This half hour Caucus Up Close program examines innovative approaches to dealing with low literacy particularly among urban kids. The panel looks at the problem and programs that are working like Verizon’s Thinkfinity and others. The program starts out with a tape piece highlighting Verizon’s Thinkfinity program and then the panel broadens the discussion to identify what illiteracy is, how big is the problem, economic impact, traditional and new approaches to teaching literacy.
Tape Piece: The program begins with a tape piece produced by Paula M. Levine highlighting Thinkfinity, which is designed to improve learning in traditional settings and beyond the classroom by providing high-caliber content and professional development needed to improve student achievement anytime, anywhere at no coat. The gives an overview of what the program is, who it's for, and how it works. We interview Theresa Gibbon, who is a teacher/trainer of the program. She will be our "expert", giving us the details of the program, explaining what makes it so unique, and showing us how it can help "low literacy" kids. We'll also see her in action working with a group of "in service" (ie. student) teachers. Our second interview with be with John Kline, the NJ "teacher of the year". He has three kids who have already benefitted by it. We'll talk with him, and see him working with these kids.
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Barbara Rodriguez |
Laura Ingoglia |
Karen Warner |
Dennis Bone |
Guests:
Barbara Rodriguez – a mom and also a basic literacy student with Literacy Volunteers of Mercer County, New Jersey.
Laura Ingoglia – who edits teacher’s resource guides for New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Karen Warner – who is the New Jersey Coordinator for Thinkfinity.
Dennis Bone – President of Verizon New Jersey, an organization with a long history of supporting literacy initiatives.
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