'Tiger Mom' Amy Chua admits to mistakes

Check out this brief interview on PBS with professor and writer Amy Chua, whose book on rigorous parenting was profiled on our blog last month. Interestingly, here Chua pulls back from what seemed to be a harsher voice and talks about making mistakes while raising her kids to succeed at all costs. She admits that what she deems the "Tiger mother" approach, which she ties closely to the Chinese immigrant experience, resulted in many squabbles with her young daughters when they were growing up and routinely had to give up socializing with other kids in order to practice violin and piano. Amy Chua claims that Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is a "not a how-to guide, it's a memoir" - admitting that children do need a sense of balance between work and play, or calamity ensues. Chua also defends "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior," the article in The Wall Street Journal on turning children into perfect students that created so much commotion last month.

The bottom line here, though, is that students do need more motivation in school than a screaming parent, and that there's more to life than scoring 100%, as opposed to 99.9%. For an enlightening dialogue on student needs, join the conversation on February 23 at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011, featuring speakers Vicki Abeles, the director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the educational tech company Grockit. All proceeds go to support personalized tutoring for the Bay Area's low-income students.

U.S. education policy chooses numbers over letters

Alfie Kohn's latest contribution to The Washington Post traces the rising importance of what he calls "STEM" subjects - science, technology, engineering, and math - over the humanities when it comes to prioritizing education. Kohn criticizes Obama's State of the Union for calling attention to math and science in lieu of literature and the social sciences. Any subject involving numbers today is immediately deemed more "practical," and most, if not all, school funding routinely goes to the advancement of math and science programs.

Kohn concedes that there is something reassuring about quantitative subjects - about having an exact number be the solution to every problem. Obama's speech equated the quality of a nation's education with its competitiveness in the international arena, and it seems that schools take quality to depend solely on technological and quantitative advancement. Reading and writing proficiency fall behind, a lazy afterthought of what students should be learning. Maybe it's time to redefine excellence for our students. Let's try linking success to concepts like interest in learning, the literary imagination, and life skills in communication. After all, there is a staggering number of engineering and science graduates today who are overqualified for the type of work they will routinely do. Mathematical proofs and physics theories don't quite provide the exact skills that a good communicator in the working world should have. In the fight to improve our schools, let's not forget about reading, words, and the value of a hearty political debate. Take a look at how Kohn views the value of words over numbers here.

For more discussion on modern students' priorities, come to the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit at the Minna Gallery on Wednesday, February 23 at 6 pm. We will hear from Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, along with featured speakers Dennis Littky of Big Picture Learning and Farb Nivi of Grockit. Don't miss our exciting auction items, take part in the raffle, and try the delicious food! All proceeds from the event will benefit one-on-one tutoring for under-privileged students in the Bay Area.

The achievement gap gets narrower, thanks to Dr. Ferguson

Dr. Ronald Ferguson, a professor of Harvard University who is based in Cambridge, is conducting studies on the achievement gap between black and white students and identifying its causes in an effort to turn the statistical game around. Profiled in this New York Times article, Dr. Ferguson chooses to quantify causes of the gap rather than to blame the disparity on cultural differences. At T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, he has found that 55% of the students who are white females maintain an A to A- average, while less than 20% of black students overall could lay claim to the same grades.

The causes? Half of the reason, claims Dr. Ferguson, is family income. Among families living in suburbia, 79% of blacks are in the bottom 50%, while 73% of whites are in the top half when it comes to wealth. What does this mean? In general, white families in Virginia make more money, and their kids do better in school as a result of these added resources. The other leading cause behind the achievement gap, postulates Ferguson, is that black children simply have fewer academic resources at their fingertips growing up. In a study conducted by Ferguson, 80% of white parents had 100 or more books in the house available for kids, while only 40% of the black parents did so. Ferguson and his colleagues are working to make more educational resources available for black children in the suburbs of Virginia, hoping to make this project a nation-wide campaign that will increase literacy for all ages, closing the famous achievement gap.

Come join our dialogue on what students today really need to succeed! Attend the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on March 23, 2011, where we will delve into the future of education along with Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the revolutionary tech company Grockit. Proceeds will fund one-on-one tutoring for the Bay Area's under-served students.

State budget cuts: good-bye, one billion dollars!

California's proposed budget cuts for 2011 will cut one billion dollars from higher education - namely UCs, CSUs, and community colleges, specified Governor Jerry Brown. Check out this video with a break-up of the state's new budget plan:



Governor Brown's cuts remove funding for 90,500 students - a staggering number that can only grow as community colleges and state college campuses continue to endure losses, estimated to last at least five consecutive years. If fewer college students get access to higher education, will fewer high school students retain the motivation to pursue a college degree? How can we counterbalance the proposed cuts to education by keeping middle and high school students engaged? Loss of student drive is just one potential side effect of Brown's devastating measure, which has also led school districts to deny teachers tenure in light of the proposed cuts on education.



Let's hope that the tables will turn and the state passes some positive education reform in the coming months, as promised by Obama's State of the Union in January. Don't stay on the sidelines as we discuss measures central to the development of education in the U.S.! Join the conversation at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit in San Francisco on February 23, 2011. We will be hosting speakers Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the educational test prep company Grockit - all at the Minna Gallery in downtown San Francisco. Proceeds will fund one-on-one tutoring for the Bay Area's under-privileged students.

Another perspective on "elite" educaiton

John Tierney's recent article in The Atlantic provides a nice summary of some of the latest developments in education news from the last year. In general, Tierney concludes, students in high school are spending more time stressing out, while those in college devote more time to drinking and partying than actually studying - perhaps a by-product of the excessive stress that they have endured in school? The decline in college students' overall mental well-being is also worrisome, Tierney adds, as the numbers of those who seek psychiatric care for depression and stress rise every year.

Tierney's point on the partying vs. studying ratio of America's college students can be called into question - many of US college students excel at undergraduate institutions due to the sweat of their brow, so to speak, not because of pure luck or favoritism by a professor. Although depictions of contemporary college life by modern media productions such as The Social Network certainly show us the underbelly of life at elite college campuses, drugs and drinking included.

The final point that Tierney makes about high school student life presents the juiciest tidbit for consideration. Tierney argues that, as a teacher at an elite girls' private high school, he routinely sees students waste time on Facebook, computer games, and other temptations of technology. The students are not stressed so much as distracted and lazy, Tierney concludes. Does Vicki Abeles's Race to Nowhere, a powerful documentary on the modern-day stresses of contemporary student life, then give a false portrayal of the challenges facing educators today?

Don't speak so quickly, Mr. Tierney. While the advent of technological distractions does present issues of concern, students are certainly struggling under the burden of academic performance rather than learning for its own sake. Perhaps Facebook and the iPhone simply provide channels for students to vent their frustration over a rigid, unsatisfying academic environment. If we change our schools, then maybe we can change students' attention spans and emotional health as well, and for the better.

To continue the conversation on education and our students’ future, attend the Tutorpedia Foundation’s 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. We will hear from Vicki Abeles herself, along with featured speakers Dennis Littky of Big Picture Learning and Farb Nivi of Grockit. Don't miss our exciting auction items, take part in the raffle, and try the delicious food! All proceeds from the event will benefit one-on-one tutoring for under-privileged students in the Bay Area.

More difficulties, fewer dreams in the wake of the Dream Act

Students at colleges and high schools all over the country are facing new challenges after the Senate failed to approve the Dream Act on December 10, 2010. Those students who had previously "come out" about their illegal immigrant status now have to live in constant fear of being deported, says Maricela Aguilar, a junior at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin whose own struggle is profiled here in the New York Times.

Nor is the road toward achieving legal status in any way clear for these students. What's more, some states - like Georgia, Virginia, Arkansas, Nebraska, Indiana, and Wisconsin - are considering banning illegal immigrants from attending public universities or simply denying in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants, thereby making it too expensive in many cases for the students to attend college.

It's a shame to deny United States classrooms in high schools and colleges the intelligent input of some young minds simply because their parents shirked immigration officials fifteen or twenty years ago. The students themselves, like Aguilar in the article mentioned above, or Jose Varible, a student in Kenosha, Wisconsin, have grown up in the states and possess the curiosity and intelligence that make them valuable contributors to college and high school campuses. It's up to the House and Senate to decide whether these kids stay or go in the long run. In the latter case, it's going to be our loss by far.

To further discuss the future of our nation's education, join the conversation at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011, featuring speakers Vicki Abeles, the director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the educational tech company Grockit. All proceeds go to support personalized tutoring for the Bay Area's low-income students.

Separate but equal? Let's not go there again...

Re-segregation in Charlotte, North California? Despite what Michelle Obama has been saying about Charlotte's warm, forward-thinking ambiance in a recent story powered by NPR and the Root, the situation in Charlotte's school districts seems to be reaching a critical point with respect to socioeconomic and race relations.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District eliminated a busing program in 2002, a system that normally ensured that kids from low-income, more "troubled" areas of the city got transportation to a more competitive school in a different part of town. The program was aimed at encouraging diversity. Now, North Carolina is apparently encouraging the separation of poor and rich students, which usually translates to a separation based on race. Most recently in 2011, the Wake County School District in North Carolina has said "no to the social engineers!" - abolishing a re-integration policy that gave students access to schools regardless of their socioeconomic status. Students are being increasingly shuffled into neighborhood schools as school politics encourage the poor kids to stay with the other poor kids. In our world today, this usually means that students who are minorities are clustered together, while the more wealthy school districts grow increasingly white.

Let's say it like it is. Psychologist Beverly Tatum's book on racial identity, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, now has a new answer to the question posed by the provocative title. Why, Beverly? Because our school districts said so.

Hopefully though, that's not the final answer, as the 2012 Democratic National Convention will be held in no other city but Charlotte, North Carolina. Let's expect more dialogue on these issues and the institution of more busing programs in the South, as well as other parts of the United States. After all, what do kids really need in a classroom? To be exposed to the world as it is and learn to appreciate cultural diversity or none of the above?

Continue this conversation with us at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, will be making an appearance as guest speaker, along with Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the test-prep company Grockit. All proceeds will go to fund free personalized tutoring for students in the Bay Area's low-income school districts.

Batman gets a new agenda, and glasses

Monday night's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart hosted Bill Gates in a dialogue that, while focusing on how the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aims to eradicate polio around the world, also praised Bill Gates for his efforts to reform education in the United States.

Stewart closed the show by quipping that Bill Gates is the new Batman, out to save the world. Bill Gates acknowledged that the next focus of the Gates Foundation after instituting the polio vaccine in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India will be personalizing the educational system in his home country. Gates wants to give teachers the tools they need to ensure success in the classroom, he stated during the interview. Education is the first step toward eliminating poverty - also evidenced by Greg Mortenson's work in Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Three Cups of Tea campaign. Educating one woman, Mortenson claims from experience in his novel Three Cups of Tea, can change an entire community.

Gates's new focus successfully underscores the spread of the anti-poverty, pro-education campaign worldwide. If Gates is the new Batman, hopefully the United States can begin to eliminate poverty and crime, replacing drug cartels with schools and drug dealers with educators. Take a look at the interview here:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-31-2011/bill-gates

Passionate about education? Want to look and act like Batman? Come join the conversation at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23rd at the Minna Gallery in San Francisco. Take part in a dialogue along with Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the revolutionary education tech company Grockit. Proceeds will fund one-on-one tutoring for the Bay Area's under-served students.

Two percent and counting

When President Obama urged more young Americans to become teachers in last week's State of the Union address, he sparked more than a nation-wide recruitment campaign. This Monday movie maker Spike Lee and Education Secretary Arne Duncan teamed up at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia to specifically encourage more black men to become educators, with more details here at the Huffington Post. Lee noted that, today, there are 8,500 unfilled teaching positions available in the nation, recorded on teach.gov. There are 3 million teachers in the United States. Less than two percent are black men.

Lee and Duncan repeatedly stressed the importance of education, which should be on par with business, technology, and law for graduates choosing their profession. Those who choose to pursue degrees in education have the opportunity to influence generations of children, who grow into adolescents, who grow into young adults - who, in turn, choose whether to work or to take the side streets, entering the world of crime. Lee and Duncan hinted at the fact that black male teachers have the powerful potential to appeal to black male students, showing them a straight path that they can follow.


And it's true - we do need to create role models. But at what cost? Monday's talk at Morehouse College sparked a wave of interest from the media, but will it be enough to incite more black college undergraduates to enroll in graduate schools of education? The wage gap between that of a starting teacher and a financial consultant remains embarrassingly wide. And Spike Lee himself - arguably another black male role model for today's students - is a film-maker, not a teacher. He chose Hollywood, not a classroom in the Bronx. It's that simple. Again, America, we're delivering well on media coverage and well-articulated speeches, but not so much on concrete steps that would ensure change. Duncan's take on the TEACH campaign, which encourages minorities to study education, is a small step forward. Here's hoping more is on the way!

To talk more about issues central to education in the U.S. today, come to Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit, on February 23 in San Francisco, for a dialogue with the Director of Race to Nowhere, Vicki Abeles, along with other education visionaries: Dennis Littky, co-founder and co-director of the internship-based charter network, Big Picture Learning; and Farb Nivi, founder of the innovative ed-tech company, Grockit. Spread the word to your friends and colleagues, educators and non-educators alike, because we can all be motivated to make a change in how and why we educate. Great food, impressive auction items, and a raffle will top off the evening. All proceeds from the evening provide free one-on-one tutoring for low-income students in the Bay Area.

We do big things? One would hope!

President Obama made clear on Thursday that education will be a priority for the administration in the coming year. Obama even talked about restructuring the education system to incorporate new directions, claiming that the answer to many of the nation's problems can be found in the place where human consciousness first takes self-directed form, the school classroom. It's time to fight the budget cuts with innovation. It's time to invest in early childhood education, which will in turn help fight the global economic crisis, raising GDP down the line. What's more, it's imperative that we reach out to America's rural population, making sure that kids in middle America - one in four of whom is now living in poverty, versus one in five of just a year ago, claims Mark Shriver of the Huffington Post - get access to the education that they deserve. And, finally, local communities need to be more involved in the battle to save our schools from floundering, specifically through partnerships between public organizations and private businesses.

These are all great goals. The president has never failed when it comes to outlining the future of policy reform. Now let's just hope that conversation will lead to action, and that inspirational speeches about education policy will evolve from mere words to the creation of concrete change.

For this to happen, we all need to act. You can start by taking part in the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit at the Minna Gallery in San Francisco on February 23, 2011. We will be hosting speakers Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the educational test prep company Grockit. Proceeds will fund one-on-one tutoring for the Bay Area's under-privileged students. Don't miss out!

Mental health and academic achievement

A recent article in the New York Times, "Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen," juxtaposes falling student mental health with record-breaking levels of academic performance. In a national survey from 2010, the percentage of freshman students in college who reported above average mental health is a mere 52 percent - the lowest level in a quarter-century, according to Tamar Lewin, author of the article. Lewin also speculates that, because more women reported being stressed than men, some men withheld actual reports of emotional health issues, since boys are typically socialized to be less responsive when talking about feelings. At the same time, students' drive to "achieve" and overall academic ability have been rising, with three-quarters of the students polled now stating that their skills are above average. This phenomenon may be a reflection of the growing perception that a Bachelor's degree is no longer enough to get a well-paying job after college. And that, in turn, is how students start to think while still in high school...

So maybe it's time to start looking at what we want our students to value in high school: grades or a sense of balance? Grades are important, but do we really want middle and high schoolers to turn into “successful” college freshmen who, nevertheless, harbor intense mental health problems? After all, as the recent shooting in Tucson, Arizona suggests…we don’t know what may come of emotional problems that spiral out of control. Probably nothing good. So let’s reduce stress and think about enjoying learning for a change…

To continue the conversation on education and our students’ future, attend the Tutorpedia Foundation’s 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. We will hear from Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, along with featured speakers Dennis Littky of Big Picture Learning and Farb Nivi of Grockit. Don't miss our exciting auction items, take part in the raffle, and try the delicious food! All proceeds from the event will benefit one-on-one tutoring for under-privileged students in the Bay Area.

What's next for education?

Check out this video of Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who talks about the coming goals for educational policy in the United States for 2011. President Obama's annual State of the Union address is scheduled for tonight, and it's natural to be thinking about what this means for education in the states. Senator Bennet recounts that, as of now, only 9% of 9th graders living in poverty today can expect to graduate from a four-year college and that a mere 15% of U.S. 8th graders who live in poverty are proficient in math. The numbers speak for themselves.

America is lagging, and something needs to be done to close the achievement gap, not widen it. According to this recent SF Gate article, California's budget cuts may result in fewer students being admitted not only to UC campuses, but to community colleges, which have traditionally offered a way for lower-income students to pursue an education. How can this be the answer to today's economic and educational crisis? I guess we'll see what the President has to say tonight...

To continue this discussion, make sure to attend the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on March 23, 2011, where we will delve into the future of education along with Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the revolutionary tech company Grockit. Proceeds will fund one-on-one tutoring for the Bay Area's under-served students.

Community in our schools

This month's tragic shootings in Tucson, Arizona have altered America's sociopolitical landscape and forced us to question matters ranging from gun control to the adequacy of mental health care in our country's educational institutions. After all, the attacker is a community college student, while one of the victims was a nine-year-old girl in elementary school. Gary Rhoades comments in this recent entry in the Washington Post about the issues that the attacks have raised for school institutions. While Rhoades focuses on university campuses, I think that we need to pose the same questions for elementary, middle, and high school communities in the United States. Are educators doing enough to provide safe, tolerant learning environments for students where individual problems are met with adequate care? Rhoades insists that universities - and thereby schools - must be "public, open" spaces that encourage the spirit of democracy and do not shove students' individual problems on the back burner.

Frighteningly, it seems that today's schools are veering farther from this ideal as students' grades ultimately weigh more with educators than do "side" issues such as mental health. Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate how we envision our nation's educational institutions and discuss what changes need to be made to avoid calamities such as the January 8th shootings in Arizona.

For an engaging dialogue on today's education, join the conversation at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011, featuring speakers Vicki Abeles, the director of Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the educational tech company Grockit. All proceeds go to support personalized tutoring for the Bay Area's low-income students.

Hyper-parenting and over-schooling : the Tiger Mother approach

In Slate's latest article on Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Ann Hulbert questions Chua's parenting techniques in pushing her two daughters to excel, both in and outside the classroom. Chua's latest book is semi-autobiographical, expressing her belief in the Tiger Mother approach to parenting: push your child to succeed, or else. Rigorous self-discipline results in top performance, and the ends always justify the means. In Chua's non-fiction account, the main character, Amy Chua herself, has two daughters, both of whom are forced to sacrifice a minimum of three hours daily for piano and violin practice, after they excel in their academic studies at school, of course. Chua pushes her daughters to be nothing short of prodigies, and perfection is the only acceptable mark for Sophia and Lulu, her two girls.

Chua's book has made a big splash in national media, forcing us to question our standards when it comes to sending children to school. Do we want them to learn and grow into self-sufficient adults who are comfortable in their own skin or do we want them to excel...or else? Then again, the answer to this question fully depends on how you define excellence. Chua seems to define it quantitatively. Her oldest, Sophia, places first at a piano competition and wins a debut at Carnegie Hall, an all-star achievement for a fourteen-year-old. And then there's that omnipresent goal on the horizon, hovering like a slightly cliche ghost: acceptance by an Ivy League college.

Parents can't help but be slightly swayed by the spirit of the Tiger Mother. She pushes, and she gets results - Lulu and Sophia continue to excel in academics and extra-curriculars. But is there more to the story? Are these kids happy, are they creative, are they individuals or pawns in the statistics of excellence game?

To hear more about these topics, stop by the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco to hear from Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, along with featured speakers Dennis Littky of Big Picture Learning and Farb Nivi of Grockit. Don't miss our exciting auction items, take part in the raffle, and try the delicious food! All proceeds from the event will benefit one-on-one tutoring for under-privileged students in the Bay Area.

Vicki Abeles on CNN

Here's a recent interview from CNN - Vicki Abeles, the director of Race to Nowhere, comments on the making of her documentary, her motivation in its creation, and her vision for America's education. Abeles believes in a grassroots movement that pays attention to students' individual learning needs. Why wait, she asks, for the government to institute appropriate policies when we can begin the revolution right here in our own homes and our own classrooms? Abeles highlights the need for an open dialogue about the changes needed in education today.

Just such a dialogue is what our own Tutorpedia Foundation will be hosting on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. Abeles herself will be making an appearance as guest speaker, along with Dennis Littky, co-founder of the charter school network Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of the test-prep company Grockit.

Come join the conversation! All proceeds will go to fund free personalized tutoring for students in the Bay Area's low-income school districts.

Stressed in high school? There's a way out!

'Tis the season for college applications, AP test preparation, and an increase in students' stress all around...What are schools and parents doing to accommodate these changes and ease learning conditions for students? It turns out that teachers and parents are trying to come up with solutions.

In a recent story - "What's New In High School? Stress Reduction 101" - published by NPR, National Public Radio looks at the myriad ways in which it is possible to transform a classroom from a metaphorical torture chamber into a - gasp - enjoyable learning space. Students become super heroes who tame the Calculus Monster, and parents discuss the options available to those who want their children to learn in a less soul-draining school environment.

This point brings us back to the reality that America’s students are facing on a daily basis: school is starting to be less and less about the student, and more and more about rankings, prestige, and the quantitative analysis of academic achievement. Individual learning patterns and creativity get shoved on the back burner as students struggle to get the top grade, accumulate perfect transcripts, and be accepted by the most “prestigious” college. The question is…what happens after they get there? Does any desire to learn still remain? Can we change the system to cater, instead, to students’ intrinsic learning needs that rely on creativity and a simple hunger for knowledge?

We will be talking about this and a lot more at the Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. Featured speakers include Vicki Abeles, director of the documentary Race to Nowhere, Dennis Littky, co-founder of the non-profit Big Picture Learning, and Farb Nivi, founder of Grockit. Come join the conversation about how best to serve the needs of students from underserved schools in the Bay Area!

Race To Nowhere & 2011 Tutorpedia Benefit

I first saw Vicki Abeles's documentary Race To Nowhere together with 200 parents last week at Woodside High school, which was featured in Davis Guggenheim's Waiting For Superman. I saw it again last night at Temple Emanu-el in San Francisco with over 300 people. Movies are so much more powerful when you see it your community, and this film has reverberated within 500 communities nationwide. While I enjoyed Waiting For Superman, it is produced for Hollywood and quite biased: too pro-charter school and unfairly anti-teacher and teacher unions. Abeles, a Lafayette parent of three, created this movie for all of us that has the potential to catalyze a grassroots movement of parents, educators, and students. We can all relate to this movie. We've all been stressed out with too much homework, too many tests, too many extracurricular activities, and not enough free time, play time, and down time. Students sometimes feel this as early as 4th grade, and schedules get more crowded, classes get less relevant, and "doing school" (apologies to Denise Pope) becomes more challenging and less meaningful.

As Stanford's Education Dean Deborah Stipek says in the film, "we need to re-think the way we do education in America." One of those ways is by making education more real, relevant, and appropriately rigorous for our children. We need to focus on personal relationships. We need to cultivate critical thinking skills and problem solving techniques. We need more project-based learning. We need to make education more personalized, and focus on the whole child - the artistic and creative child, not just the math whiz and grammar queen.

Come join the conversation at Tutorpedia Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit, on February 23 in San Francisco, for a dialogue with the Director of Race to Nowhere, Vicki Abeles, along with other education visionaries: Dennis Littky, co-founder and co-director of the internship-based charter network, Big Picture Learning; and Farb Nivi, founder of the innovative ed-tech company, Grockit. Spread the word to your friends and colleagues, educators and non-educators alike, because we can all be motivated to make a change in how and why we educate. Great food, impressive auction items, and a raffle will top off the evening. All proceeds from the evening provide free one-on-one tutoring for low-income students in the Bay Area.

Meet Pat and Paulette: Tutorpedia Parents

Pat and Paulette, parents from San Carlos, CA, explain how Tutorpedia tutors helped their daughter improve her confidence in school.

Thinking about a Masters In Education?

For those teachers or aspiring teachers thinking about graduate work in education, there are an overwhelming number of choices.  We've found a great website to help people navigate the many options available to students who are seeking masters-level work in education (which includes teacher credentialing programs).  Both of Tutorpedia's Directors have Masters degrees in education (from Harvard and Brown), and believe strongly in teachers and tutors who further their own education.

Check it out:  www.mastersineducation.com

Meet Frans: Tutorpedia Tutor

Frans studied chemistry in the Netherlands and has also earned his Masters in Education and teaching credential. Now he's in the Bay Area. When he's not playing soccer, Frans is working with students as a Tutorpedia tutor!

Meet Natalie, Rachel, and Ashley: Tutorpedia Foundation

Hear how Tutorpedia improved Rachel's and Ashley's academic success.

We Got Thumbtacked!

Thanks to Ashley and the good folks at Thumbtack.com for featuring Tutorpedia on their blog!  Thumbtack is a website whose goal is to connect people with trustworthy local services, and we're honored to be one of those services.  Tutorpedia is today's Thumbtack Spotlight - read about what sets us apart!

Tao: Tutorpedia's Holistic and Student-Centered Approach to Learning

Meet Mignone: Tutorpedia Parent

Listen to one of our parents explain why she chose Tutorpedia for all 3 of her kids. Thank you Mignone!

Changing Education Paradigms

A great animated video of how our education system got to where it is today, and why it's so important to reform it.

Oprah Winfrey on "Waiting for Superman"

There's a bold new movie out, "Waiting for Superman", and it's getting lots of press. Time launched their cover story with the movie; The New York Times wrote an article last week; and now Oprah is talking to Bill Gates and Davis Guggenheim, the director of the movie, about this film and its message. And she gave $1 million to various charter schools, including Lionel Wilson Prep in Oakland, an Aspire public school, and Summit Prep High School, in Redwood City (full disclosure, and proud note: Tutorpedia and the Tutorpedia Foundation work with both schools).

We will be getting a group of tutors together to see this movie soon. I won't comment on it before then, but I want to see what the hype is about. Your thoughts?

Want to make a difference?

Be a tutor. Be a mentor. There are so many students right now who need help with reading, writing, and math skills. Science literacy. Technology. College applications. They're behind with homework, studying for their exams, they could use a caring, experienced adult to walk them through their school work, to make it less daunting, to engage them in the learning process. Give a child that spark to succeed! Build a relationship with them that motivates them and encourages them to learn.

Right now Tutorpedia has openings at several Bay Area schools:

Summit Prep, a charter high school in Redwood City: M/W from 3-5pm tutoring pre-calculus and chemistry
Horace Mann, a public middle school in San Francisco: M from 2:30-3:30pm tutoring basic reading, writing, and math
Building Future Now, a nonprofit in East Palo Alto: schedule TBD (working with middle and high school students)
Mandela High School, a public school in Oakland: M from 3-6pm tutoring all math, English, and science

Tutorpedia is also looking for math/science/SAT tutoring in the East Bay, Peninsula and SF, and will have many more after-school programs (free tutoring for low-income students, paid for by the district) starting in the next few months. Please see http://tutorpedia.com/about/jobs.php for more info about our available jobs. If you are interested, send a cover letter to jobs@tutorpedia.com, and you can start filling out our job application here. And please pass this on to any of your interested friends and colleagues!

Back to School

Interesting article from the New York Times Magazine, Achieving Techno-Literacy. Kevin Kelly argues that "technology helped us learn, but it was not the medium of learning. It was summoned when needed." There is a rash of discussion about the need for more technology, ie. computers, in the classroom. But because of the rapidly changing nature of technology, the minute we learn a new tech device, it becomes obsolete. So he says it is not technology that we need to learn, but technological literacy - "proficiency with the larger system of our invented world" - and all the assumptions and limitations that technology provides.

Why all this talk about techno-literacy in September? It's back-to-school season, and that time of year always engenders the question, Why are we in school? What is the purpose of the 7:30-3:30 school day, classroom periods, tedious homework and stressful tests on a periodic cycle? To get good grades, high test scores, and accepted to college? To become productive citizens of society? To be technologically literate? To be, or not to be?

School is important for all these reasons and more. Studying is important, and parents have an effect on this. Very recent studies show that our thoughts on how we study best were all wrong. We don't want a static and sparse study hall, but what's better is a dynamic environment, with moving parts, in our learning experience - the more we have to remember, the better we learn. If parents don't have the extra time to help their kids, it's best to outsource some of those tasks. I am biased of course, but I spoke to a parent today who said that it was just not in her best interest to tutor her daughter - the math was beyond her, and she felt their relationship would be better if they spent time together doing other activities.

Kelly continues in his article, "Education, at least in the K-12 range, is more about child rearing thank knowledge acquisition. And since child rearing is primarily about forming character, instilling values and cultivating habits, it may be the last area to be directly augmented by technology." I couldn't agree more.

Meet Sarah: Math Tutor

Sarah, a Stanford STEP graduate, high school math teacher, and veteran Tutorpedia Tutor, explains why she loves working with Tutorpedia students.

Meet Marielle: Math and Science Tutor

Marielle, a Harvey Mudd graduate and Tutorpedia tutor, explains why she loves to work with students to help them better understand math and science.

Tutorpedia has really fine tutors!

San Francisco parent Geoff explains that it's the individual tutors that makes Tutorpedia's tutoring services great, and why he chose them to help his daughter improve on her SAT. Go to www.tutorpedia.com to see more parent testimonials.

Meet Kate: Berkeley parent who used Tutorpedia for 3 years

Berkeley parent Kate shares why she chose Tutorpedia after interviewing many different tutors and tutoring companies, and describes the relationship that her son formed with his tutor, Tutorpedia's Founder & CEO, Seth.

When it comes to increasing academic success, there is nothing more effective than personalized tutoring. Tutorpedia is founded on the belief that every student can benefit from a tutor. We at Tutorpedia are dedicated to providing students of all ages, grade levels, abilities, and incomes with exceptional learning experiences that will not only help you do better in school, but will also give you the intellectual tools to become lifelong learners, and be successful in school, work, and life.

Meet Liz: English and SAT Tutor

Liz, a Harvard graduate and Tutorpedia tutor, shares why she thinks tutoring is important.

When it comes to increasing academic success, there is nothing more effective than personalized tutoring. Tutorpedia is founded on the belief that every student can benefit from a tutor. We at Tutorpedia are dedicated to providing students of all ages, grade levels, abilities, and incomes with exceptional learning experiences that will not only help you do better in school, but will also give you the intellectual tools to become lifelong learners, and be successful in school, work, and life.

The Teenage Brain

David Taus, Tutorpedia's Director of Education, talks with high school Seniors at City College of San Francisco about teenagers' brains and how understanding our brains can help us do better in school. This excerpt is part of a Tutorpedia Talk, a FREE educational speaking engagement given by Tutorpedia's Directors, who are both credentialed teachers, graduates of Harvard, Stanford, and Brown, and have a combined 30+ years of teaching and tutoring experience.

To learn more about Tutorpedia Talks, please visit www.tutorpedia.com. If you're interested in having David and Seth speak with your organization, please email david@tutorpedia.com.

Set up for failure

Another great post from our Summer Intern. Thank you Heidi for your great work!

The New York Times recently published the article "Schools Are Given a Grade on How Graduates Do" which really hit home for me. The article touched on how New York Public School graduates are not ready for college-level classes and why these districts should be informed of their graduates' performance in college. Manhattan Community College student Sharasha Croslen's story mirrored that of mine, she was placed in a remedial math class because she lacked the basic skills necessary to succeed in college-level math. I also took remedial math last year and understand the frustration she felt over not understanding something I should have learned in high school. In fact, I felt embarrassed and scared that I would not even pass these basic classes, so I can deeply sympathize with students like Ms. Croslen. Although the New York school district is graduating high school students, they are not prepared for higher education, which is a problem I gather is common in public school districts. For students who already feel intimidated and out of place in college because of their of class standing, not being able to understand their coursework becomes the final straw leading working-class students to drop out of college. I think it would be incredibly beneficial for these schools to gain information regarding the number of their graduates placed into these remedial classes, and also the percentage that graduate from college. I sincerely hope that maybe if these districts learn how much they are failing their students they will take some steps to solving this problem.

How can educational standards be the same for everyone if we all learn differently?

From our Summer Intern, Heidi:

The daily journal recently published an article "Math standards cheered-with some concern" which really caught my attention. As a person who is less than stellar at mathematics, I felt saddened by what I read. California recently adopted the Common Core Standards "which makes small changes to the English curriculum and introduce[s] algebra to students earlier." Students in the state of California will be required to take algebra 1 in eighth grade, rather than having the option to take it later in high school. I was disheartened by this because I struggled with algebra 1 in high school and even now in college. If it weren't for the basic math class I took in eighth grade, I would have lacked the skills necessary to progress to algebra. Everyone learns at their own pace and we all possess different strengths. I wouldn't have been able to pass an algebra class in middle school; however, that in no way reflects my abilities as a student overall. I am entering my second year of college in a few weeks, and I am proud to say I have received straight A's in all of my college courses. I do not want to see a student be denied access to high school or college because they are not proficient in every subject when they are talented in others.

Quality Education for All!

From our Summer Intern, Heidi:

In the recently published New York Times article "A School District That Takes the Isolation Out of Autism," Garner Moss (a teenage boy with autism) in the Madison school district shows how including disabled children in classes with regular students can yield positive results. Despite experiencing some troubles in his daily life, (such as tying his track shoes) Moss possesses many other talents. Unfortunately, the funding for the Madison school district is being cut, which puts Moss's education in jeopardy. This is because in order to attend regular classes and succeed as an athlete, Moss often needs an aide to assist him. Nonetheless, it would undermine the purpose of public education in America for him to receive less of an education than he deserves. He is attending school in order to become a contributing member of society; however, he can not do so without being socialized around regular students. It is crucial that adolescents with disabilities such as Moss continue to receive the help they need if the United States wants to be not only a socially just nation, but also a globally competitive one.

SAT prep workshops begin July 26th!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to conquer the SAT test! Within just TEN SESSIONS you can improve your score!

Looking to improve your math score, but scared to death of geometry? Can't ever remember anything from those long, 'boring' critical reading passages? Hate writing, or feel that you have a limited vocabulary? This class will simplify all of that, making it easier for you.

What if I told you there is a proven strategy to master the SAT?

What if I told you that the 'intimidation' most people associate with the SAT can be overcome, and that, come test day, you will be brimming with confidence, certain that you will do well !

This class focuses on reorienting your mind toward the SAT by breaking down each section and showing the secrets to 'SAT thinking.' Students learn that the SAT has a pattern that can be learned, like many other standardized tests. We do a wealth of diverse sample problems to ensure each student's comfort with the patterns and expectations of the SAT. You'll know exactly what to expect, and exactly what the SAT wants from you. The result: extreme confidence, no more intimidation !

Don't let Chemistry scare you!

Tutorpedia's chemistry workshops make science interesting and easy to understand. Classes begin July 26th so sign up now!

Headstart to Chemistry Excellence is a workshop that will prepare students for success in high school chemistry courses. It will be taught by an experienced Chemistry Workshop Instructor, and will include an in depth look at fundamental chemistry principles using easy-to-understand problems. This interactive, project-based workshop will focus on how students can overcome common pitfalls that happen at all levels of chemistry, and strengthen students' core understanding of essential topics in chemistry. Examples of these topics include dimensional analysis, bonding theory, chemical formulas, and more. Students will develop strategic study skills that will enable them to efficiently study for future courses in high school and college. In addition, they will leave the workshop with a study guide they created to assist them with their upcoming chemistry course. This workshop will benefit students tremendously, giving them the confidence and understanding they need to excel in high school chemistry!

Improv Comedy workshop starts this month!

Hurry! Space is limited for Tutorpedia's Improv Comedy workshop! Classes begin on July 26th

Ever wanted to be hilarious? Well, this is your chance! Veteran actor, writer-director and arts educator Joshua Williams is offering an Introduction to Improv Comedy workshop that's guaranteed to have you booked at Second City in no time. We'll start with the absolute basics -- character-creation and mime -- and work up towards full-fledged set pieces the likes of which can be seen on Who's Line Is It, Anyway?

Throughout, we will used an approach derived from the Theatre Games methodology pioneered by Viola Spolin -- which means our sessions will be zany, action-packed and fun! Whether you're an experienced performer or a total newbie -- if you love thinking on your feet and making people laugh, this is the class for you!

Master the Art of Essay Writing! Workshops begin July 12!

Does the thought of writing an essay give you anxiety? It doesn't have to; mastering this essential academic skill is easier and more fun than you think. If you're looking to get a head start on your high school writing requirements, or would just like to refine your techniques to master the 10 page essay in a night, this workshop is for you. In this workshop, you will get a chance to work through the formats and conventions of several different types of essays from expository to epistolary, as well as develop your skills using persuasive evidence and literary interpretation. You'll also master the nuts and bolts of the five-paragraph format, which you'll find useful when you take the SAT or write your college application essay. This course offers a plethora of writings from a diverse pantheon of writers to enable students to see all the fun they've been missing out on in their previous essay-writing. Particular emphasis will be placed on the expressive nature of language itself, while several stylistic conventions (from hyperbole to poetic invocation) will be taught and practiced by students as you critique one another's work.

Brush up on your writing skills while having fun!

BEGINNING FICTION WRITING CLASSES START JULY 12TH!

Like to use your imagination? Like telling stories that crack-up your friends or leave a stranger gripped and wanting more? Like to read cool things? If so, then you'll be interested in writing fiction. Maybe you already write, or maybe you just want to try it out--either way this is the place for you. In my workshop you will learn the essential elements of writing fiction that will be the foundation you build upon whether you want to write serious literary fiction or fun genre fiction like sci-fi and fantasy. You will see that being a good writer begins with being a good reader. In addition to looking at the work of professional fiction writers for tips and tricks, we will be "workshopping" each other's stories. Workshopping is the core feature of any serious creative writing class and "to workshop" means that you will read your classmaters' stories carefully and thoughtfully and afterwards offer supportive feedback and constructive criticism. In return you will receive the same invaluable help from them. Everyone will have the chance to have a draft of his or her story workshopped by the class with the intention being that the feedback you receive will help you to write a stronger second draft. The completion of this revised draft of your story is the end project of the class. On the last day, we will compile everyone's stories to create an on-line literary journal.

Be Prepared for the SAT test!

HURRY! SAT workshops begin Monday June 21st!

Looking to improve your math score, but scared to death of geometry? Can't ever remember anything from those long, 'boring' critical reading passages? Hate writing, or feel that you have a limited vocabulary? This class will simplify all of that, making it easier for you.

What if I told you there is a proven strategy to master the SAT?

What if I told you that the 'intimidation' most people associate with the SAT can be overcome, and that, come test day, you will be brimming with confidence, certain that you will do well !

This class focuses on reorienting your mind toward the SAT by breaking down each section and showing the secrets to 'SAT thinking.' Students learn that the SAT has a pattern that can be learned, like many other standardized tests. We do a wealth of diverse sample problems to ensure each student's comfort with the patterns and expectations of the SAT. You'll know exactly what to expect, and exactly what the SAT wants from you. The result: extreme confidence, no more intimidation !

Summer Guitar Workshop

 Sign up now! Tutorpedia's summer guitar workshop starts on Monday June 21st

Everyone has their own song to sing, but few people actually do it. In the age of sampled production and Guitar Hero video games, fewer and fewer people have a good idea as to what it takes to actually make music. If you have a song that you and your guitar want to get out to the world, then this is the workshop for you! In this workshop, we will work on skills that will make you a better guitarist and songwriter. We will use the music of the Beatles (or other modern popular music) as a springboard to examine what makes a good song, certain aspects of music theory, how to play by ear, how to jam with ensembles, how to improvise, and more. We will work on putting original twists to well-known songs, selecting songs to work on in duets, and eventually you will be writing and recording your own songs that you can post to the Internet for the world to hear! This workshop is intended for beginners, but all styles and ability levels are welcome. You will need to supply your own guitar. The workshop will be for acoustic instruments only.

A Summer of Enriching Learning Experiences!

Summer is just around the corner! For students, summer is a great opportunity to try new things and participate in fun activities. It's a time to relax, but it should also be a time that is full of enriching learning experiences.

This summer, we are very excited to offer over 30 workshops that are designed to be fun and engaging, but also to build essential skills that students can use in school, work, and life. Every workshop culminates in a final project or performance that they’ll be able to share with peers, parents, friends, and the world. In the coming weeks, The Thick Envelope will feature posts about our workshops that will be offered this summer.

We are happy to hold our summer workshops at Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, CA from June 7 - August 6. There will be four sessions of workshops. Each session lasts two weeks (June 7-18, June 21-July 2, July 12-23, July 26-Aug 6) and has a morning (10am-12pm) and afternoon (1pm-3pm) period, so there’s plenty of opportunity for students to take more than one workshop!

Tutorpedia Workshops are:

• Real (Project-based). At the end of every workshop, students will have made, done, performed, accomplished, or completed something that they can show to their family and friends.
• Relevant (Authentic). Students will not just be learning about something; they will be actively constructing their understanding and skills in a real context.
• Rigorous (but fun). Workshop authors have chosen the topics they are teaching. Not only are they passionate about their subject matter, they are experts in teaching it.
• Built on Relationships (Personalized). Like Tutorpedia’s 1-1 tutoring, small-group workshops take into account the needs and wants of every student who participates. Enrollment in workshops is kept small to ensure that nobody gets left behind or slips through the cracks. Workshops typically involve 6-10 students and last 12-20 hours (6-10 two hour sessions), but they can be as long or as short as the author wants.
• Enriching. Students cultivate essential skills and habits of mind in a fun, extracurricular context, and they have the chance to work collaboratively with peers who share their interests

Tutorpedia's summer workshops are a great and affordable learning opportunity for students that will help them keep their minds sharp, meet other students from all over the Bay Area, and have a great time learning this summer. For more information, or to enroll, please call us at (415) 948-1585, email davidtaus@tutorpedia.com, or visit our website.

Hope to see you this summer!

The Thick Email: Dealing with Acceptance (and Rejection)

There's a great article in the Huffington Post last month posted by the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions of Yale University, giving good advice to those who are now receiving their letters and emails from the myriad schools to which they applied. The entire article can be found here, but the main points are worth repeating for those who are in the process of dealing with what to do next...

• There is one and only one good answer to any rejection letter you receive, dream school or not: "Your loss, baby."
  
• Every one of your colleges has infinitely more opportunities to offer than you could pursue in a lifetime
• Wipe out every assumption you have made up to this point about these schools
• Go back for another visit to the schools you are seriously considering
• Ask those you know and care about to give you their honest impressions of the schools that admitted you
  
• Think about who is funding your college, and go back to make sure the finances still add up
• Remember above all else that no college is going to be paradise, and that all colleges have something truly outstanding to offer you

It's all about finding the right fit. Whether a romantic relationship, a full-time job, or where you'll spend the next few years of your life - find the right fit for you.

College Roundatble #4

This month's Roundtable question is posed to Matt Spooner, admissions officer at American Jewish University:

How has the economy affected admissions decisions, enrollment decisions, and financial aid determinations at your school? More specifically, has your school admitted more students or fewer, have you seen enrollment increase or decrease, and have you given more or less financial aid since the downturn?

While the economy hasn’t impacted the way AJU’s Admissions Team arrives at admissions decisions, we have noticed a significant climb in the number inquiries about scholarships and financial aid from prospective students and their families. This trend, coupled with our sensitivity toward the financial strain that so many of us are facing, has resulted in us giving more financial aid in recent years. In fact, AJU was recently recognized as one of the top 13 colleges and universities on The Princeton Review’s “Financial Aid Rating Honor Roll,” a first for our university and a sign that we’re working our way through some very difficult financial straits.

As a private institution with a solid financial grounding, AJU has been able to weather the downturn quite well. On average, we’ve admitted and enrolled more students over the past few months than we have during the past few years. Much of this can be attributed to our ability to be generous with scholarships and financial aid, a “must have” even for a low-tuition high-discount university like AJU.

New Website - Videos, Books, & Summer Workshops!

Check out our new website: www.tutorpedia.com.













View our new videos, books, and sign up for summer workshops at Sacred Heart Prep.

And for reflection...