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Blogs
Blogs by Forum staff and by leaders around the country about getting young people ready for college, work and life.
Choosing the Right Tool: How Youth Programs Can Measure Their Impact on 'Soft Skills'
Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Nicole Yohalem and I started out in this field nearly two decades ago as youth workers who cared deeply about helping young people develop skills that mattered. Working in separate programs (later becoming colleagues at the Forum for Youth Investment), we knew in our hearts that the work done by our nonprofits helped young people gain practical, real-world skills, such as collaboration, communication, perseverance and decision-making. We tried our best to come up with proof to back that belief – but we lacked tools sophisticated enough to make the connections.
Needed: More Better Learning Time
Karen Pittman
Thursday, April 10, 2014
What image comes to mind if I ask you to imagine students learning? Young people in small groups focusing on projects they designed? Or slouching at their desks in class, looking bored?
Sadly, the second image is more common. Each year, almost half a million 5th through 12th graders complete the Gallup Student Poll. In recent years, more than four in 10 reported that they were either "not engaged" or "actively disengaged" with school. The percent who are engaged decreases steadily from 5th to 10th grades. The longer kids stay in school, the more they tune out .
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The Right Kind of Opportunity for Youth
Karen Pittman
Friday, January 31, 2014
What happens when you give youth an opportunity? It all depends on the kind of opportunity.
There are programs all over the country focused on helping disconnected youth get real-life training on the job, in addition to critical soft skills. These programs are providing the key. Some are run nationally with local chapters, while others are born and grounded locally by community members who are masters at identifying the kinds of opportunities these youth need in order to unlock their passion, drive and success.
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Education Must Focus on Competence, Not Outdated Traditions
Karen Pittman & Stephanie Malia Krauss
Thursday, January 23, 2014
In this dual blog posting, the Forum’s Karen Pittman and Stephanie Malia Krauss weigh in on an article about competence-based vs. traditional education. Pittman and Krauss reflect on their own experiences and offer suggestions on how schools can break free from the status quo.
'Unschooling' and Readiness for Success: A Disconnect
Karen Pittman
Monday, January 13, 2014
We know that America’s education system needs to be revamped, but is the answer to “unschool” our young people? Disturbingly, some people think so.
We know that kids learn best when they are motivated and interested. We see that providing more choice for students in how, where, when and at what pace they learn helps them succeed. We applaud parents, educators and policymakers who are building on this knowledge to redesign education in various ways across the country.