BBC news · npr · Pinyin · Zhou Youguang

Zhou Youguang, inventor of Pinyin

The BBC has reported that Zhou Youguang, the man who brought literacy to millions in China after the communist victory in 1949, died on Saturday 14thJanuary, a day after celebrating his 111th birthday. After working as a Wall Street banker, Zhou decided, in 1949, to return to China to help with rebuilding the country. In… Continue reading Zhou Youguang, inventor of Pinyin

Michelle Rhee · npr · The New Republic

Goodbye to Michelle Rhee, children’s champion

My guess is that unless you keep abreast of US politics, you probably won’t have heard of Michelle Rhee. She was, until very recently, children’s chancellor to Adrian Fenty, mayor of Washington, DC, until he was defeated in the Democratic primary on September 14th.Over her three years in tenure Rhee turned education in Washington schools… Continue reading Goodbye to Michelle Rhee, children’s champion

Catherine Johnson · Kitchen Table Math · npr · youtube

Money, money money? Or autonomy, mastery and purpose?

I’ve just seen this rather fascinating video, originally posted on the irvingparentsforum. I picked it up on the kitchen table math blog, posted by the inimitable Catherine Johnson, and it’s certainly worth sharing.The context for the interest in this subject relates back to a story, reported by npr, that broke into the news earlier this… Continue reading Money, money money? Or autonomy, mastery and purpose?

npr · Reading Rainbow

No crock of gold at the end of Reading Rainbow.

As is so often the case, npr (USA’s national public radio station) has been reporting an item of major interest to everyone interested in how we should be teaching our children to read.They got the ball rolling by reporting that, after twenty-six years of broadcasting and over two dozen Emmys, the much loved TV programme… Continue reading No crock of gold at the end of Reading Rainbow.