ESL | Imagine This!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Utah Compact: Immigration and education

In November 2010, several Utah government, business, religious, and civic leaders met and drafted a document meant to guide Utah’s discussion on immigration reform. This document, the Utah Compact, is a declaration of five principles that reflect the shared values of those who signed it as well as the people and organizations they represent.

At a time when immigration is such a contentious issue in this country, the Utah Compact has been heralded by many for its moderate and cooperative tone. The New York Times said, “A clearer expression of good sense and sanity than Utah’s would be hard to find.”

So what does this have to do with education?

Posted by Carter in EdTech, English Learners, ESL, Imagine Learning English, In the news | 1 Comment »

Monday, January 17, 2011

The difference a year makes: Israa’s story

As part of our One Year Later series, we’re sharing the stories of four students who have made remarkable progress with Imagine Learning English in just one year. This is the fourth post in a four-part series; read part one here, part two here, and part three here.

Like Khalid, Israa was not part of our original filming plan when we visited Place Bridge Academy in November 2009. It was Israa’s teacher, Della Hoffman, who introduced us to Israa. She had moved to the United States from Iraq earlier that year and, in just a short time, had benefited significantly from using Imagine Learning English.

Israa
Back in November 2009, Ms. Hoffman led us to the computer lab where Israa and her class were using Imagine Learning English. While it is not uncommon to hear students talking and singing, blissfully unaware of their surroundings as they listen to the computer through headphones, I remember walking into that room and immediately hearing one student singing louder than the rest: Israa.

Posted by Carter in ESL | 4 Comments »

Friday, January 14, 2011

Language = Power

With the national holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday approaching, I took the opportunity to listen to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which I had never listened to in its entirety. Listening to that speech reminded me of something: I love language. I love words and the art of finding the perfect words to express the exact thought I want to communicate. I love hearing others use words to paint colorful visions, persuade my thinking, touch my emotions, and communicate truth to my soul. For me, language and the ability to truly communicate are very special and cherished gifts.

I lost that gift once, and it was quite a traumatic experience. Read more »

Posted by Jim in ESL | 1 Comment »

Monday, January 10, 2011

The difference a year makes: Khalid’s story

As part of our One Year Later series, we’re sharing the stories of four students who have made remarkable progress with Imagine Learning English in just one year. This is the second post in a four-part series; read part one here.

In November 2009, I met Khalid Ali. We hadn’t actually planned on filming Khalid’s story – his teacher, Susan Rudolph, was speaking with us about a different student, but in the course of our interview she mentioned a boy from Yemen who was using Imagine Learning English.

Posted by Carter in EdTech, English Learners, ESL | 5 Comments »

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Winter break reading: 10 favorite education books

If you’re like me, reading is something you’re passionate about. But it’s also the one thing that always gets bumped to the bottom of the to-do list. Scratch that. On most days, reading doesn’t even make it to the to-do list. So when holidays come around, I count those days as my time to catch up on some page turning. I’ve planned, prepared, shopped, wrapped, delivered, and packed. I’m ready for our holiday road trip and excited to have some uninterrupted reading time in the car. Now all I need is a good book list to guide my reading choices.

So I asked our instructional designers what books they’d recommend. Here’s a list of our top suggestions for your winter break reading list.

10 Favorite Education Books:

Milton Chen. Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools. (2010)
Linda Darling-Hammond. The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future. (2009)
Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz. The Race between Education and Technology. (2008)
Wendy Kopp. One Day, All Children: The Unlikely Triumph of Teach for America and What I Learned Along the Way. (2001)
Jay Mathews. Work Hard. Be Nice.: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America. (2009)
Deborah Meier. In Schools We Trust: Creating Communities of Learning in an Era of Testing and Standardization. (2002)
National Research Council. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School. (2000)
Diane Ravitch. The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. (2010)
Theodore R. Sizer and Nancy Faust Sizer. The Students Are Watching: Schools and the Moral Contract. (2000)
James W. Stigler. The Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World’s Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom. (1999)

But why stop at ten? Here are a few extras we couldn’t resist adding:

Donna Foote. Relentless Pursuit: A Year in the Trenches with Teach for America. (2008)
Shirley Sagawa. The American Way to Change: How National Service and Volunteers Are Transforming America. (2010)
Paul Tough. Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America. (2008)

I know I’m stopping at the library on my way out of town. What will you be reading over the next few days and weeks? Do you have any books you’d recommend adding to our favorites list?