Comments for Linda F. Nathan

Comment on Intervention into Personalization by Sara Gips

Sara Gips — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:42:28 +0000

Aidelys really did provide incredibly helpful and thoughtful feedback, and I incorporated many of her ideas into my final draft. Thank you for an inspiring post, and an inspiring semester.

Comment on Intervention into Personalization by Hannah Kehn

Hannah Kehn — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:45:55 +0000

“When we forget to personalize, or to go the extra mile to pay attention to a student, then often nothing can change.” Thank you.

Comment on Alvin Ailey by Christina Ratatori

Christina Ratatori — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:29:10 +0000

These photos capture the happiness, love, and pride of the moment; how precious!

Comment on Occupy the DOE by Deborah Lang Froggatt

Deborah Lang Froggatt — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:35:13 +0000

Road Trip: I relished reading this experience and want to thank my colleagues for taking the time to go to DC on behalf of all of us at BAA and educators across the country. Linda, I share your adventuresome spirit and would have loved to have jumped on board. Cassie and Tess, your energy and thoughtfulness are a reminder that activists ‘collective endeavors move issues of access and equity in measurable and, more importantly, immeasurable ways.
Funding dedicated to teaching only to the test, as so many of our nation’s students experience, denies opportunities for the arts. Many students enter BAA with a passion for art without having years of arts lessons. However, their passion blended with a strong program offers most success on standardized tests and entrance into college. Likewise, many come to BAA with a passion for gaining knowledge without ever using a library, another form of inequitable access. BAA’s school library program offers students a professional librarian who collaborates with teachers to integrate information literacy skills with the arts and academic curriculum supported by a solid range of resources. A critical component of the BAA student experience is an independent interaction with in-depth collection of learning resources; a tangible interaction with an organized body of knowledge (not a classroom bookcase of a teacher’s favorites). Without school libraries, how can we expect students to have a “stock of knowledge”1 on which to deepen understanding? Research indicates that students who go to schools with active library programs perform better than their peers who do not.2 But, librarians recognize that it isn’t only about the test, it’s about creating a love of life-long learning which supersedes a ‘proficient’ score.
The road trip of standardized testing tracks student learning via educational transponders like the SAT or Massachusetts’ MCAS. Libraries provide individualized adventures. They foster the type of creative energy and passion that BAA students carry with them as they move into adulthood. Part of spark that Cassie, Tess and Linda drive to make a difference by going DC was ignited by the arts and libraries. Keep on, keepin’ on.

1. Savolainen, Reijo. Everyday Information Practices. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow, Press, Inc., 2008.
2. Lance, Keith Curry (2000). How School Librarians Help Kids Achieve: Standards – The Second Colorado Study. San Jose, CA: Hi Willow Research & Publishing.

Comment on OLA Workshop at BAA’s Center for Arts in Education by Organic Language Acquisition | Boston Teachers Union School

Organic Language Acquisition | Boston Teachers Union School — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:34:18 +0000

[...] some of what we learned into Spanish classes at the BTU School. See photos and learn more here. This entry was posted in Spanish. Bookmark the permalink. ← Simmons Library [...]

Comment on Reflections from Haiti by Katy Burns

Katy Burns — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:28:22 +0000

Wow that was quite a trip to Haiti. It seems more questions were brought home than were answered. The entire system in Haiti seems incredibly overwhelming and a country without an infrastructure seems unreal. There are such chasms between the haves and the have-nots. It also seems the money being used there isn’t actually making a difference for the folks who really need it….the everyday person. Thank you for sharing the experience. It was a good to “live it” from your eyes. ktb

Comment on OLA Workshop at BAA’s Center for Arts in Education by Yu-Lan Lin

Yu-Lan Lin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:36:47 +0000

Dear Linda,
Thank you so much for bringing Darcy to work with BPS teachers. Darcy’s enthusiasm and energy was contagious from the very first moment we met with a hug. Her method, using the target language exclusively along with TPR type of kinesthetic movements proved to be highly effective, particularly when demonstrated through BAA Spanish class students. I love to invite Darcy back in the future for more WL teachers to experience a method that really works for both teachers and students to use target language only in the WL classrooms. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Yu-Lan

Comment on Twelfth Night by lindanathan

lindanathan — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:30:37 +0000

Thank you, Ellen… We’re so proud of our students and alums and are glad you feel the same! We’ll be sure to keep you on the BAA mailing list for future performances!

Comment on Twelfth Night by Ellen Sturgis

Ellen Sturgis — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:51:11 +0000

This was my first direct exposure to BAA students, being a relatively new ASP employee. I was blown away from beginning to end–the way your students entered the reception and rather than acting like “typical teens” and being focused on the phone, came up to adults throughout the room and introduced themselves and conversed with maturity and poise! And that was before the performance!! They did an amazing job–I was so impressed! (And met some of your alumni, equally amazing). You count on me on me as a big fan from now on!!

Comment on Twelfth Night by lindanathan

lindanathan — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:42:04 +0000

Thank you- we’re so glad you could join us for the performance!