ECCLA Blog

Dinosaur Hall Teacher Preview Days

2011-06-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

Be among one of the first to see the Natural History Museum's Dinosaur Hall on July 12 & 13, 2011! Receive free admission for yourself with your teacher ID and 1 guest. Bring up to 4 guests at regular admission and check out the new Dino lessons and activities.

Click here to learn more!

An Educator's Walk in the Park

2011-06-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

The California Africa American Museum, The California Science Center, and The Natural History Museum will be holding "An Educator's Walk in the Park" at Exposition Park on Saturday, August 20, 2011. This Educators' open House will begin at the California African Museum at 8:30am with light refreshments followed by tours at each museum, raffles, giveaways for teachers, and activities for specific exhibits. It will end at 12:00pm at the Natural History Museum. The cost is free by RSVP is required.

Please do not miss out on this wonderful opportunity! RSVP with the California African American Museum at (213) 744-2024.

LA Times Festival of Books at USC!

2011-04-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Join us as USC hosts the LA Times Festival of Books for the first time!

Dates & Location
The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held:
Saturday April 30, 2011 from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, May 1, 2011 from 10am – 5pm at:
University of Southern California
Click here for map.
To locate USC on Yahoo! Maps or similar mapping software, you may use the intersection of Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089.

Tickets & Admission
General attendance is free!
For information on attending, see our Attendee FAQ.

Parking
Parking at the USC campus will be $10.
Please go to the Getting There page for a detailed map.

LA Math Initiative Recognition Awards!

2011-04-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

Last year, the MIND Research Institute, a non-profit organization based in Orange County developed visual approaches to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for spatial-temporal approach to math education for elementary and secondary schools.

Here at ECCLA, we wanted to find a way where we could honor schools which were performing well in order to really push students to succeed and help bridge the gap in math achievement in central Los Angeles. Our hope was to be able to not only recognize these schools for their exceptional work, but also for their collaborative efforts with MIND and ECCLA and root for future success. The solution? A monthly recognition award for the schools that out perform the more than 40 ECCLA schools currently implementing the ST Math computer programs!

Stay tuned for the announcement of the first MIND/ECCLA Recognition Award Winners!

Safety Alert: Train Testing to Begin on the Expo Line

2011-04-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Starting today, the Expo Line will be testing trains intermittently along the light rail alignment for several months. Because the trains will be operating on an unpredictable schedule, please advise your teachers, faculty, students, families, and neighbors to stay off the railroad tracks! Additionally, please consider the following safety tips:

Safety Tips

Please obey all warning signs and traffic signals when crossing the tracks.
Always look both ways before crossing any street.
Never walk on railroad tracks.
Watch for trains from both directions.
Use the crosswalks. Do not jaywalk across the the tracks.

For more information, please visit BuildExpo.org or call 213.922.EXPO (3976).
Find ExpoLine on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ExpoLine or follow them on Twitter @ExpoLine

ECCLA Launches New School Liaison Program

2011-03-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Jay Adams, Executive Director of 24th St. Theater, leads teachers
and administrators through a work place tableau.

ECCLA welcomed the first inaugural school liaison class on Thursday, March 3^rd, 2011 at the Kick-off event which took place at 24^th Street Theatre from 4-6pm.

The kick-off event was the perfect way to welcome our 22 participating schools into the program. There were over 50 people in attendance including Liaisons, Principals, Local Resource Providers and ECCLA Board Members and Staff.

The newly designated school liaisons and their principals had the opportunity to network amongst each other as well as take part in the mini resource fair with some of the local providers in attendance including California Science Center, Mouth Saint Mary’s College, Natural History Museum, the University of Southern California and our venue host, 24^th Street Theatre.

Jacqueline Hamilton, ECCLA Executive Director, and museum
representatives brief attendants on current programs and resources.

Interactive icebreakers, and small breakout sessions to discuss the challenges each school faces and what types of resources the school is lacking were a great way to create consensus on how to make this program most successful and beneficial for all those involved.

Teachers and administrators act out workplace
dialogues.

About School Liaison Program:

The goal of the program is to enriched classroom experiences for students and teachers by providing effective and timely communication:

· between central L.A. educators and museums, colleges and community organizations in the nearby region;

· about ECCLA’s programs and partnerships; and

· regarding classroom, field trip, fundraising, and other programs to enhance instruction.

The complete list of schools includes who are participating include:

· 32^nd Street Visual and Performing Art Magnet School

· Bishop Conaty / Our Lady of Loretto High School

· Douglass-Marshall Middle School

· Downtown Value School

· George Washington Carver Middle School

· Gertz-Ressler College Ready High School

· Holy Name of Jesus Parish School

· Hooper Avenue Elementary School

· James Foshay Learning Center

· John Adams Middle School

· Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School

· New Designs High School

· Normandie Avenue Elementary

· Para Los Ninos Elementary School

· Richard Merkin Middle School

· St. Thomas the Apostle Parish School

· St. Vincent Parish School

· Synergy Kinetic Academy

· Thomas Jefferson High School

· Tom Bradley Environmental Science and Humanities Elementary School

· Vermont Avenue Elementary School

· William J. Clinton Middle School

For additional information about the School Liaison Program please contact Vanessa Ramirez at vramirez@eccla.org or Jacqueline Hamilton at jhamilton@eccla.org or call (213) 743-4516.

School Budget Cuts Could Be Detrimental

2011-03-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

The big if is lingering in the shadows for public schools if the June tax extension does not pass. If the tax extension does not pass funding for K-12 schools will mean millions of dollars of statewide cuts amongst local schools. This could mean detrimental cuts to teacher's salaries, loss of employees, and shorter school years/days depending on the district. Surprisingly, K-12 education is the largest expenditure of the state's annual budget, but California has also not provided "funding for public education since 1981 above the national average," said Linda Luna, superintendent of the Millbrae Elementary School District. During the great recession California spent thousands below to the national average, and it is simply getting worse. "Teachers and students are doing incredible work with less," said Luna.

To read the full article this blog post was derived from click HERE.

What are you thought regarding the tax extension? (Also, don't forget to educate yourself about the effects of how powerful your vote can truly be when casting it in June!)

Apply Now to the USC Shoah Foundation Institute's Teaching with Testimony Summer Workshop with ALL Expenses Paid

2011-03-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Founded in 1994 by Steven Spielberg the USC Shoah Foundation Institute is currently accepting applications for its 2011 Master Teacher Workshop, Teaching With Testimony, which will take place July 18 to July 22, 2011. This five day workshop is an all expense paid experience geared toward secondary school educators. Successful candidates will receive a stipend, Certificate in Teaching with Testimony, and twelve graduate-level continuing education units (CEUs) at USC's Rossier School of Education.

During this workshop participants will actively engage in the power of visual testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses and explore the methodologies and practices for bringing these moving stories into the classrooms to help today's students think deeply about the implications of prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry in their everyday lives. Through these powerful testimonies participants will then be asked to develop a testimony-based project and present it in their schools, communities or through their professional organizations.

Do not miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! Deadline is May 2, 2011...feel free to pass this along to educators you think may be interested!

For more information and to download the application click HERE! Or email Melissa Jones at mcnear@usc.edu.

Keep Your Classroom Up-to-date About Egypt!

2011-03-11T14:14:00.000-08:00

In an increasingly fast paced world, where new discoveries are made constantly and changes take place abruptly, it’s important to adapt your curriculum to current events. Recently, the Middle East was engulfed by rioting. Egypt has been an epicenter of this revolution and keeping students informed is of great importance. There are helpful lesson plans available online to facilitate these discussions.

A beneficial resource is The Choices Program which you can find here. They have comprehensive lesson plans and curriculum guides explained in great detail.

The New York Times also has a great resource if you are having difficulty integrating Egypt into your lesson plans. It includes interactive examples, fun projects, and handouts to encourage sharing of thoughts and discussion.

PBS has also done its part to encourage awareness of the Middle East revolutions. They have created and complied a great amount of videos and other resources that are helpful in analyzing Egypt and the democratic government that is being established.

Garbage Dreams Trailer- Documentary about youth who pick garbage in Egypt for a living.

In addition to the videos, you can obtain more visual media, mostly maps and charts, from Thinkfinity. They have a great deal of information regarding Egypt as well that is readily available here.

Jessica Elsayed, 17-year-old Egyptian journalist.

To give students a youth perspective, you can show them Jessica Elsayed’s blog on Youth Journalism. She is a 17-year old girl covering stories about Egypt and giving her insight into the changes being seen in the country.

Beautiful Machine- artwork by students from USC Family of Schools

2011-03-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

When: ~ Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Location: University Village Shopping Center
3375 South Hoover Street Los Angeles, CA 90007

E-mail: fmoa@usc.edu

Web Site: http://fisher.usc.edu

Free!

Student artists from the USC Family of Schools portray machines that positively impact people or the environment.

Each academic year, the USC Fisher Museum of Art plans, curates and professionally installs four temporary student art exhibitions at the University Village Shopping Center food court for the Art in the Village program.

For this show, elementary school kids belonging to the USC Family of Schools (32nd Street/USC Magnet, Foshay Learning Center, John Mack, Norwood, Vermont and Weemes) and two parish schools (St. Agnes and St. Vincent) were asked to think about a machine that does something to impact their lives or the environment in a positive way and submit art matching the theme “A Beautiful Machine.”

Each exhibition kicks off with an opening reception at which the student artists are the stars. The children have the opportunity to speak with family, friends and community members about their artwork. They are congratulated on their achievements during an awards ceremony, at which they receive a certificate recognizing their participation.

Funded in part by a USC Neighborhood Outreach Grant, Art in the Village represents a partnership between the USC Fisher Museum of Art, the University Village Shopping Center and the USC Family of Schools. Visit Site

Calling All Teachers!

2011-02-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

The Natural History Museum is looking for teachers to help create their activities and lesson plans for their brand new Dinosaur Hall. If you are interested in helping with the creation of this new exhibit to develop lesson plans and field trips - follow this link and download the application under Calling All Teachers! A stipend will be provided to all those who work on the project, as the museum recognizes that teachers are busy people.

Opportunities are also available at the Page Museum. Don't worry if you don't know too much about the museum, all teachers will be debriefed about the exhibits as well as other behind-the-scenes tours and discussions with scientists.

California Science Center's - Ecosystems

2011-02-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

The renovation that has been 10 years in the making at the most visited museum in Southern California finally arrived last spring at the California Science Center. This new exhibit highlights the many thriving ecosystems of the world including but not limited to swell sharks, kelp forests, maggots and even live larvae. This exhibit even allows for you to be put into the path (but out of harms way) of a flash floods and desert storms.

The $165 million Ecosystem Experience is completely free, but would not be possible without the donations of generous patrons (so don't forget to give anything you can).

Hope to see you there!

2011 Teacher Recognition Award Nominations!

2011-02-18T23:04:00.000-08:00

Is there a teacher you know who makes it possible for you to learn, study, or grow? Is there a teacher that makes a profound difference in his/her school and goes beyond the call of duty?

Every year ECCLA and USC-CCR partner to recognize teachers that make a difference! Full-time teachers working in one of the designated ECCLA service area schools bounded by Olympic Blvd, Alameda Avenue, Slauson Blvd, and Crenshaw Blvds are eligible to win. There can only be one nomination from each school per year. All nominees will be honored at an awards ceremony at Natural History Museum on May 19, 2011.

To nominate your favorite teacher download the Rules and Nomination form here. The deadline is for nominations is Friday, April 1, 2011.

Calling All High School Seniors!

2011-02-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

Every Spring ECCLA and the California Retired Teachers Association (CRTA) award three graduating seniors - in the ECCLA service area - with Higher Education Scholarships of $1,000.00 each. The selected winners will receive their cash scholarship in the fall of 2011 once proof of enrollment in a U.S. accredited college, university or trade school is received.

Students must submit a completed application, two original letters of recommendation, an original essay, and a copy of the applicant's senior high school transcript.

We look forward to reviewing your submissions!

To apply please click here and download the first Rules and Application form from the top of the page.

ECCLA Spring Essay Contest!

2011-02-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

If you could spend one day with someone from the past who would it be and why? What would you want to learn from them or speak to them about?

ECCLA invites you to submit entries for our Spring "Person from the Past" Essay Contest. Both Middle and High School students can enter to win cash prizes of up to $100. The contest is open to 6th - 12th grade students enrolled in an ECCLA target school, located in the area bounded by Olympic, Slauson, Crenshaw, and Alameda Blvds.

Winning essays are those which are personal narratives depicting what this person means to the student, using examples and other descriptive attributes.

Good luck and we hope you will join us!

______________________________________________________________________

For more information regarding the essay and to download the application form - click here. Follow the link and then click on the second contest rules link from the top.

Event Recap: A (First Friday) Night at the Museum

2011-02-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

The Natural History Museum opened it's doors to the nighttime crowd yet again this past Friday, February 4, 2011 to continue their First Friday series...and I must say, it was fabulous. The mix of modern decor and intimidating stuffed animals in the animal hall, which was filled with the dance music, was a complete juxtaposition from the museum you saw as a child.

This past Friday the Nostradamus theme continued, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Johnathan Wiener discussed his thoughts about the future, and how human existence might one day be never ending. It seemed only fitting on a night where you live out Peter Pan-like adventures in a museum.

The museum itself was packed and better than ever, there were young hipsters, high school students, parents looking for a night out, and even a human size Tyrannosaurus Rex puppet made his way through the main foyer. It seemed as though everyone was in search of a good time. The music blared through the usually, quiet and stoic halls and I could not help but think that these wonderful nights will be a celebration of the past, present and (hopefully) the never ending future.

First Fridays at the Natural History Museum

2011-02-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

Once a month, the Natural History Museum opens its doors for the nighttime crowd and the adults come out to play! This exciting event features live music, scientific panels and discussions, and behind the scenes curatorial tours. First Fridays is a way to welcome back its old audience with a new adult twist.

First Fridays 2011 is called the Nostradamus Edition. For this year the theme is the future - where are we going? What is going to happen us? Will be doomed to follow the ill fated path as the dinosaur? Join the fun to discover and discuss the pathway of the future!

Save the Dates:
January 7, 2011
February 4, 2011
March 4, 2011
April 1, 2011
May 6, 2011
June 3, 2011

For more information about the event you can visit the site. Tickets can be purchased here, or if you are a USC student or staff it is free!

Celebrating Black History Month at CAAM

2011-02-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Celebrate Black History Month with the California African American Museum! Celebrate the diverse influence and achievements of art, history and culture with a packed program full of performances and celebrity guests. This very special Target Sunday starts at 1pm this Sunday, February 6, 2011.

African American Youth Leadership Program

2011-02-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

The African-American Youth Leadership Program (AAYLP), a division of the Research and Policy Institute of California, is seeking applicants for its African-American Youth Leadership Conference. California high school students who will enter their junior or senior year this fall are invited to apply. The conference will be held the last week of July at CSU Sacramento.

Student will be immersed in:
- Leadership training and skills
- Understanding of the workings of state and local government
- Financial responsibility
- Living a healthy and balance life
- Career development

...and attend:
- Thought provoking presentations on leadership
- Participate in workshops to learn skills on leading and healthy physical and fiscal life
- Gain understanding of logistical governmental issues in mock hearings at the State Capitol

MOST importantly: housing, meals, program materials and transportation to, from and during the conference site provided at NO COST to the participants!

Deadline to apply: April 1, 2011 here

MIND Research Institute's LA Math Initiative!

2011-01-31T11:55:00.000-08:00

Imagine looking at a math problem and seeing the solution as a picture. Moreover, classrooms full of kids who are using a digital math program with the signature MIND Research Institute character, Jiji the penguin, to compute difficult algebraic equations.

From this sprung various Math Initiative grants in underrepresented communities throughout the West Coast to help local educators and schools to narrow the achievement gap. Los Angeles soon followed suit and a community partnership with ECCLA in conjunction with other local entities was born. Schools are given a $45,000 grant which include their award winning instructional software program, development trainings with principals, software updates and MIND support staff that help with implementation throughout the year.

You can read more about ECCLA’s partnership with the LA Math Initiative on the MIND Research Institute’s website, or feel free to submit a question to the blog and we’d be happy to read it and pass it on!

People in Progress' Los Angeles 1st Annual Youth Summit

2011-01-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

People in Progress will hold their 1st annual youth summit in order to create a stronger community through empowering young people with robust knowledge and experience that will be obtained through a series of workshops on topics regarding gang violence, drug prevention, sex education, nutrition and many more! The event takes place on February 12, 2011 at Los Angeles City College. Call Genaro or Sylvia at (213) 413-9122 for more information.

How Should We Evaluation Teachers? Post your comments to the AirTalk page.

2010-11-22T10:58:00.001-08:00

In Studio: How Should We Evaluate Teachers? from 89.3 KPCC on Vimeo.

Free Art Classes for High School Students at Ryman Arts

2010-11-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

Ryman Arts provides free, college-level studio art classes for talented High School students from across Southern California. They teach teens essential skills for art and life - from rigorous foundation drawing and painting courses to college and career preparation, helping high school-aged artists to maximize their potential. If you know a young artist who would like to take his or her artistic skills to the next level, Ryman Arts could be a good match. Applicants must be enrolled in high school. Home school and alternative school students in high school programs are eligible. Admission is competitive, please contact Ryman Arts if you have any questions.

Classes take place on Saturdays on the USC campus. Classes are 3 ½ hours long, and are taught to small groups of students by teaching artists. They are now accepting applications for the spring semester. The deadline to apply is December 3.

Click here for application.

Visit Ryman Arts website.

Diane Ravitch Reviews "Waiting for Superman"

2010-11-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

The Myth of the Charter School by Diane Ravitch

"Ordinarily, documentaries about education attract little attention, and seldom, if ever, reach neighborhood movie theaters. Davis Guggenheim’s "Waiting for “Superman” is different. It arrived in late September with the biggest publicity splash I have ever seen for a documentary. Not only was it the subject of major stories in Time andNew York, but it was featured twice onThe Oprah Winfrey Show and was the centerpiece of several days of programming by NBC, including an interview with President Obama.

Two other films expounding the same arguments—The Lottery and The Cartel—were released in the late spring, but they received far less attention than Guggenheim’s film. His reputation as the director of the Academy Award–winningAn Inconvenient Truth, about global warming, contributed to the anticipation surrounding Waiting for “Superman,” but the media frenzy suggested something more. Guggenheim presents the popularized version of an account of American public education that is promoted by some of the nation’s most powerful figures and institutions.

The message of these films has become alarmingly familiar: American public education is a failed enterprise. The problem is not money. Public schools already spend too much. Test scores are low because there are so many bad teachers, whose jobs are protected by powerful unions. Students drop out because the schools fail them, but they could accomplish practically anything if they were saved from bad teachers. They would get higher test scores if schools could fire more bad teachers and pay more to good ones. The only hope for the future of our society, especially for poor black and Hispanic children, is escape from public schools, especially to charter schools, which are mostly funded by the government but controlled by private organizations, many of them operating to make a profit."

Read more in the New York Review of Books.

"The Dog Who Sang at the Opera" Performing Books at the Central Library

2010-10-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Performing Books Presents "The Dog Who Sang at the Opera," written by Jim West and Marshall Izen

Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Mark Taper Auditorium

Central Library

630 W. 5th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071

(213) 228-7000

Performing Books is funded by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and encourages children's love of reading and the arts. For more Performing Books performance see the LA Public Library.

How We Roll at the California African American Museum

2010-10-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

How We Roll takes the viewer through an historical step-by-step fantastic voyage of how surfing evolved into skateboarding, the kinship with roller-skating, and how “The Roll” created a cultural revolution that has influenced every corner of popular culture over the past four decades. This exciting exhibition is free to the public, and begins its six-month run on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at CAAM (600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037). For more info visit the California African American Museum website.

Iridescent Science Featured in LA Times!

2010-10-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Nonprofit aims to engage children with science

From: LA Times

By: Scott Glover

For a kid who says he wants to build robots, 10-year-old Jabari Griffie came to the right place.

The fifth-grader was among hundreds of curious kids who turned out Saturday morning for the grand opening of Iridescent, a nonprofit science and discovery center near downtown Los Angeles.

The first exhibit Jabari saw featured something even cooler than a robot: An underwater robot.

Congratulations President C.L. Max Nikias!

2010-10-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

University installs Nikias as USC’s 11th president

From: Daily Trojan

By: Natalie Chau

President C.L. Max Nikias was sworn into office Friday morning, during a ceremony that brought together Trojans both young and old to celebrate the 11th USC presidential inauguration.

Today, we live in a time of great anxiety. The wisest experts cannot find an agreement on what the future holds for our society,” Nikias said. “Education is what helps us to be fully human and to appreciate the full range of human experience.”

The ceremony began with processions from members of the USC community, including student delegates, half-century Trojan alumni, staff and parents. Third-graders from the Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School also marched in the ceremony.

Faculty from every school in the university processed to the stage in Alumni Park, followed by Nikias, his wife, Niki Nikias, and their daughters, Georgiana and Maria.

Edward P. Roski Jr., chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, officiated the ceremony.

“This inauguration you’re about to witness is truly an historic occurrence. It’s only happened 10 times in the last 130 years,” he said. “The last time we saw a new president, there was no one texting during the ceremony or taking pictures with their cell phones. We didn’t have cell phones.”

Read More at the Daily Trojan.

Family Science Program

2010-10-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

Iridescent's Family Science Program, funded in part by USC’s Good Neighbors campaign and also our fiscal sponsoree, gives an opportunity for families to experience science together, foster an environment of education, and encourages the possibility of higher education in under-served communities.

Learn more about Iridescent.

Opening of Iridescent's New Science Studio!

2010-10-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Iridescent is one of our many fiscal sponsorees who is doing amazing educational enrichment work in Central Los Angeles. Their mission is to foster curiosity and inspire self-confidence in young people with limited access—unlocking doors to their future and preparing them to help solve the world’s most pressing issues.

Their approach is to use a three-pronged strategy of teaching about cutting edge science, using powerful mentors and enlisting strong parental involvement.

Join them in opening of their new studio!

553 W. 23rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90007

Saturday October 16, 2010

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

For more info click here.

Fall Workshop Series: GEMS at the California Science Center

2010-10-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

The California Science Center offers workshops for parents, teachers and afterschool care providers! Workshops are inquiry and researched based, and are presented by educators who are experts in their field!

The next workshop in the fall series is GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) Math Academy, November 6, 2010. Participants will experience hands-on workshops led by experienced teachers and GEMS Associates and receive teacher guides for every session taken.

Registration fee is $50.00, which includes parking, materials and a Certificate of Attendance.
Space is limited! Registration will close on October 29th. Reserve your space today!

For more info on Professional Development Series at the Science Center click here.

If you have any questions contact:

Anna Gaiter

Director of Professional Development

(213) 744-7455

agaiter@cscmail.org

Open House- USC Master of Professional Writing Program

2010-10-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Open House will be held on Monday, November 1st at 5:30 pm in USC's Doheny Memorial Library, Intellectual Commons (Room 233). The program would also like to invite you to a panel discussion on Faith and the Writer: Inspiration and Practice, a discussion about the link between faith and creativity in both secular and non-secular work. It's at 7:00 pm also in the Doheny Memorial Library Intellectual Commons.

Refreshments will be served!

Also, please come to our free events in the coming weeks at USC:
Oct. 11 - Visiting Writer lecture with Rebecca McClanahan from 7-9 pm at Waite Philips Hall B27

Oct. 12 - "True Blood" writer Alexander Woo from 7-9 pm at Doheny Memorial Library Intellectual Commons 233

Oct. 27 - "Futurama" writer Bob Odenkirk from 7-9 pm at Taper Hall 102

Please RSVP for any and all of these events by e-mailing at mpw@college.usc.edu.

You can also watch past events on YouTube channel and be fan the Facebook page.

For more info contact Howard Ho, Program Specialist, (213) 740-3250

Make Your Mark in the Park! by The Big Draw LA

2010-10-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Join Ryman Arts, the Museums at Exposition Park and USC on a Make Your Mark in the Park activity. You will help create a continuous drawing that winds its way around the Park, drawing the exciting activities and beautiful gardens before you. Teen artists will be there to help you "make your mark", no experience required. Help us create the longest drawing of an afternoon in the Park! Later, the long collaborative drawing will be photographed and will become a scrolling panorama on the web.

October 17, 2010

1:00-3:00

Exposition Park

State Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90037

About The Big Draw LA

The Big Draw LA is a city-wide celebration of the act of drawing.

Why not get young people, artists, seniors, scientists, and teens drawing together? In honor of its 20th anniversary, Ryman Arts is partnering with Los Angeles museums and other organizations to launch the first annual The Big Draw LA. Together, Los Angelenos will expand the boundaries of drawing, experimenting not only with pencils, paint, charcoal, and digital imagery, but also with sand, clay, choreographed movement, vapor trailsanything that makes a mark! Participation is open to all, and organizations of all sizes and kinds, from established institutions to small groups, are invited to sponsor, organize, or host an event during the month of October.

Drawing is a universal language, connecting generations, cultures, and communities. Children draw to make sense of the world before they learn to write. Yet most adults, given a pencil, claim: I cant draw! The Big Draw aims to remove this barrier and create opportunities for people of all ages to discover that drawing can make us SEE, THINK, and INVENT. The Big Draw L.A. will be the first event of its kind to take place on the West Coast and is inspired by the wildly popular Big Draw in London.

The Big Draw LA is committed to promoting inclusiveness and offering a diversity of drawing experiences.

Presenting organizations will register events open to the public on-line at www.thebigdrawla.org.

Obama's interview with Matt Lauer for "Education Nation"

2010-09-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

“What I Want Most that Money Can’t Buy” ECCLA/USC Fall Contest

2010-09-27T10:41:00.001-07:00

" What I Want Most That Money Can't Buy"

The Education Consortium of Central Los Angeles (ECCLA), with the support of USC Civic & Community Relations, invites you to submit essays on the above theme.

Winners in Two Categories: 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

All contestants will receive a certificate of participation. Entries will not be returned.

School must be located roughly within the boundaries of Olympic, Slauson, Crenshaw, and Alameda for eligibility

Cash awards in each category are:
First Place - $100
Second Place - $50
Third Place - $25

For more information and contest guidelines please visit our website or click here.

Thousands of Teachers to Gather for Teacher Town Hall Sept 26. NYC

2010-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Rockfeller Center, New York City. the site of the Education Nation Summit

PRESS RELEASE FROM EDUCATION NATION

New York, NY -- September 15, 2010 – NBC News will convene a nationwide gathering of thousands of teachers from across the country for the first-ever televised “Teacher Town Hall”as part of NBC News’ “Education Nation,” Sunday, September 26. Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” will moderate the discussion, which will focus on the most important challenges and opportunities facing teachers in

America

today.

“You can’t have a conversation about education, let alone a two-day summit and week of broadcasting around these issues, without the participation of teachers, parents and students,” said Steve Capus, President of NBC News. “This two-hour televised conversation will be the perfect way to kick off the week and set the tone for Education Nation.”

While hundreds of teachers will gather in-person at Rockefeller Plaza, teachers from across the country are invited to join the conversation virtually by registering to take part in the conversation at www.educationnation.com. During the meeting, teachers participating online and those at Rockefeller Center will together voice their priorities, brainstorm new ideas, discuss key issues, and ask questions of each other to advance the conversation about teaching in the

United States

. The “Teacher Town Hall,” Sunday, September 26 at 12:00 PM EST, will air live on MSNBC and streamed online at EducationNation.com, Scholastic.com, iVillage.com and msnbc.com.

Ask the President a Question About Education

2010-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

In an exclusive interview, Matt Lauer will sit down with President Barack Obama for a live one-on-one interview about the state of education in America. The half-hour interview will air at 8 a.m. as part of the launch of NBC News’ Education Nation, Monday, September 27 on “Today” and will be roadblocked across various NBC Networks. Education Nation is encouraging viewers to submit their questions. Fill out the form and your question might be asked on air! Click here for the form.

Learn more about Education Nation.

Times Festival of Books will move to USC

2010-09-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

USC President C.L. Max Nikias, left, and Times
Publisher Eddy Hartenstein USC's University
Park campus, future site of Times' Festival of Books.
(Steve Cohn/for the Times)

From: latimes.com

By: Larry Gordan

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will move its weekend-long celebration of the written word to the USC campus next spring after 15 years across town at UCLA, officials announced Wednesday.

The change of venue to USC's main University Park campus south of downtown Los Angeles will offer a more central location, better access to public transportation, easier parking and the use of newly expanded university facilities for the annual event, leaders of the newspaper and USC said.

The decision came after negotiations between The Times and UCLA foundered over differences about how to reduce and share expenses, as well as some logistical issues, according to several people with knowledge of the talks. A UCLA spokesman said state budget cuts to the UC system also have made it more difficult in recent years for the campus to bear its share of festival costs.

Now Playing at 24th Street Theater: RAZON BLINDADA

2010-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

24th Street Theatre, in association with elInstituto de Cultura de Baja California(Mexico) and la Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (Mexico), is thrilled to bring famed Latin American director, actor and playwright Aristides Vargas to Los Angeles!

In his internationally acclaimed stage work,La Razón Blindada, Argentine-born playwright/director Aristides Vargas infuses Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel, El Quijote with Franz Kafka’s, The Truth About Sancho Panza, and testimonies by Chicho Vargas and other political prisoners held in the 1970′s at the Rawson Prison during Argentina’s dictatorship. Two political prisoners, oppressed by physical and emotional abuse, find solace in meeting every Sunday at dusk to tell the story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Their storytelling unravels amidst the extreme limitations imposed by their condition as inmates in a maximum security prison. The production features Jesus Castaños Chima, Tony Duran and Arturo Diaz de Sandy.
La Razón Blindada will be performed in Spanish with English supertitles. Don’t miss this exciting U.S. premiere by one of Latin America’s most famous theatre artists!

BRAVO AWARDS Nominate a Teacher for Excellence in Arts Education

2010-09-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

Nomination Due Date: October 4, 2010
Music Center BRAVO Awards
Recognizing and Honoring Outstanding Leadership in Arts Education in Four Categories:
* Generalist Teacher
* Arts Specialist Teacher
* School Program
* School
NOMINATE EXCELLENCE IN ARTS EDUCATION -
* Fill out the form on our website to nominate an outstanding teacher, school program or school for the MUSIC CENTER BRAVO AWARDS. The nomination is open to all full time teachers and all schools in LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

* NOMINEES SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO BE PART OF THE BRAVO
COMMUNITY - All nominees are invited to submit an application to be considered a BRAVO Candidate and will be invited to the BRAVO FORUM in the fall.

* LEADERSHIP IN ARTS EDUCATION IS RECOGNIZED WITH CASH PRIZES,COUNTY PROCLAMATIONS and BRAVO CRYSTAL SCULPTURES

For more information on eligibility requirements and to download a nomination form, please visit our website:
www.musiccenter.org.
Please call 213-972-3387 with questions or email fdavis@musiccenter.org

Open Call For Youth Submission: Experiences of Immigrant Children in Education

2010-09-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Harvard Educational Review (HER) is planning to publish a special issue on Diverse Experiences of Immigrant Children and Youth in Education in order to extend and reframe the dialogue on immigration issues in the United States by bringing multiple voices and perspectives of researchers, practitioners, families, and students in conversation.

As part of this project, HER is looking for personal essays, stories, and visual art from children and youth who have been directly shaped by immigration experience. Student writers could be a child of immigrant parents or have immigrated to the with or without their families. HER is interested in publishing stories related to children and youths' educational experiences, and in particular, how these experiences are shaped by their families, communities, religious institutions, community organizations, or society at large. HER would like your help in encouraging young people you know to participate in this important opportunity.

HER is accepting submissions from PreK–12 students whose lives have been touched and shaped by immigration experience anywhere in the U.S. HER is particularly interested in stories related to educational experience, but realizes that "educational experiences" can occur in many locations besides schools. They are open to receiving multiple types of personal stories about growing up in immigrant homes and communities.

More information about submission guidelines here.

Learn more about the Harvard Educational Review.

Attention Teachers: Apply For FEDCO Grant

2010-08-31T11:41:00.000-07:00

Grant Purpose and Amounts

The California Community Foundation (CCF) awards FEDCO Teacher Grants each year to fund hands-on, classroom projects or field trips that help bring learning to life. Grants range from $500 to $1,000 and support teachers of students in grades kindergarten through 12 in Cerritos, Culver City, Norwalk-La Mirada, Pasadena and Los Angeles Unified school districts.

Eligibility

• You must teach K-12 full time at a public school in one of these school districts: LAUSD, ABC/Cerritos, Culver City, Norwalk-La Mirada or Pasadena Unified.

• Your project should be connected to core curriculum standards and include all students in your class.

• Your project should include engaging and creative experiential learning activities, such as a museum visit and/or hands-on art or science projects.

• Your project should increase student academic achievement in one of four areas: language arts, math, science or social studies.

• Your project may include a final group project produced by your students.

• We will give high priority to projects that incorporate experiential learning that are linked to class curriculum or integrate community-related topics.

For more information visit: California Community Foundation

Students Speak Up About Disparities Between LAUSD Schools

2010-08-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

From: Patt Morrison, KPCC

Student A attends El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, one of the top-achieving public schools in the state, a school that is a regular finalist in national Academic Decathlon competitions with plenty of advanced placement classes available, located in a bucolic upper-middle class neighborhood. Student B attends Belmont Senior High School in Westlake, a struggling school with an unbelievable 60% drop out rate where 80% of its students qualify for federal free or reduced lunches and students’ proficiency rates in both math and reading hover around 50%. How can two schools in the same district produce such wildly different results? This is the tale of the Los Angeles Unified School District, which with 617,000 students is one of the nation’s largest and most unwieldy, with huge disparities in access to good classrooms, teachers and coursework. Patt and her guests hear stories from students themselves about the differing experiences of going to school in the LAUSD and what can be done to bridge the educational gap.

Click here to listen: Patt Morrison KPCC