It takes a village to raise a child, and that was the thinking behind the new Universal 9th grade (U9) at Berkeley High where a “Redesign Team” spent the past three years researching and designing proverbial villages or “hives” as the new model for 9th grade. Starting in the 2018-19 school year, entering 9th grade […]
First Visit to the Universal 9th Grade (U9) at Berkeley High
Berkeley High School is big. With 3,200 students and a campus covering four city blocks, navigating your way through Berkeley High School is an intimidating prospect. I was there to learn about the Universal 9th Grade, which some people liken to a “soft landing” at Berkeley High, and it already seemed like a good idea. […]
World Peace Game: Transforming Peace From a Dream to a Goal
When the problems of the world are overwhelming and hope seems out of reach, what do you do as a teacher, knowing that students will inherit a world rife with complex issues? If you’re Bruce Glaseroff, 5th grade teacher at Washington Elementary, you first apologize for the state of the world that adults have created. […]
Summer Reading Jumpstarts Their Future!
How do you provide a child with a round-trip ticket to anywhere in the world—from the highest of mountaintops to the depths of the ocean? Reading offers students not only unlimited travel, but boundless knowledge and exploration that allows a growing mind to thrive. Reading during the summer vacation is especially important for young readers, […]
Striking it Rich: Gold Rush Plays at Berkeley Arts Magnet
How did 30 fourth graders at Berkeley Arts Magnet collaboratively work on writing a script, auditioning and performing a play successfully? With a lot of time, practice and guidance from their teacher, Ms. Madhuvanti Khare. This month, Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM) fourth graders performed two plays set during the Gold Rush and we were lucky […]
Blackberry Creek Science Program: From Education to Action!
We recently visited Thousand Oaks Elementary School to observe the Creek Science program in action. The lesson took place at the nearby Blackberry Creek located just west of the campus. The hands-on and highly interactive Blackberry Creek Science Program is supported by a Strategic Impact Grant, involving all Thousand Oaks Elementary K-3rd graders in a grade-appropriate […]
Digital Microscopes Unite Science & Art
We visited a 4th and 5th grade science class at Malcolm X to observe students participating in two interactive science grants awarded in the 2017-18 school year, one for digital microscopes, and the other for nature journaling and sketching. Debra Hill, Malcolm X science teacher, was giving a lesson to 4th and 5th graders on protozoans […]
3D Printers: To Creativity and Beyond!
King Middle School computer teacher, Mr. Frank Torrano, has a vision and it involves computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printers and boundless creativity to help students leap into the increasingly digital future. When we visited Mr. Torrano’s Digital Media class to see what impact our Classroom Grant for software and 3D printers was having, we were […]
From Trauma to Peace: Mindfulness Program at Willard Middle School
Once a week at Willard Middle School, there’s an unexpected sight of a classroom full of students sitting still with their eyes closed. With the support of our Strategic Impact Grant, Willard Middle School has implemented a weekly Dynamic Mindfulness program where students engage in mindful ABCs (Actions, Behaviors, and Centering) during their Advisory period. […]
Music and Movement at the King Child Development Center
Before the winter break, we visited another Strategic Impact Grant “in action”, this time at the King Child Development Center (CDC) where transitional kindergarteners are taking a weekly dance class through the “Transitional Kindergarten Dance Collaborative” grant. Prior to the class starting, the children were eager to dance and move their bodies, their faces glowing with […]
