors, teachers, professors, and schools will honor works of literature that have been banned or challenged in a celebration of freedom of expression. Banned Books Week’s message of tolerance seems particularly poignant this year, given the conflicts currently raging in other parts of the world.

One of the best ways to celebrate Banned Books Week is to read the controversial books. There are plenty of picture books to read aloud to the youngest children, and numerous chapter books and young adult novels have been challenged as well. Visit the American Library Association’s page of Frequently Challenged Books for lists of titles.

Those who are really passionate about freedom of expression can take this a step further. Ask your local library or your child’s school if they’ll help you organize a banned book read-out. These events typically feature people from the community reading passages from literature deemed too controversial to be distributed. Too busy? Enjoy banned book read-outs from the comfort of your home by visiting YouTube’s Banned Books Week channel . There’s even a page of celebrity read-outs, where you can watch actors and authors read some of their favorite banned literature. One of our favorites is this video of Whoopi Goldberg reading Shel Silverstein.

And remember that nothing tantalizes like the forbidden, so lists of banned books may be just the thing to motivate reluctant readers! Talk to all young people, bookworms and bibliophobes alike, about the banned books they read. Ask them why they think the book was challenged and whether they agree with its critics. Ask them whether all books should be available to everyone or whether there should be restrictions. Challenge them to list the pros and cons of an unrestricted exchange of ideas. Don’t be afraid to pose questions without easy answers; these conversations are the kind of rich ones that stimulate young people’s critical thinking skills and give them practice structuring arguments.

Happy, free reading, everyone!

Fall News You Can Use

It's hard to believe that today is the start of Labor Day Weekend and that summer is essentially over, even if our calendar tells us we still have a few weeks left. If school hasn't begun for you or your kids, it certainly will do so next week.

So, we figured it would be a good time to corral all the "Back to School" news and fall events that have filled our mailbox over the past week or so and share some of these with our readers.

Manhattan's Symphony Space will be holding its Thalia Kids Book Club this fall, featuring favorite children's books and their authors. Special treats include appearances by author Lois Lowry (joined by actor Sean Astin and his wife Christine), in honor of the 25th anniversary of her Newbery Medal-winning book Number the Stars (October 19th); David Hyde Pierce and Jane Curtin celebrating E.B. White's classics Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little (November 16th); and Natalie Babbitt, who will mark the 40th anniversary of her book Tuck Everlasting (January 25, 2015). Past year's events have sold out quickly, so don't delay getting tickets.

On Sunday, September 14, the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn is holding a free program for children with special needs called "Special Day for Special Kids." Kids and their families can explore the museum before it opens to the public.

Another program at the New York Transit Museum recognizes the particular appeal that trains hold for many children on the autism spectrum. The fall Subway Sleuths program for 2nd-5th graders has opened registration. Contact the Museum's Education Manager Elyse Newman at elyse.newman@nyct.com to learn
more.

The Museum of the City of New York has a series of family "drop in" programs scheduled for fall weekends and school holidays. These are free with museum admission.

Advocates for Children of New York has a Start of School fact sheet for New York City parents whose children receive special education services under an IEP (Individualized Education Program). And a fact sheet for families who are new to the public school system, whose child has not been assigned to a New York City school, can be found on the website of the New York City Department of Education.

Drop Everything and Read

Tomorrow, April 12th, is Drop Everything and Read Day, an annual celebration of the joys of reading. The date of this event was chosen to coincide with the birthday of beloved children's author Beverly Cleary, who featured D.E.A.R.in her book Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

Sponsored by groups including the National Education Association (NEA) and the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), D.E.A.R. has expanded to a month of activities intended to support teachers and parents in instilling the joys of reading in children -- and in taking time for their own reading as well. There is a web page with resources to help parents and teachers encourage reading. As one teacher notes, when writing about how she uses silent reading in her classroom, "The authors of children's literature and their books kids love can tame even the wildest of students, can motivate even when following a tough act like lunch, and can be a teacher's best friend."

Whether it is part of a regular classroom activity, a program at your local library, or a bedtime ritual you share with your kids, setting aside a regular time to drop everything and read -- or be read to (preferably with a cuddle, for young children) can build a love of reading that can enrich children's lives forever.

News You Can Use

Our electronic mailbox is full of useful information on a wide array of topics, ranging from an analysis of upcoming changes to the SAT exam to worthwhile charities that are helping students who learn differently. Here are our top picks:

• Inspirica, which provides one-on-one tutoring and test preparation in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, has created a presentation entitled A Glimpse into Upcoming Changes and Recent Update: SAT-ACT, which explores the reasons behind the newly announced changes to the high stakes exams taken by essentially every college bound student. 

• Prompted by the interest of her own daughter, who has an autism spectrum disorder and a fascination with American Girl® dolls, a Westchester, New York mom has created a re-sale shop for these historical dolls and their extensive books and accessories, with the nonprofit mission of developing job skills and employment opportunities for young women with autism spectrum disorders. They welcome donations of gently used American Girl®merchandise. Call Marjorie Madfis at 914-428-1258 for more information.

• Resources for Children with Special Needs, a New York nonprofit, now has a You-Tube channel with presentations on topics including how to choose a summer camp, how to prepare for a successful IEP meeting, and how to organize your documents to better advocate for your child. Some of the selections are available in Spanish.

• Active Minds, a national nonprofit dedicated to utilizing the student voice to raise mental health awareness among college students, is one of the sponsors of Stress Less Week, April 20-26 - when college students are coming to the end of their year and can face particular stress and anxiety. The purpose of this event is to spread awareness about stress and anxiety disorders and create a supportive environment, where students can speak up about their difficulties and receive support from the campus community.

If your school, nonprofit, or organization has a new program, publication, or upcoming event that would be of interest to our readers, please let us know, so we can include it in a future listing.

Photo: Michael Coghlan/Flickr

This Friday, April 11th, Dr. Paul Yellin will be the Keynote Speaker at a forum titled Silent Crisis: The Impact of Chronic Stress and Trauma on Early Childhood Learning and Development. His presentation will look at a number of important considerations in the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development of children under stress from the environment in which they live.

Starting with the famous "marshmallow experiment" and its follow-ups, he will look at how children's impulses are shaped by whether they have - or don't have - a reliable, trusted adult in their lives. He will discuss how early language skills are acquired and the importance of exposure to language in this process. He will then proceed to look at how the developing brain is impacted by stress, using images of brains in different circumstances to clarify his examples. 

Dr. Yellin will then speak about  neuroplasticity - rewiring our brains - to see how this ability is part of resilience, the ability to bounce back, recover, and ultimately overcome adversity. When children have a "turnaround" person in their lives, they are often able to succeed even if their early development was fraught with stress and lacked the language input and emotional support that is optimal for brain development. 

This event, with other speakers including Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH, Assistant Commissioner of the Brooklyn  Public Health Office of the NYC Department of Health; Evelyn K. Blanck, LCSW, from the NY Center for Child Development and Renee Wilson-Simmons, Dr.PH, Director of the National Center for Children in Poverty, is co-sponsored by Healthy Start Brooklyn, Central Harlem Healthy Start, and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Downstate New York Healthy Start, in collaboration with the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership.

The forum will be held at the Oberia Dempsey Mult-Service Center, 127 West 127th Street in Manhattan and admission is free and open to the public. It begins at 9 a.m.

Fans of Percy Jackson: Meet Author Rick Riordan!

Fans of Percy Jackson will be thrilled to learn that on October 9th, author Rick Riordan will be visiting Symphony Space on the Upper West Side of Manhattan to discuss his latest book, The House of Hades, which is the latest addition to his series Heroes of Olympus! Tickets are extremely limited, so don't delay!

To those who haven’t yet discovered Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the first of Riordan’s series about Greek gods and their modern counterparts, we say: What on earth are you waiting for? We love the Olympians series, not only for its humor and action-packed plot but also for what it teaches kids about learning differences and Greek mythology.

Readers are introduced to Percy in the first book of the Olympians series, The Lightning Thief. Twelve-year-old Percy has been kicked out of every school he’s ever attended. He struggles with his work because of his dyslexia, and his ADHD makes it tough to focus. His dad isn’t around either; Percy has never met him. Things begin to get strange when one of Percy’s teachers turns into a Fury and attacks him on a class field trip. Percy learns that he is a half-blood: that is, half-human and half-god. His absentee father is actually Poseidon, god of the sea. His dyslexia? A result of the fact that he’s wired to read ancient Greek, not English. And his ADHD? An important hyper-awareness he’s developed to help him stay alive on the battlefield, of course. Monsters are fond of going after the half-children of gods and goddesses, so it’s best to be on one’s toes. It seems that although Percy wasn’t suited to sit in a classroom, he’s got a lot of qualities that make him outstanding in other arenas. Just as Percy is coming to terms with his identity at Camp Half-Blood, he’s sent on a quest to recover Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt with sidekicks Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and Grover, a satyr.

Percy and his pals grapple with the likes of Medusa and Hades, meet centaurs, consult with an oracle, swallow ambrosia and nectar when they’re injured, and duel Ares, and that’s just in the first book of this five-part series! The Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters, its sequel, have been released as movies as well.

Once he’d completed the Percy Jackson series, Riordan began work on a second series, The Heroes of Olympus, which turns its focus to Roman mythology. The House of Hades, which he will discuss at Symphony Space on October 9th, is the fourth installment in the series.

A trip to see Rick Riordan speak will make for one enjoyable evening. But hooking kids on his dynamic, exciting books will provide them with enriching entertainment for months to come.

Banned Books Week Is Here

What do Harry Potter, Catcher in the Rye, A Wrinkle in Time, A Light in the Attic, and Call of the Wild have in common? For one, they’re all great works of literature. And, according to the American Library Association, they’re all frequently challenged books, too.

We think the freedom to read what we choose is worth celebrating! If you’re looking for ways to observe Banned Books Week, which runs from September 22 to September 28 this year, the ALA’s website dedicated to reading and intellectual freedom is a great place to start. Below, we've outlined a few other ideas as well. Happy reading!

Events

Looking for a way to celebrate the right to read in your area? Check out the Banned Books Week Events page for a list of happenings at libraries and bookstores around the country. Don’t see an event near you? Start your own.

Embrace Social Media

Make distracting services like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram work for you by using them as platforms to examine and discuss censorship. Start by reviewing a list of frequently challenged books with students. Help your younger child pick an appropriate book for story time and take teenagers to the library so they can check out a copy of a book that sounds compelling. Then post a picture of your child with her nose buried in these “controversial” volumes. Invite her to write a captions for the picture to share her thoughts about the book or the idea of censorship. If you tweet, be sure to use #bannedbooksweek to ensure your child’s post is associated with this event.

Virtual Read-Out

Speaking of social media, the Banned Books Week organization has established a dedicated YouTube channel to allow readers from all over the world to submit videos in which they explain why the freedom to read is valuable to them and read a short excerpt from their favorite banned book. To add your voice or your child’s voice, visit the site  to learn about the criteria for participation and fill out the form for video submission.

First Amendment Film Festival

Love intellectual freedom but not exactly a bookworm? Consider arranging your own film festival to explore the topic of censorship through film. Alone or with students or friends, watch a selection of fictional films and documentaries from an ALA list, such as Good Night and Good Luck, Inherit the Wind, Smothered, and Tell It Like It Is.

Show Your Colors

Turn freedom into a fashion statement! You can make this simple by helping kids use fabric paint to design their own tote bags or t-shirts promoting the idea of the right to read or their favorite banned book. Alternately, you can turn to the pros. Some of our favorite banned book products include a bracelet  made of tiles displaying the covers of various banned books; a tote bag from New York’s iconic Strand bookstore; and a large selection of bookish merchandise from Out of Print, including t-shirts, phone cases, stationery, and more.

Reading is Doctor-Recommended: Reach Out and Read

When Dr. Yellin delivers the Keynote Address at Reach Out and Read of Greater New York's Annual Meeting in New York City this morning, his talk will include a look at the emerging research on the importance of early exposure to language and enrichment on brain development in young children.

That premise is the driving force behind Reach Out and Read, a national non-profit organization which began in 1989 in Boston, when a group of pediatricians at what is now Boston Medical Center began distributing books to their patients. By 2012 Reach Out and Read had almost 5,000 programs, including programs for military families, and distributed 6.5 million books to 4 million children, including more than one-third of American children living in poverty.

Pediatricians and pediatric clinics that participate in Reach Out and Read have unique access to young children and their parents. By using a three part approach, they can bring reading and books, and the language skills they build, to families that might not otherwise have access to this crucial building block of cognitive growth. First, children are exposed to books and reading in the waiting room, where volunteer readers read aloud to children waiting to be seen (and every parent knows that that can sometimes be a long wait). Next, the pediatrician or other health provider discusses with parents the importance of language development and how to build the language skills of their child in an age appropriate way. Finally, children leave their visit with a brand new book of their very own -- something which may be highly unusual in families dealing with poverty. An excellent discussion of the goals of Reach Out and Read can be found in a paper delivered a number of years ago by Perri Klass, M.D., Medical Director of Reach Out and Read. The evidence is clear that this program works.

Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair Has Something for Everyone

Spring-like temperatures have finally come to New York City and the forecast for this weekend is for sunny weather. To add to the good news, the free Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair is back, and its line up this year is better than ever!

Go to Greenwich Street between Chambers and Hubert this Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. to sample all the festival has to offer. Fans of performance art can watch a variety of family friendly live entertainment throughout the day, and movie buffs can take advantage of some interactive film making demonstrations and exhibits. Be sure to check out free screenings, like a sneak peek at Smurfs 2 and animated shorts from StoryCorps. Athletes in the family will love exploring the ESPN Sports Day options, where they can try a variety of sports activities and games (anyone for myachi? How about fencing?), enter contests, and learn new skills. Fuel the fun with food from various local restaurants, and learn how to recreate some of that culinary magic in your own kitchen through demonstrations by some of the top chefs in the city. And you can head home in style after browsing trendy mer
chandise from area boutiques.

The Tribeca Family Festival Street Fair has something to delight everyone in the family. Visit their website  for a schedule and more detailed information about events and attractions. Don’t miss it!

Competition and Fun for Young Track Athletes

Today's sharp March winds and cold temperatures still feel very much like winter, but the fact is that it's the first day of spring, and perhaps we can all feel a bit more spring-like if we turn our minds to warm weather activities.

One upcoming event this spring is the New York Road Runner’s Spring Youth Jamboree, to be held on May 5. The Jamboree, now in its 9th year, is open to students from pre-kindergarten through high school. The setting is a reason to go all by itself: the Jamboree will be held at the legendary Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, famed for being one of only five of the International Associate of Athletic Federation’s Class One certified tracks in the country. Kids will get a thrill from running on the same track where the world records for the 100 meters in 2008 (Usain Bolt, 9.72 seconds) and the 800 meters in 2012 (David Rushida, 1:41:74) were set.

Events include the 55-meter dash (pre-K only), races of 100, 200, and 400 meters, an 800 invitational run, a 4 x 200 meter relay, long jump, and shot put. Participants are allowed to choose two events in which to compete. Students may enter as individuals or join together with friends or classmates to form a team. Either way, registration is free.

Please visit the New York Road Runners webpage for more information. The deadline for early registration is April 22nd. This Cinco de Mayo, why not start a new family tradition by taking your children to participate in this exciting event?

Photo: CC by Andrew Siguenza

Free Professional Development Event for Educators March 6 in NYC

The Yellin Center's acclaimed (and complimentary) Professional Development Series for Educators continues Wednesday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m. at our offices in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Dr. Yellin will discuss Struggling Readers. Some seats remain available as of press time!

Who should attend?

• Teachers
• School Administrators
• School Learning Specialists
• School Psychologists
• Other Related Professionals

The event is free - however, advance registration is required and restricted to professional educators and related professionals only (Parents, fret not! New parent-focused presentations will be announced in the coming days!).

You may register for the presentation online here, or by calling The Yellin Center at (646) 775-6646. Don't miss out!

Visit our Events Calendar for more information on upcoming events at The Yellin Center and beyond.

Interested in having Dr. Yellin speak at your school or organization? Contact us to learn more.

Photo: CC by Karin Dalziel

News: Noteworthy Special Ed Programs, Museum of Mathematics, RCSN Camp Fair, NYC Holiday Tips

The excellent website Inside Schools has identified noteworthy special education programs  in New York City Public Schools. Some of these offer preferential enrollment to students in a particular zone and others are open to all students in a district or an entire borough on a first come, first served basis. We've blogged before about Inside Schools and other resources for finding schools, and you may find that article useful as well.

A new Museum of Mathematics opens in Manhattan this Saturday, December 15th, right in our neighborhood, at 11 East 26th Street (between Fifth and Madison Avenues). And if that isn't a convenient location for you, the Math Midway program of the Museum offers traveling exhibitions in locations including Florida, California, the Pacific Northwest, and Upstate New York. The Museum is targeted towards fourth through eighth graders, but promises to have information that will also appeal to older visitors. 

Resources for Children with Special Needs, a New York City nonprofit is once again sponsoring a Camp Fair in January. This year’s event is set for Saturday, January 26, 2013. The fair features camps for children with learning, attention, and behavioral issues as well as camps for children with medical disabilities.

 

 

We know lots of families visit New York City during the holidays and we have found a list of family friendly activities in one of the iconic areas of the city -- Rockefeller Center, home to the famous Christmas tree. Besides the tree, you can take an NBC studio tour and visit the Lego store. Don't forget to dress for ice skating!

 

 

Photo: CC by SimonPix

New Research About The Neuroscience of Math

Last week, at the Learning and The Brain Conference Educating Diverse Minds:
Using Individual Brain Differences to Teach and Reach All Learners held in Boston, Massachusetts, I was fortunate to hear two fascinating talks by Dr. Daniel Ansari about the neuroscience of math. Dr. Ansari shared his groundbreaking research including the functional brain imaging that he used to discover the specific brain networks involved in basic numerical and mathematical tasks.

He has also identified atypical patterns of brain activation in children experiencing significant difficulty learning math. By correlating these imaging patterns with other measures of academic performance, Dr. Ansari’s work is already providing important insights into the diagnosis and treatment of math difficulties.

I look forward to sharing some of these exciting and important developments when I speak at The West End Day School this coming Wednesday, November 28 at 6:30 PM on "Why is Math So Hard?"

Newsday Webinar on "Selecting the Right College"

Susan Yellin, Esq., the Director of Advocacy and Transition Services at The Yellin Center for Mind, Brain, and Education (and frequent contributor to this blog) has been invited to serve as a panelist for a free webinar on "Selecting the Right College."

The Newsday College PrepTalk webinar will take place on Monday, October 22, at 8:00 PM (Eastern).

Topics that will be discussed include: Student Life, Academic Reputation, Campus Size and Faculty, Special Circumstances, and Students with Disabilities.

The free event is sponsored by Hofstra University.

Register for the event here.


***

For more information about upcoming Yellin Center events, please visit our Events page.

National Metric Week

This week, October 7-12, is National Metric Week, a time to recognize and better understand the system of measurement that is in regular use in every country on earth -- except the United States. Designed to fall each year during the week which contains October 10th -- the tenth day of the tenth month -- this event was created by The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 1976, a year after the signing of the Metric Conversion Act signaling a renewed (and not yet successful) effort to bring the regular use of the metric system of weights and measures to U.S. trade and commerce.

The metric system is generally accepted to have been first created by Gabriel Mouton, a vicar in Lyons, France in 1670. Mouton proposed a decimal system of measurement based on the length of one minute of  the arc of a great circle of the Earth (now called a nautical mile, 1852 meters). The metric system has gone through numerous revisions, including work by the French Academy of Sciences beginning in 1790 to create measures of volume as well as larger and smaller units of volume and length by multiplying or dividing by ten. Scientific surveys and international conferences continued to refine the system, the most recent being a simplification adopted in 1960 by  the General Conference on Weights and Measures, an international consortium. 

There have also been -- and continue to be -- political considerations in the use of the metric system. In its early years in France, the system fell into and out of favor during different points in history, until it was finally adopted once and for all in 1840. Here in the U.S., Congress has been reluctant to require its use because of the preference of most American for the inch-pound system. However, as trade has become more global in nature, U.S. companies have needed to adopt the metric system to remain relevant in international commerce. 

There is a detailed account of the history of the metric system on the website of the U.S. Metric Association, which also has puzzles that can help familiarize students with metric measurements. 

Upcoming Event: What Educators Should Know About Executive Function

The Yellin Center is kicking off our new Professional Development Series with a special presentation for educators called What Educators Should Know About Executive Function. The presentation was originally planned for October 11, but due to high demand (the October 11 event is now completely booked!), we've added a second date for an encore presentation on October 25, at The Yellin Center in Manhattan, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

In the presentation, Paul B. Yellin, MD, and friend of The Yellin Center, executive function specialist Terry Edelstein, Ph.D. will provide a detailed explanation of what is meant when we talk about "Executive Function," along with practical recommendations for educators to implement immediately with their students. Teachers, school administrators, school learning specialists, school psychologists, and related service providers are all welcome to attend.

The event is totally free for educators (unfortunately, we won't have room for parents or other interested parties at this presentation, but we do have a few talks in the works for parents, so stay tuned to our blog for details). Registration is required and space is limited.

To register, send an email to info@yellincenter.com with "October 25" in the subject, and be sure to include your name, title, and school affiliation.