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Action News, Spring 2010

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2008-2009 ANNUAL REPORT

It's official!

New gold-standard study shows our 4Rs Program helps kids do better socially, emotionally & academically.

Top researchers at New York University, Fordham University, and Harvard have published their findings from a three-year, federally funded study of Morningside Center's 4Rs Program (Reading, Writing, Respect & Resolution). The study tracked the development of children in nine New York City elementary schools that implemented the program compared with children in nine control schools.

Findings from the first two years of the study are now official: Compared with children in the control schools, children in the 4Rs schools were less hyperactive, less aggressive, and saw their social world as less hostile. They were happier and more likely to resolve interpersonal problems competently.

What's more, during the first year children judged to be at greatest behavioral risk by their teachers had better attendance than their counterparts in the control schools and made better academic progress as rated by teachers. By the second year, they were also doing better on standardized tests. In addition, 4Rs schools had significantly higher levels of overall classroom quality compared to control schools.

• Learn more about The 4Rs
• Read the details of The 4Rs study
  
  

What's New on TeachableMoment.Org

TeachableMoment.Org, Morningside Center's website of free teacher resources, provides timely, inquiry-oriented lessons on issues of the day. Newly posted items include:

CHECKING FACTS WITH SNOPES, FACTCHECK & POLITIFACT (7/14/10) The internet is loaded with information--but much of it is inaccurate. Three student readings examine three reliable factchecking sources--Snopes, FactCheck, and PolitiFact. Discussion questions, writing assignments and opportunities for group work follow.

ACTIVITIES TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL YEAR (6/23/10) (for all grades) Five activities use different methodologies to help you and your students reflect on the year and look ahead to next year.

SHOULD US OFFICIALS & HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BE INVESTIGATED FOR WAR CRIMES? (6/23/10) Three student readings consider a new study by Physicians for Human Rights of the Bush administration's use of health professionals to monitor "enhanced" interrogations, reactions to the issue, and historical examples of medical experimentation. Discussion questions and suggestions for other activities follow.

THE TEXAS SOCIAL STUDIES CONTROVERSY (6/16/10) Students learn about the Texas Board of Education's controversial new standards and consider whether they approve of ten items included in the new standards.

GULF OIL SPILL: What happened, and who is responsible? (for younger grades) (6/9/10) Students discuss the massive BP oil spill and view two short videos as they consider what happened in the gulf, their own consumption of oil, and who should be held responsible for the spill.

REFORMING WALL STREET & Its Booms, Bubbles & Busts (6/9/10) Three student readings outline the near collapse of the U.S. financial system, the deceptiveactions of brokers and banks, and the financial reform bills Congress is nowo considering.

SHOULD A PRESIDENT HAVE THE RIGHT TO EAVESDROP ON YOU? (6/2/10) Three student readings explore the legal conflict over whether the government can claim "state secrets privilege" to tap people's phones, review email, and examine internet usage. Discussion questions and suggested activities follow.

THE GULF CATASTROPHE (5/21/10) An introduction and three student readings explore the vast BP spill, who is responsible, and problems with the Minerals Management Service.

ARIZONA'S CONTROVERSIAL NEW IMMIGRATION LAW (5/12/10) Three student readings consider the law, a new poll on immigration policies, and the story of one undocumented immigrant. Discussion questions, a pair-share dialogue, and suggested additional activities follow.

JERUSALEM: Divided City in a Divided Land. (5/5/10) Three student readings explore the Israeli/Palestinian conflict over Jerusalem, tensions between the US and Israel over the issue, and how it affects US relations with Arab nations and peoples.

PHOEBE PRINCE'S SUICIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE PRESSING ISSUE OF BULLYING (4/28/10) Two student readings describe the events leading to the young girl's suicide, the depth of the bullying problem and an approach to countering it. Following the readings is an outline for small group discussion in which students share their experiences with bullying and discuss what their school is doing or should do to counter bullying.

President Obama: 'TOWARD A WORLD WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS' (4/21/10) An introduction and two student readings explore Obama's pledge to move toward nuclear abolition, obstacles to it, and current analysis from author Jonathan Schell. Discussion questions and suggestions for further inquiry and citizenship activities follow.

SAME-SEX PROM DATE: A Civil Liberties Issue (4/14/10) Constance McMillen, who is lesbian, wanted to attend her senior prom with her girlfriend. A student reading describes the controversy and court ruling that ensued. Discussion questions and a writing assignment follow.

A VERY CONTROVERSIAL HEALTH INSURANCE LAW (4/7/10) Student readings provide an overview of the new health insurance legislation and conflicting views about it. Discussion questions and a writing assignment follow.

NEW BILL EASES STUDENT DEBT - But Maybe College Should be Free (3/31/10) A student reading describes the problem of college debt and provisions of the new reform law. A second reading presents arguments comparing college debt to indentured servitude and calling for free college education. Discussion questions and writing and citizenship actions follow.

CLIMATE CHANGE CONTROVERSY (3/24/10) Alan Shapiro offers a process (including two student readings) to help students conduct a rigorous inquiry into the controversy over climate change.

THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT: 'Take our country back' (3/17/10) In three readings, students explore the origins of the movement, its anti-government anger, its alliances, and consider its relationship to what historian Richard Hofstadter called 'The Paranoid Style in American Politics.' Discussion questions and subjects for inquiry and writing follow.

ANY MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL: The case of Binyam Mohamed (3/17/10) Three student readings examine the story of this British resident,who was recently released after being held by the U.S. for seven years as a suspected terrorist. Discussion questions, a proposed fish bowl discussion, and suggested subjects for further inquiry and for writing and citizenship follow.

FIGHTING TERRORISM vs. THE RULE OF LAW (3/3/10) Two student readings consider the controversy over the Bush administration attorneys who counseled that 'enhanced interrogation techniques' were legal.

HAITI: Still in Crisis, but No Longer in the News (2/24/10) Marieke van Woerkom's activity helps younger students consider how Haitians are faring now that the news media has largely moved on.

U.S. ECONOMIC HARDSHIP & What to Do About It (2/17/10) Through three readings, students examine U.S. joblessness and hunger as well as the country's huge deficit, then consider conflicting views on how to address these problems. Discussion questions and suggestions for further inquiry and citizenship projects follow.

WHY DO TERRORISTS WANT TO KILL AMERICANS? (2/9/10) Exploring the "why" of terrorist attacks is controversial in the U.S. Three student readings explore this controversy--and terrorists' possible motives.

HOWARD ZINN: People's Historian (2/3/10) The important and often controversial historian and social movement activist Howard Zinn died on January 27. A student reading about the man and his ideas is followed by discussion questions and suggestions for further inquiry and citizenship.

Supreme Court Rejects Limits on CORPORATE ELECTION SPENDING (1/27/10) A student quiz, reading and discussion explore the court's role in interpreting the Constitution and its recent decision to lift limits on corporate & union election ad spending.

HAITI CRISIS (1/19/10) Help your students learn about the earthquake and Haiti's history, and brainstorm about how they can help Haitians now and in the long run.
High School: DEVASTATION IN HAITI
Elementary & Middle School: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HAITI?

STONES INTO SCHOOLS (1/20/10) Alan Shapiro reviews the new book by Greg Mortenson, whose mission is to "promote peace through books, not bombs" in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King: THE POWER OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE (1/13/10) Through engaging activities, video, and small-group discussion, elementary or middle school students consider the Montgomery Bus Boycott and how they might stand up against injustice in their own lives.

THE DRONE STRIKE CONTROVERSY (1/13/10) Two student readings explore the controversy over the use of remotely-piloted aircraft to drop bombs in the Afghanistan/Pakistan war. Discussion questions, a fish bowl activity and a writing assignment follow.

The SENATE FILIBUSTER & DEMOCRACY (1/6/10) A classroom activity has students simulate a US Senate filibuster. Two student readings then explore the Senate's less-than-democratic 60-vote rule and possible methods for reforming it. Discussion questions, writing and citizenship activities follow.

BRINGING THE IRAQ WAR TO A 'RESPONSIBLE END' (12/29/09) Three student readings and discussion questions probe current conditions in Iraq and the U.S.'s moral responsibilities there.