Pearson Foundation Blog

The Snowy Day is Chosen as Official 2010 Read for the Record Book!

2010-03-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

Thousands of Americans have shown their ongoing commitment to ending the crisis in early literacy by picking up their cell phones and voting for Jumpstart’s Read for the Record’s official campaign book. Today, we announced, along with Jumpstart and the Penguin Young Readers Group, that The Snowy Day by Ezra John Keats has been selected as the official book to be read by millions on Thursday, October 7, 2010.

To learn more, please visit:

http://www.pearsoned.com/press/2010/03/11/america-chooses-the-snowy-day-as-campaign-book-for-jumpstarts-read-for-the-record-2010.htm

Jane Goodall to Receive Atlas Award

2010-03-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

We learned earlier that Jane Goodall would be receiving the prestigious Atlas award from the Association of American Geographers, and it couldn't go to someone more deserving. Our work with the Jane Goodall Institute has given us a deeper understanding of this amazing individual, and we're thrilled for her and for JGI.The Atlas Award is designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding accomplishments that advance world understanding in exceptional ways, and the image of Atlas bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders is a powerful metaphor for this award program; nominees are those who have taken the weight of the world on their shoulders and moved it forward, whether in science, politics, scholarship, the arts, or in war and peace.

To learn more, please visit:http://www.aag.org/annualmeetings/2010/speakers/goodall.htm

Calistoga Students Collecting Pennies for Haiti

2010-03-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

The Pennies for Peace movement continues to gather momentum, and in this instance, it's stretching all the way from Calistoga, California to Haiti. Following in the footsteps of so many children before them who have collected tens of thousands of pennies for children in Afghanistan, young people from Calistoga Elementary School established February as "Pennies for Haiti Month" and have been collecting pennies for those who need them ever since.

To learn more about this heart-warming and inspirational story, visit http://www.weeklycalistogan.com/articles/2010/03/04/news/local/doc4b8efa5c5d900994765037.txt

The Digital World of Young Children

2010-03-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

At the annual Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) International Symposium, we released a research white paper today called “The Digital World of Young Children: Emergent Literacy,” which discusses the effects of digital media on young children’s learning. Authored by early childhood education experts, Arizona State University’s Jay Blanchard and Terry Moore, the white paper examines the latest research on how young children learn using increasingly personalized and mobile media, including cell phones, television, video games, smart devices, and computers. The report focuses on the impact of these new ways of learning and highlights the degree to which these emergent literacies are rooted in young people’s use of common-place mobile devices - especially in developing and least-developed nations.

Want to learn more? Check it out here:http://www.pearsoned.com/press/2010/03/01/pearson-foundation-releases-new-research-on-digital-literacy-among-young-children.htm

Declaration of Independence on Display in Arizona

2010-02-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

As you may already know, The Declaration of Independence exhibit we're supporting is currently making its way across the country and is currently at the state capital of Arizona, where it's receiving a great deal of fanfare and viewings. The exhibit is made possible by a partnership between the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, Arizona Capitol Museum, National Student/Parent Mock Election, Pearson Foundation and Declare Yourself.

To read an article featured on Phoenix's ABC affiliate Website, please visit: http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Declaration-of-Independence-on-display-at-Arizona/UpbMwb8xo0upbIO7jirAQg.cspx

Bush Family Helps Raise $1.6 Million for Reading Event

2010-02-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

President George H.W. Bush, son Jeb, and others from the Bush family provided their support for a Celebration of Reading event held in Estero, Florida last week, helping guide it to success. The Celebration of Reading, now in its tenth year, benefits the Family Literacy Initiative, which funds reading initiatives and helps place books in the hands of families that can scarcely afford them. Other notable figures in attendance included Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson, to best-selling suspense author Mary Higgins Clark, who published her first novel while working full-time and her daughter was still in college. Her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, now a novelist of her own renown, was also featured.

To read a feature story and to watch a short video on this successful event, please visit: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/feb/12/george-hw-bush-jeb-celebrate-reading-estero/

Cast Your Vote for Read for the Record

2010-02-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

Along with Jumpstart, we're initiating an online/mobile voting campaign that invites the public to vote for the official campaign book for this year’s Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. The winning book that receives the most votes will be announced in March and will become the centerpiece of Jumpstart’s fifth annual record-breaking campaign that helps combat the crisis in early literacy. We'll post the link to the campaign as soon as it's live!

To learn more, visit:

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/family/article/read-for-the-record/

Three Cups of Tea Makes Houston's KRIV News

2010-02-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

Three Cups of Tea author and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greg Mortenson was in Houston visiting the AWTY international school and was interviewed on a number of television stations, including Fox 26. His efforts continue to make a remarkable difference in the lives of young children around the world, as there are now greater than 8 million children in school in Afghanistan versus a million a decade ago.

To view a short clip from KRVI, visit
http://www.criticalmention.com/ctv3-1/landing_email.php?type=email&video=true&random_string=7120f9ba0e7fafca4efcd0a463cd3620
and click the top left blue link that reads, "Click here to play clip".

Declaration of Independence Road Trip Spurs Press Coverage

2010-02-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

As you may already know, approximately 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence were originally created on July 4, 1776 to spread the word among the 13 colonies of independence from the British Empire. Now, through support from Pearson Foundation, this powerfully important document is on tour through the "Declaration of Independence Road Trip" and recently made a stop at Anderson High School in Northwest Austin Friday. The document is one of only 26 surviving copies of the Declaration of Independence and predates the original, hand-written and signed Declaration of Independence housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

To read more about this historic and unique showing, please visit: http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=265960

Pearson Foundation Partners with New Leaders for New Schools

2010-02-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

We're proud to announce that we'll be supporting the New Leaders for New Schools organization during the next three years. Part of this partnership will be used to fund the three-year training terms of 15 new high school principals under the auspices of a program to be known as Pearson Fellows. NLNS will select the individuals who will participate in the program, and these "principals in training" will participate in urban school leadership development programs in New York, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, to improve student achievement and educator leadership.

To learn more about why New Leaders for New Schools is unique in its efforts, watch the short video below:

JGI and Google Partner to Make a Difference

2010-01-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

Our friends at the Jane Goodall Institute recently released a highly informative video, "Speaking for the Forests: Indigenous Communities & Google Earth -- Partnering in REDD," which highlights how local communities can use the latest technology to help save their forests, support each other and inform national and global decisions regarding climate change, regardless of their geographic location. To learn more about this interesting venture, take a few moments and check out the eye-opening video below:

Pearson Foundation Teams Up with Oxfam

2010-01-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of your generous contributions for aid for the typhoon disaster in Vietnam, we have been able to contribute to the massive, worldwide efforts currently being endeavored by Oxfam. To learn more, watch the short video below:

How It All Began for PeaceJam

2010-01-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

We've been involved with the PeaceJam organization for quite some time now, and we recently noticed that the video below has been marked as a "Favorite" on pages throughout Facebook. We thought you'd enjoy watching a brief history of the organization's inception and impact:

Greensboro Students Help Pennies for Peace Mission

2010-01-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

Pennies for Peace continues to inspire children across the world in many different ways. Today, we learned of a unique story about students in North Carolina who are creating their own pottery, which they'll then glaze, fire and auction off to support the Pennies for Peace program. If you haven't been following this innovative and inspiring program, here's a video that helps tell the story:

JGI Receives Grant for Conservation Efforts in Tanzania

2010-01-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

We learned this week that our friends at The Jane Goodall Institute will be receiving a four-year grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant, totaling more than $5.5 million (USD) will enable the Institute-in partnership with the Tanzanian District Councils of Kigoma and Mpanda, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Frankfurt Zoological Society-to expand its existing community-centered conservation programs in western Tanzania, home to important populations of chimpanzees and other endangered species.

To get a better idea of some of the wonderful work JGI is doing, watch this video:

Technology Helps New Orleans Read for the Record

2010-01-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, some of the innovative work that helped create yet another record-breaking year for Jumpstart's Read for the Record campaign was featured in the New Orleans-based Times-Picayune newspaper. Through video conferencing, Read for the Record participants were able to conduct a conference at two different sites, using computer networks for audio and video transmission. In turn, the campaign extended its reach further than ever.

Check out the entire article here:

http://www.nola.com/picayunes/t-p/riverparishespicayune/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1262499646180700.xml&coll=1

Kansas Teacher Celebrated on Today Show

2010-01-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

Butler High School teacher, Cindy Couchman, was among other Teachers of the Year who were celebrated recently due to their efforts towards 21st Century Learning Skills and their contributions throughout the year. During a trip to New York City, sponsored by the Pearson Foundation, the Teachers of the Year appeared on "The Today Show" and were rewarded with a trip to a Broadway play. But, that was only part of it.

Check out this article from HutchNews.com and find out more: http://www.hutchnews.com/Todaystop/teacher2009-12-22T20-44-13

Massachusetts Students Making a Difference One Penny at a Time

2010-01-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

Children may not always understand the difficulties people face in many nations around the world, but they do understand pennies, we've discovered. Today, in an attempt to communicate and teach children about the conditions abroad, we learned about some children at Wampatuck Elementary School that are collecting pennies for the Pennies for Peace program.

Read an article about their inspiring efforts here: http://www.wickedlocal.com/scituate/news/education/x1896265130/Wampatuck-students-collect-for-Pennies-for-Peace

PeaceJam Auctions Off Guitars Signed by Nobel Laureates

2010-01-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Our friends at PeaceJam recently auctioned off one-of-a-kind guitars (All signed by 10 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates) to support their efforts. Archbishop Desmond Tutu helped in getting the Dalai Lama's signature, allowing PeaceJam to ultimately collect the names of ten Nobels, including Jody Williams, Betty Williams, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Mairead Corrigan, Shirin Ebadi, Jose Ramos-Horta and Adolfo Perez Esquival. For more photos and interesting posts about the auction, visit PeaceJam.org.

Pennies for Peace Author Inspires 7 Year Old!

2009-12-31T10:39:00.000-08:00

Today, we learned about an industrious young boy in Montana who has been collecting pennies to help build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan after being given a copy of "Three Cups of Tea" by author - and the boy's neighbor - Greg Mortenson. To read this inspiring and heart-warming article, visit: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/12/14/news/099giving.txt

Dave Mathews to Play Benefit for Jane Goodall Institute

2009-12-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds will perform a benefit for our friends at the Jane Goodall Institute on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. The benefit concert is part of a year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Jane Goodall's work. Throughout the 50th anniversary year, the Jane Goodall Institute will celebrate Dr. Goodall's illustrious career, the rich legacy of the Gombe research in Tanzania, East Africa and the many answers Gombe has yet to reveal.

For ticket information, visit: http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?storyID=20753

Financial Times' Martin Wolf Addresses Delegates at Citi-FT Conference

2009-12-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Our Annual Citi-FT Financial Education Summit in Singapore was well-attended and broke new ground in addressing the inherent woes and opportunities of financial Literacy. The Financial Times' Martin Wolf, among other featured speakers, addressed 250 delegates in attendance and he was quoted as a part of a news piece we think you may find interesting about the conference and financial education:

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/My%2BMoney/Story/A1Story20091207-184397.html

PeaceJam 2009 Winners on CBS News

2009-12-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

PeaceJam - whose mission it is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody - continues to make progress throughout the world and in our local communities. Recently, Ponderosa High School was awarded the first PeaceJam Hero Award, and the presentation was captured on camera in a news piece featured on a local CBS affiliate.

To learn more about PeaceJam, visit: PeaceJam.org

Join Us at Paul Sereno's Live Presentation

2009-11-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

Please join Project Exploration, in conjunction with C2ST (Chicago Council on Science & Technology) and National Geographic, as they present an afternoon with Paul Sereno, speaking about all-things-crocodilian (ancient and modern) at this exclusive film screening and post-show Q & A opportunity. This event is open to the public for a $5.00 suggested donation. Registration for general admission tickets is required through the C2ST Website:

http://c2st.org/programs-c%C2%B2st/supercroc-when-crocs-ate-dinos

The Details:

Sunday, December 6, 2009

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Northwestern University’s Chicago Campus

Rubloff Building – Thorne Auditorium

375 East Chicago Avenue (@ Lake Shore Drive)

Watch Paleontologist Paul Sereno's Crocodile Show this Saturday Night

2009-11-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

As part of National Geographic’s “Expedition Week” cable series, Paul Sereno brings prehistoric crocodiles back to life – such as the 40-foot-long, 110-million-year-old “SuperCroc” – by examining their contemporary counterparts on Saturday night, November 21st, at 8 pm!

To view show information, visit: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/expedition-week/4280/Overview