13 Reasons Why Teachers Are Appreciated May 9th is National Teacher Appreciation Day, a time to show our thanks to teachers for all they do. In honor of this day and of teachers in general, I asked others about why they value teachers. I interviewed children, parents and grandparents, including Joan Duffell, Executive Director of Committee for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the safety and well-being of children through social-emotional learning and development. Of course, I added in my thoughts too. In total, 13 of us share why we appreciate teachers, and we mean every last word!… Read More
SXSWedu 2017 Recap: Social-Emotional Learning and Equity Take Center Stage at Annual EdTech Conference Last week, Committee for Children had the privilege of attending SXSWedu in Austin, TX. The annual conference draws over 10,000 educators, academics, and professionals from around the world to discuss hot topics in the education technology (EdTech) field.… Read More
Can Minecraft Teach Conflict Resolution Skills? Minecraft is one of the most played video games of all time, loved by kids, parents, and educators alike. It is a fun environment for building, collaborating, and solving problems. What started as an indie game that enabled players to build and craft on their own homegrown servers, Minecraft has grown into a global phenomenon that is transforming how educators think about project-based learning for topics like coding, game design, and engineering. … Read More
Teaching Self-Regulation Through Smart Toys Many toys have educational value, but have you ever heard of a smart toy? Smart toys are different from traditional toys in that they often include tiny computers that allow them to track data or provide feedback to kids as they play.… Read More
Annual Advocacy Day – A Success! On Wednesday, February 8, 2017, Committee for Children held their annual Advocacy Day. In spite of snow, sleet, and rain (no flooding or pestilence, thankfully), CFC took a hearty crowd of 20 people to meet with 34 legislators and/or their staff. We were very lucky to have a number of young people go with us this year as well; they are always the stars of the show!… Read More
Safe Children Thriving in a Peaceful World: The Committee for Children Story Maurice J. Elias, director of Rutgers University’s Social-Emotional Learning Lab and longtime proponent of social-emotional learning and supporter of Committee for Children, describes his thoughts on CFC’s impact on the community at large. … Read More
Restorative Justice Panel Sponsored by CFC at Citizen U Event Over 500 people from around the country attended the annual Citizen University held in Seattle March 18–19, 2016. Center stage this year was the question “Who is US?”, focusing on race, identity, and what it means to be American in this century. Presentations covered a wide array of topics, ranging from looking at pop culture, the effects of poverty, and the power of race. Committee for Children sponsored a panel titled “Restorative Justice Now.”… Read More
At the Local Level Efforts here in WA State to make SEL a requirement in schools have had bipartisan support in the legislature. Across the country in MA, their pioneering SEL Alliance for Massachusetts is planning their fourth annual conference.… Read More
Congressional Briefing, New Bill on Social-Emotional Learning What’s Happening On April 30, 2014, Seattle-based Committee for Children and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) hosted a congressional briefing that focused on effective social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in all stages of the educational system from preschool through college… … Read More