The future of education

Last week I watched a conversation about U.S. competitiveness and investments in education today and concerns for the future.  This was hosted on CSPAN-2 for Center for American Progress.  I found the statistics alarming when comparing the United States to up and coming China and India.  In the next 10 years, this panel predicts major changes if we do not improve our education system.  They also stated that the people now retiring are better educated than the young people entering the job market today. 

The emphasis was on making an investment in education, paying particular attention to K through 12.  There is mention of early childhood (birth to 3), but I didn’t get the impression there is all that much focus on it.  Could that be because it’s too hard to capture that audience if these babies are not sent to a facility?  I emailed one of the people on the panel with this concern and there was an agreement that early childhood education is “extraordinarily important.” 

Know how to keep PK-K kids quiet?

Summer camp is over – know how to get and keep the attention of PK-K kids?  It’s so easy and anyone can do it.  I finished two weeks at the Hmong Culture and Language Camp where I had the opportunity to work with the youngest of campers.  Some were shy, some not so shy, and some that didn’t speak English.  With a gradual daily introduction of signs, we built our vocabulary by learning Hmong history, even added two songs that were sung at the celebration that ends camp.  The last couple of days of camp, I was able to stand in front of the kids and start signing one of the songs they learned without verbalizing anything.  And the next thing that happened?  The noisy kids noticed an unusual thing.  Quiet.  Those that were talking stopped and joined in with the others.  Even the non-English speaking students were able to be part of the group by signing as well.  And oh the smiles, did I mention the smiles.  Smiles came from even the shyest of campers.

Incorporate some signing today, see if it will help connect with little ones – and oh, have some fun! www.TalkingWithBaby.com