Front And Center

Getting a 'Jumpstart' on literacy

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:27:00 -0500

Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon around 3 p.m., a group of Northwestern University students in red Jumpstart T-shirts trickle into the Howard Area Community Center.Once inside, the Jumpstart members follow a carefully crafted pre-school

A high school confronts its reading struggles head on

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:56:00 -0500

Poverty and safety are some of Fenger High School's major concerns. Reading is another.

Writing poetry improves reluctant readers' literacy skills

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:02:00 -0500

On a warm Friday evening, Chiara and her friends are huddled over paper and computers. They aren’t distracted by the shouts and laughter drifting in from the playground behind them. These students are deep in their thoughts.

The cost of literacy: Overcoming learning disabilities

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:29:00 -0500

Like one in five students, 9-year-old Jacob Forst has language-based learning disabilities that affects his reading and writing abilities. A school like The Hyde Park Day School sounded just right for Jacob. But first he had to get in.

The death of cursive writing

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:31:00 -0500

New Common Core standards require students to become proficient with a keyboard. Forty-five states have adopted this comprehensive change to K-12 curricula. Now educators must decide whether they want to make time to teach cursive writing – even if there’s not a grade for it on report cards.

Adults without literacy: 48-year-old man learns to read

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Tue, 29 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500

Detroit international bridge project going nowhere

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:51:00 -0600

The busiest international crossing in the United States is in Detroit. Each year more than $200 billion worth of trade crosses the border there. Those trucks drive across the Ambassador Bridge--which is privately owned. The bridge is old and congested.

Rustbelt city wants immigrants, skilled or not

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:31:00 -0600

To create businesses and jobs, some cities in the Midwest are trying to lure immigrants. Dayton, Ohio, stands out for welcoming newcomers without wealth or training—even those who lack papers to be in the United States. For Front and Center, Chip Mitchell reports.

Community college partners with private business to fill jobs

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:54:00 -0600

As the Great Lakes region continues to face high rates of unemployment, many manufacturing workers find themselves laid off and lacking credentials to find new work. State-funded agencies are teaming up with community colleges and private businesses to help get workers back into jobs.

Leaky underground pipes lead to jobs

podcasts@chicagopublicmedia.org (WBEZ/Front And Center) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:14:00 -0600

As part of our coverage of the Great Lakes region’s workforce, we have a story about a job related to water conservation--that may soon be in high demand.