@thinktogether

2012-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Santa Fe Springs schools host 'Olympic Games'

Posted: 01/25/2012 08:10:30 PM PST

Nearly 200 Lakeland and Cresson elementary students competed Wednesday in "Olympic Games," including a cross country race, as part of Little Lake School District's after-school programming provided by THINK Together. (Leo Jarzomb / Staff Photographer)

SANTA FE SPRINGS - There was no torchlighting ceremony, but the "Olympic Games" Wednesday at Lakeland Elementary School didn't lack for excitement and the spirit of competition.
The event was part of Little Lake School District's after-school programming, which is provided by THINK Together, a nonprofit, academic-based organization.
Close to 200 children from Lakeland and Cresson elementary schools competed in soccer games, a javelin throw (using a pool noodle), sprints and cross country.
"This gives the kids a chance to compete, where they might not otherwise be able to," said Ed Carlson, THINK Together senior quality assurance coach. "Elementary-age students don't have the opportunity to experience team sports."
LLSD Superintendent Phillip Perez likes that THINK (Teaching, Helping, Inspiring and Nurturing Kids), has a healthy living component to its program, in addition to the academics.
More than 300 students participate in the free program at the district's six elementary and two middle schools.
"These games build unity within the schools," said Lakeland Principal Yolanda Mcintosh, as she watched the opening ceremony.
Students walked onto the playground holding placards with flags from their respective countries - USA, Jamaica, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Russia, Mexico and France.
Cresson students Tabitha Enriquez, 11, and Nicholle Garcia, 9, greeted spectators with a visitor's guide and also helped to make sure the games ran smoothly. They aided those from Santa Fe High School's Associated Student Body, who helped regulate the games.Although both tried out for the running events, organizers decided they were better suited to their position, which included helping to motivate the athletes.
"We make sure everything is being done right," Garcia said. The students have been training since December.
"It was a lot of hard work," Enriquez said. But both agreed the event was a lot of fun.
"It doesn't matter who wins," Enriquez said.
Still, competitors were awarded medals in a closing ceremony.

Volunteers serve as 'Book Doctors' on Martin Luther King day for THINK's early literacy program

2012-01-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

We were more walk-in clinic than war zone MASH unit. The injuries we saw were nothing an eraser and a few labels couldn't cure; no serious wounds for us.

In fact, these books — given that they were in need of some attention — were in remarkably good shape.

AmeriCorps volunteer Heather Seagle, of Costa Mesa, repairs a book that will be donated to young children. The books are given away free to early childhood programs and children in need. The THINK Together Early Literacy program promotes reading to children.

H. LORREN AU JR., THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

MORE PHOTOS »

THINK Together's Early Literacy Program needs volunteers to read to children, to collect gently used books, and to clean books as Book Doctors throughout the year. For information visit: www.earlyliteracyprogramoc.org.

We 58 volunteers spent the morning as Book Doctors. Together we treated 2,632 cast-off books donated to the nonprofit THINK Together Early Literacy Program. We rehabilitated scribbled or torn pages. We disinfected front and back covers. We made sure all pages in the board books were ready to read.

Seeing these books was a reunion with long-lost with friends. I was reminded of why I used to enjoy them so much.

The fact that most weren't battered and destroyed was a good sign: It meant they likely came from a place where they were treasured and loved.

While doctoring the books I couldn't help but wonder:

Why would anyone give them away?

•••

Opening carton after carton of books was like playing inside your mother's closet. So many treasures, it was difficult to keep my mind on business.

Sure, some books were forgettable. They were a bland diet, the Lean Cuisine of literature that fills you for a minute but never earns a place in your heart. Others, well, others nourish your memories.

Turns out books are my personal way-back machine.

Beautiful, jewel-toned illustrations of Miss Spider remind us why picture books have pictures.

Bold circus colors depict trucks and fire engines and massive machines that capture a little boy's attention. They remind me of when my sons were riveted by dump trucks – back in the day when we waited outside for the arrival of the garbage truck.

It wasn't so much the stories in these books, but the memories they evoked: The years when no child went to bed without brushing and a book. There were no finer moments than slouching with my three children burrowing into me as I read to them.

As the books spilled out of their cartons, I saw Mercer Mayer's beloved Little Critters series and Robert Munsch's "Love You Forever," that grabs at the guts of any parent with a pulse.

I remembered the law of unintended consequences that follows if you give a mouse a cookie. I remembered the sly humor in Jack Prelutsky's poems.

Beverly Cleary's Ramona flashed by and then came Junie B. Jones. My daughter, who adored that sassy kindergartener, is 26 today. Junie was not yet a first-grader when we left her.

Somebody donated "Good Night Moon," a melodic classic with no plot except to guarantee my husband would fall asleep cuddled on the bed with our kids.

•••

I was oohing and aahing – and I was not alone. We doctors all became fans, lining the red carpet of kid books.

Heather Seagle was there as a volunteer with the AmeriCorps/VISTA program. Her daughter, Lucy, is not yet 2, but Seagle began reading to her months ago.

"It's a big part of our lives...I teach around the books... We count things. I ask her what she sees."

A group called PIMCO Partners, volunteers from the investment firm, included 16 book doctors. Steve Snow and his wife brought their sons.

"I love reading," explains Josh Snow, 9. "You can imagine what's going to happen."

Giving away his own books is hard, Josh admits, because he likes to read them over and over.

Stephanie Sachs was volunteering with her daughter, Hailey, from the Orange/Villa Park National Charity League.

"There's a lot of memories from these books," Sachs says. "I used to read to my daughter. We don't get that time any more."

Hailey, 16, keeps a shelf of special books in her room.

Mary Kuli, also volunteering with her daughter from charity league, couldn't help but re-read a few favorites.

"It totally takes me back to when they were little. We always read at bedtime."

•••

The Early Literacy Program is aimed at families where parents don't always read at bedtime. The program, focused on children to age 5, helps parents learn to use books as teaching tools.

As an AmeriCorps volunteer in the literacy program, Anahi Cazales reads to children while they wait to see the doctor. She models for parents how to do it.

"Even if a child doesn't read yet, they can create a story with pictures. They have the potential to look at a book," she explains. "Many parents are not aware of what a book can do for a child...We change lives with these books."

What seals the deal for me, though, is that the program gives children books of their very own. Ownership is empowerment. Last year EPL distributed 87,837 free books.

Donated books include discards from libraries and schools as well as former family books. Employees at one Santa Ana Target store have collected nearly 800 books for the literacy program. The Anaheim Hills Rotary Club collected 4,600 books this past year.

"This program just sparked something in me," explains George Gillespie, who chairs the Rotary project and reads to his six grandchildren. "It would be a tragedy to see some books thrown away. I want to see them end up in children's hands."

They do.

Before we begin doctoring, Julio Robles from THINK Together makes this promise: "Within two weeks, the books you clean today will be out there in somebody's hands."

That's the point.

Through the Early Literacy Program, these books will delight another child. They might be used, but they aren't used up. Their power to teach and transform a child's life is just as potent as ever.

That's when I realized: We give books away not so much because we no longer want them, but because we want to share them.

Nadia Flores awarded "Maestro Positivo" (Master of Positivity) by milk board

2012-01-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

By THERESA CISNEROS / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA – An Orange County woman who works for an after-school program that serves more than 100,000 students statewide has been recognized by the California Milk Processor Board for encouraging Latino families to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Nadia Flores, director of community outreach for THINK Together, was named a winner in the board's statewide "Maestro Positivo" ("Master of Positivity") contest during a ceremony on Wednesday at THINK Together's Fourth Street headquarters.

Nadia Flores, director of community outreach for THINK Together, was named a winner in the California Milk Processor Board's statewide “Maestro Positivo” (“Master of Positivity”) contest.

Flores received $2,500 for motivating dozens of THINK Together families to exercise regularly, explore outdoor activities and try healthy recipes. She plans to give her winnings to her organization, which also received $2,500 from the board.

"I am so thankful," said Flores, 31, of Costa Mesa. "Through these collaborations, ultimately we can create a better community."

The contest was held as part of the board's latest Spanish-language campaign, "The Master of the Glass Half Full," which features a fictional guru who spreads positivity and healthy living through the powers of milk.

California residents ages 13 and older were invited to submit essays in Spanish nominating someone in their community who promotes healthy living and nutrition. More than 70 entries were received from those seeking to honor teachers, nutritionists, yoga instructors and others.

Flores, a former THINK Together student who graduated from college and returned to work for the organization, was nominated by parents.

Flores said the prize money will be used to fund new fitness classes, a community garden, staff leadership seminars and more.

Awards of $2,500 will also go to Christina Rodriguez, a registered nurse from San Jose, and her charity of choice Holy Trinity Catholic Church's Health & Nutrition Ministries; and Sara Train, a nutritionist and community volunteer from Glendale, and her group of choice, U.S.C. Physical Therapy's "Fit Families" Program.

By honoring these Masters of Positivity, the California Milk Processor Board hopes the public will see the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, said executive director Steve James.

"We want to bring attention to these heroes," he said, "And we also want people to draw the connection between positivity and the health benefits of milk."

For more news out of the county's Latino communities, visit the Register's OC Latino Link blog at oclatinolink.ocregister.com

Walker Elementary Students Celebrate Fitness Center Opening

2011-12-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

Students at Walker Elementary School are enjoying a new $100,000 fitness center on campus, the prize for being one of just six schools in California to shine in the Governor’s Fitness Challenge.

The challenge encouraged students across the state to exercise regularly. Walker students collectively logged more than 81,000 active days, with parents and teachers adding almost 50,000 days combined.

THINK Together’s CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Children’s Health) afterschool program added hours for Gabriel Organista and Francisco Alejo, who said, “We stay after school and do homework and have fitness time with our friends.”

Walker also started a Zumba dance class led by Melody Gonzalez, THINK Together’s Community Outreach Coordinator. Students and parents held dance-a-thons to help win their prize new fitness room – which includes more than 34 workout stations.

Body-by-Jake founder Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, complimented the Walker parents and students on how they pulled together for the kids. “You did it as a team, as a family and as a community,” said Steinfeld. “Academics and fitness go together.”

The community has also been actively engaged in an effort sponsored by the California Endowment: Santa Ana Building A Healthy Community. The effort has brought together residents, youth and local organizations like THINK Together, as part of a 10-year initiative to promote healthier communities.

Building Connections to People and Places

2011-11-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

Summer Learning for THINK Togther students at Harriet Eddy Middle School in Elk Grove begins every morning with a team building exercise. It’s now the third week of program and our student leaders take charge of their small-group team and lead them through chants and fast paced activities to get everyone’s blood pumping. A supportive web of teachers, administrators and THINK staff work hard to facilitate these and other activities that build a nurturing, collaborative culture. The team spirit carries throughout the day as kids work together on various projects they have selected based on their interests (arts club, robotics lab, life science). It feels like summer camp when students gather to hold announcements and set their collective goals for a day and week of outdoor fun and experiential learning.

A successful transition to middle school has been identified as a predictor of future academic achievement. For many of the students we serve, the middle school years are filled with anything but positive experiences; school safety, discipline and behavioral issues present serious impediments to learning. The Search Institute has identified 40 developmental assets that adolescents need to grow up healthy and become caring, responsible adults. These building blocks include connections to caring adults outside the family, engagement with learning opportunities outside the school, self-esteem and a sense of belonging to your school and or community.

THINK Together’s summer program helps keep middle school youth engaged in their education at a time when many students are beginning to disengage from school. With the use tools and curriculum such as Fulcrum C.R.A.T.E. our staff have been trained to empower students, enhance their confidence and build math, literacy and leadership skills. Throughout the day, they provide developmentally appropriate activities and incentives and build peer-leadership opportunities. At Harriet, one group of students took the lead in organizing a contest to see which team can learn the most words in the academic vocabulary list.

One of key measurable objectives of the THINK summer learning program is help students develop a sense of belonging, a connection to their school, a feeling of optimism about their place in the world. A few days into the program we received this parent testimonial as evidence that we are making progress towards our goal

“My son, Matthew talks about much he enjoys his classes and his teachers. This is such an amazing turnaround from his difficult 7^th grade year. The THINK program is really making Matthew

Think differently about school and his future. Thank you to all the teachers and administrators who encourage the students with a positive attitude and positive reinforcement. Thank you to all the teachers who make those nice compliments. Matthew is so proud that his art teacher stopped to look at his art project and told him how great it is. Matthew will take that comment with him the rest of his life. This is just one example of many. Thank you everyone for doing such an excellent job!”

From Summer School to Summer Learning

2011-11-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

My summer school experiences, unlike other cherished childhood memories, are not ones I revisit frequently. When searching for vestiges of that time, the images that surface in my mind are of long days inside a frigid portable classroom, a deserted campus and indifferent classmates. As a recent arrival to the US, I attended summer school to catch up to my peers. The hours ticked slowly towards our collective goal of cramming a semester’s worth of material into a few short (yet endless) weeks. Eventually, summer school helped me to catch up but did little to foster a love of learning or give me a new way of seeing the world.

When THINK Together began planning summer in Santa Ana, the program in place was much like the one I remember from my school days: a curriculum focused on core skills in English Language Arts and math, many of the students identified in need of remediation. Summer learning loss, especially for those already lagging academically, is well documented. Academic supports during those months matter greatly but just as important is how you deliver those supports. THINK Together believes that when students and their families are fully engaged in the summer experience, when learning is disguised as fun, the results add up to more than the hard-earned rewards of completed vocabulary and math worksheets.

Working closely with the schools and families we serve, THINK Together developed a new paradigm for summer learning. Our blended model incorporates a standards-based curriculum designed by schools (with input from teachers and parents) and delivered by teachers. Our staff complements classroom instruction with varied, project-based enrichment components that include a good dosage of outdoor physical activity. Our goal is to build academic skills but also to inspire a love of learning through opportunities to get your hands dirty, express ideas, get your heart racing and explore new concepts.

Last year, students who selected “Night at the Museum” as their summer theme had the opportunity to make first-hand connections between classroom learning and the mummies at the Bowers Museum. Our CATCH curriculum challenged students to engage in vigorous exercise and rewarded them with a visit to an LA Galaxy practice and lesson from pro-soccer players on health and fitness. Prior to seeing an award-winning Broadway show, students participated in workshops to help them appreciate and understand the content and work behind the production. Students also met the artists and asked questions about their performance, roles and careers.

With the Smarter Summers grant, we are replicating and expanding the blended summer learning model pioneered in Santa Ana to communities in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento. Our Super Hero Learning Adventure will provide additional project-based opportunities using a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum. Our staff will help students will apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to reinforce and extend academic concepts presented by teachers. An afternoon session may include time in the Lego robotics lab, a chance to extract DNA from an onion or a visit to the Science Center. And especially important for middle school students, our program includes an array of individual and team leadership activities designed to foster a sense of belonging – a key marker in the path to healthy youth development.

Years after my summer school experience, I got my hands on cool equipment and tested Newton’s Laws by building a rocket during my high school physics class. In the process, I began to seriously consider a career in science and went on to pursue an engineering degree (thank you Mr. Jones!). THINK Together’s blended model does more than build core skills. It ignites the imagination and gives children hands-on experiences that open new paths to learning. When asked what he learned during summer, one of our 5^th grade students told us “What I learned about is planes, reading and more. This week Ms. Torre showed us a plane that we could make. We learned that a plane has 7 parts. It has a wingtips, rudder, propellers, wings, fuselage, body, elevators and motor. We also learned about space. We also learned dance new moves and great tips.” Years from now, she may have summer school to thank for her career in aerospace.

Summer Learning Program Builds Self-Esteem

2011-11-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

By Deena Ledesma, parent and teacher

As a parent and teacher in the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), I can tell you that I have been delighted with the summer program offered at Lewis Middle School by the district and THINK Together. I know what solid programs look like; I teach in grades K-2 and have a master’s in special education, as well as two additional teaching credentials in progress. I couldn’t be a bigger advocate for this program based on just the experiences my son, Adam, has had in his first week.

Adam isn’t like other students his age. A gifted and talented student, he is articulate and extremely goal oriented. In fact, he and I are currently training for a half marathon! Adam wasn’t enthusiastic about attending summer school. Our pact was that he would attend for one day and then we’d render a decision that was best for him. From that first day, he was hooked! In fact, on the first day, I asked one of the THINK Together staff, “How did Adam do?” She replied with a big smile, “Adam is a wonderful child.” When Adam heard that, he beamed. Because of Adam’s experiences at Lewis Middle, he asked that I have him transferred there this fall.

Each night, Adam is full of excitement about what he has learned in the academic portion of the program. He’s told me that what he likes best about the program is that the staff make learning fun and memorable. His favorite time at school each day is spent in clubs, in which the students analyze music and films and produce their own original work. In fact, he was busy working on the plot of a movie last week and is eager to get it finished!

As a parent, I appreciate that the program is structured and well organized with a wide range of activities for students. As a parent of a gifted child, this is very important for my son because he bores easily and needs constant challenges. As a goal oriented student, Adam thrives when he is tasked with putting all of his creative energy into producing his best quality work. I like that this program gives students many hands-on learning experiences that have broad application.

For instance, we had a very thoughtful discussion the other night about the music club and Rapp music. By analyzing the lyrics of some songs, he realized that not all Rapp music is bad. And, he was impressed that the program gave students the opportunity to examine lyrics of popular songs and express their opinions. This is a very different process for him, as he is transitioning to middle school this fall and was previously attending an elementary school. This one exercise opened his perspective and helped him to realize that you can’t “judge a book by its cover.” A simple, life-long lesson taught through a hands-on example.

As a teacher, I appreciate that the program is based on the state standards and is structured through the collaboration of fellow credentialed teachers and staff from THINK Together who are committed to giving students a memorable summer experience.

My thanks to the Walmart Foundation for their vision to support programs like this one. Our students need more excellent programs like the one that Lewis Middle School and THINK Together are running in our local community.

Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce

2011-11-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

Purposeful training & a focus on core values make THINK Together’s model a standout among extended learning time program providers

CynDee Zanes, chief program officer

We have all heard the adage that you never have a second chance to make a first impression. That statement holds true for employers, especially those who hire young professionals who are in college or are recent graduates. How we treat our employees, the expectations we establish for their behavior and performance, and the training we provide them on the job helps to shape the careers – even the character and workplace ethics – of these young workers. As the state’s largest non-profit provider of extended learning time programs, THINK Together embraces this opportunity. To date, the organization employs 2,300 employees, many of whom are program leaders who are current college students or recent graduates.

The organizational culture, which is value-driven and stresses service above self, blossomed from the organization’s name. The acronym stands for Teaching, Helping, Inspiring and Nurturing Kids. The focus of all efforts is on ensuring that every student has a positive learning experience in a THINK Together program. For the past five years, THINK Together has purposefully worked on a structured on-boarding, training and professional development program to ensure that each and every program leader, who works directly with children and teens at schools across California, is equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources to provide students with a positive extended learning time experience.

Core values rule

In addition to the organizational core values that underpin decision-making and the workplace culture, THINK Together is a learning organization. Just as students are respected as individuals and are recognized as having their own, unique learning style, so too are employees prized for their individuality and talents. The organization makes efforts to challenge employees, giving them opportunities to try on new responsibilities within a culture that allows for failure and learning. Just as we Teach, Help, Inspire and Nurture students, we also see that we do the same for young employees. Our obligation is to support them in learning more about themselves, their gifts and the contributions they can make to the organization and the lives of the children and teens they touch.

Moreover, every full-time employee is certified in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People program. These principles frame every action and decision. Emphasis is placed on win-win, respect for self and others and collaboration.

Unified process

From the first day of on-boarding, employees and students alike learn to use the KWL process – What do we KNOW? What do we WANT to know? What did we LEARN? This process recognizes that each person brings knowledge and skills to each learning situation. The KWL process celebrates teaming and is designed to bring out the best ideas and solutions whether that be from a group of new hires or from a group of students.

THINK Together also maintains a commitment to continuous quality improvement and is a data-driven, evaluation-based organization. Quality assurance coaches work alongside site coordinators and program leaders to ensure that daily lessons and academic enrichment activities align with each school district’s identified standards and learning goals. This commitment to assessment is an important life lesson for young employees. They learn, in a supportive culture, that ongoing assessment is essential for excellence. By being introduced to this concept early in their careers, they don’t fear it but embrace it with the understanding that assessment (self assessment, performance assessment, etc.) is critical to personal and professional growth and goal attainment. As a result, THINK Together’s programs are founded on a circular personnel and program evaluation process – which begins with goal setting and assessment, includes training and coaching, more assessment and goal refinement.

The ripple effect: win-win for all involved

School administrators, teachers, parents and students give THINK Together’s summer and extended learning time programs high marks for program satisfaction – both in terms of the quality of the program and in the professionalism of staff. THINK Together staff treat students with respect and model the organizational core values, and they model the same behavior with peers , district partners and parents. The more than 20 hours of purposeful, focused training for program leaders (and the ongoing education provided through a workplace learning portal) ensures that THINK Together provides quality academically-oriented programs in a caring culture that supports student success.

Learn more about THINK Together’s summer learning and extended learning time programs at www.THINKTogether.org

Summer Learning = Summer Fun!

2011-11-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Lora Rivas, 8^th grade Language Arts Teacher

Harriett Eddy Middle School, Elk Grove USD

Keeping students engaged is one of the biggest challenges I face each day as an 8^th grade teacher. Yet, my students in the summer learning program offered by THINK Together, had fun while taking part in lessons that underscored grade-level standards. No one was bored! Not even me! In fact, my students were so engaged that I had trouble pulling them away from assignments to move onto other tasks.

Most important, the curriculum was fun for students. The Walk Through Time curriculum, developed by THINK Together, integrated Language Arts, history, and pop culture spanning the 1920s through the 1980s. Elk Grove USD teachers determined the grade-level standards that would be the focus of the four-week program. Then, using a multimedia tool new to us (but used by THINK Together), called Glogster, we created lessons that integrated the priority standards with the theme.

Each day, students received 50 minutes of classroom instruction from a credentialed teacher and took part in hands-on learning activities and field trips – tied to theme - led by THINK Together staff. Several times per week, students met in “clubs” organized around music, film and fashion. During “club” time, they researched songs, musical groups, fashions, fashion designers, films, and producers/directors from their favorite decade, examining the lyrics, learning about the leading performers of the period, analyzing fashion trends, film themes – the pop culture icons of that decade.

All of the writing, reading and research pertaining to each student’s favorite decade culminated with the development of a Glog – an online multimedia poster. My students loved this activity! The Glogs contained music clips, photos from the period, imbedded video, and data. In addition, every poster included short narratives on at least one film maker, fashion designer and/or musician/musical group that was iconic during that decade.

On the final two days of summer school, the students presented their Glogs with great pride. The THINK Together/Elk Grove USD summer program was a huge success. We took one of the hardest populations of students to teach in the summer – hormone- charged, emotional, fidgety young teens in middle school – and gave them a rich, rewarding learning experience.

I can’t wait for next summer and the exciting program that THINK Together and Elk Grove USD will provide our community.

Click Here for a video about a day with THINK at Elk Grove

THINK Together earns prestigious LA84 Foundation Grant

2011-11-15T11:45:00.000-08:00

Grants from private foundations and private philanthropy are critical to THINK Together’s ability to provide quality programs statewide to students. Private philanthropy also funds special enrichment activities that would otherwise not be available to all students. Thanks to the generosity of the LA84 Foundation, a private non-profit foundation created out of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics which is dedicated to advancing youth sports, THINK Together received a $76,000 grant to provide after-school sports programs at 16 middle schools in the Baldwin Park and Bassett Unified School Districts, and in the El Rancho, South Whittier and Little Lake City School Districts. Since the foundation’s inception, the organization has donated more than $200 million to Southern California communities, touching the lives of more than 2 million children in over 1,000 local sports programs.

THINK Together to Participate in 5th Annual Los Angeles Homewalk 2011

2011-11-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

THINK Students and their banner for Homewalk 2010

On Saturday November 19^th, THINK Together will participate in the 5^th Annual United Way Los Angeles Homewalk 2011 to end homelessness in Los Angeles County, with more than 500 participants expected to join the cause on behalf of THINK Together. This will be THINK Together’s fifth time participating in this event since its inception, and is usually one of the event’s largest group of walkers. Over the past four years, Homewalk has had more than 18,000 participants, raised $1.7 million and funded organizations that have put nearly 9,000 people into housing. This year marks the first time Kobe Bryant will serve as Honorary Chair of Homewalk 2011, and the first year the event will be a run/walk. Bryant and his wife, who have a deep interest in the plight of homeless youth and families, have created the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which is dedicated to having an impact on the issue of youth homelessness in Los Angeles.

Those who sign up with the THINK Together team do not have to pay a registration fee, although donations to the cause are highly encouraged. To sign up with THINK Together and join the event free of charge, please visit www.homewalkla.org and click on register on the top. You must then select to ‘Join a Team’ and select THINK Together from the drop down menu available. Participants will then be required to register their information with Homewalk 2011, and use the partner code uwpartner11 under ‘United Way Partners’ to walk the event free of charge for the THINK Together team. All registrations must be processed online before the event. If you are walking with a children under 18, please register them online prior to the event, and bring the completed registration form signed by an adult to check-in.

THINK Together currently has more than 400 kids and 60 adults planning on registered to attend Homewalk 2011, just short of our goal of 500! We urge volunteers to come forward to join our winning team and support and this very worthy cause. There are about 100 spots still available and it’s not too late to sign up!

The event takes place on Saturday November 19^th at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Check-in opens at 7:00 a.m., with the opening program at 8:30 a.m. and the run/walk beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Please visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=302220113124637 for more information!

THINK Together named 2011 Hero In Education by Lake Elsinore USD

2011-11-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

On Thursday October 20^th, 2011, THINK Together was awarded the 2011 Hero in Education Award by the Lake Elsinore Unified School District (LEUSD) for their continued outstanding work in the region. The award honors individuals and organizations that have made and continue to make significant and lasting contributions to the Lake Elsinore educational community. THINK Together has been a district partner for more than five years, and currently serves nearly 1,000 children at seven elementary and three middle schools. The entire THINK Together Lake Elsinore staff and THINK Founder/CEO Randy Barth attended the awards ceremony; all staff were present on stage to accept the award.

The LEUSD is considered to be one of the most successful K-12 school districts in the state in closing the achievement gap, and has been recognized by Education Trust-West for their work in student achievement. THINK Together programs are an integral part of the district’s strategy to sustain high achievement. When students attend THINK Together programs aligned with the instructional day, they excel academically. Learn more at www.THINKtogether.org.

Click here for more pictures of 2011 Hero Award from LEUSD

THINK Together Receives Computer Donation from Southern California Edison

2011-10-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, October 18, 2011, THINK Together received a donation from Southern California Edison (SCE), which contributed 50 Dell laptop computers to the THINK Together program at the Bassett Unified School District. THINK Together students will be using the laptop computers to support homework completion and other educational activities tied to the academic standards prioritized by the school district. THINK Together extends special thanks to Sylvia Southerland of SCE for her efforts in securing this important and generous donation. We applaud the efforts of corporations like SCE which prioritize the learning of students and provide organizations - like THINK Together - with the resources needed to advance our mission. We couldn't do what we do for children and teens statewide without the generous support of companies like SCE.

Learn more at www.THINKTogether.org.

THINK Together Celebrates Lights On Afterschool 2011

2011-10-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

The week of October 17^th, 2011, THINK Together participated in the 12^th Annual Lights On Afterschool event created by the Afterschool Alliance and held nationwide to bring attention to the importance of after-school programs for children, families and communities. Launched in 2000, the annual goal of the event is to raise awareness for the need of after-school care, as 1 in 4 youth today are alone and unsupervised after school. Programs like THINK Together keep kids safe, inspire learning and growth, and help working families. In observance of Lights On Afterschool, THINK Together staged multiple events across California to concur with the national event.

Sen. Calderon at Jersey Elementary

In Los Angeles County, Jersey Elementary in the Little Lake School District hosted a visit by Senator Ron Calderon, who spoke to students about the importance of his job in the Legislature and his commitment to support after-school programs. Also visiting Jersey Elementary were representatives from the Irvine Company, a real estate investment company which has donated $10 million to THINK Together over the last 10 years. Maxwell Elementary in the Duarte Unified School District also hosted Assemblyman Roger Hernandez. His visit and tour of the program included student presentations about THINK Together and the sharing of ideas about the future of public education. Students also created crafts and other activities for Lights On Afterschool.

In the San Bernardino Region, Haynes Elementary, in the Ontario-Montclair School District, was visited by Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod, while Bemis Elementary in the Rialto Unified School District was visited by Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter. Both legislators visited the THINK Together sites to learn about the programs and their importance to student learning.

Parents and Graduates at Shalimar

The Orange County Region hosted two Lights On Afterschool community events, at the Shalimar Learning and Teen Centers in Costa Mesa and the Highland Learning and Teen Centers in Orange. Both events included testimonials from students, graduates, parents and volunteers. The average GPA of students enrolled in this program has risen by 34% and has helped to dramatically improve graduation rates for local students.

In Sacramento County, THINK Together organized Lights On events at Woodbine, Tsukamoto, Morse and Harkness Elementary Schools. Students created arts and crafts inspired by the Lights On celebration. At Kit Carson Middle and Herburger Elementary Schools, the Lights On activities featured STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) projects.

Click here for more pictures of Lights On Afterschool 2011

Orange County Read for the Record Event 2011

2011-10-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, October 6, 2011, THINK Together's Early Literacy Program participated in Jumpstart's National Read for the Record, an event held nationwide to bring attention to the importance of early literacy particularly for children from lower income households who do not have access to books prior to entering kindergarten. The annual goal of the event is to have the same book read by volunteers and parents to children nationwide on the same day. This year, the national goal was to read to at least 2 million children. THINK Together coordinated three large-scale Read for the Record events at Westfield MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, the Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine, and the Barnes & Noble Metro Pointe store in Costa Mesa, and made the book read nationwide - Llama Llama Red Pajama - available at school sites for parents and volunteers to also read to children in the extended learning time programs.

Along with the dozens of corporate volunteers, parents and staff who participated in the large reading events, the events also showcased celebrity guest readers, including the LA Galaxy street team, Los Angeles Lakers Girls, Santa Ana firefighters and law enforcement officers, and THINK Together Founder/CEO Randy Barth. In addition to receiving tips on encouraging reading and vocabulary development in young children, parents were also given the opportunity to choose a book to take home. THINK Together's Read for the Record activities in Orange County reached 40,100 children - a 1,100 increase over the 2010 reading total goal. THINK Together's Early Literacy Program reaches more than 57,000 youngsters and their parents annually at 91 locations, including schools, community sites, and pediatric clinics in Orange County

Click here for more pictures of the Read for the Record event

THINK Together receives Community Pillar Award

2011-10-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 1, 2011, Assemblyman Jose Solorio and staff visited THINK Together headquarters in Santa Ana to award Randy Barth, founder/CEO, with a 2011 Community Pillar Award. The Community Pillar Award is given to non-profit organizations which work to improve the lives of residents living in central Orange County. Barth and THINK Together earned the honor due to the organization's excellence in enhancing learning opportunities for school-aged children and teens. Barth accepted the award on behalf of the organization, and dedicated the award to THINK Together's staff statewide. Assemblyman Solorio, who lives in Santa Ana and served on the Santa Ana City Council for six years, spoke about THINK Together's important role in the community and in after-school education, noting that his two children attend THINK Together programs and that his wife is the principal at Valley High in the Santa Ana Unified School District, which is another model THINK Together program site.

The Community Pillar Award was launched last year. THINK Together is the 8th recipient of this honor for 2011.

Click here for more Pictures of Assemblyman Solorio's Visit to THINK

Building Connections to People and Places

2011-06-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

“My son, Matthew talks about much he enjoys his classes and his teachers. This is such an amazing turnaround from his difficult 7th grade year. The THINK program is really making Matthew Think differently about school and his future. Thank you to all the teachers and administrators who encourage the students with a positive attitude and positive reinforcement. Thank you to all the teachers who make those nice compliments. Matthew is so proud that his art teacher stopped to look at his art project and told him how great it is. Matthew will take that comment with him the rest of his life. This is just one example of many. Thank you everyone for doing such an excellent job!”
Elk Grove Parent

Summer Learning at Elk Grove Unified School District

Elk Grove Computer Lab

Summer Learning for THINK Together students at Harriet Eddy Middle School in Elk Grove begins every morning with a team building exercise. It’s now the third week of program and our student leaders take charge of their small-group team and lead them through chants and fast paced activities to get everyone’s blood pumping. A supportive web of teachers, administrators and THINK staff work hard to facilitate these and other activities that build a nurturing, collaborative culture. The team spirit carries throughout the day as kids work together on various projects they have selected based on their interests (arts club, robotics lab, life science). It feels like summer camp when students gather to hold announcements and set their collective goals for a day and week of outdoor fun and experiential learning.

A successful transition to middle school has been identified as a predictor of future academic achievement. For many of the students we serve, the middle school years are filled with anything but positive experiences; school safety, discipline and behavioral issues present serious impediments to learning. The Search Institute has identified 40 developmental assets that adolescents need to grow up healthy and become caring, responsible adults. These building blocks include connections to caring adults outside the family, engagement with learning opportunities outside the school, self-esteem and a sense of belonging to your school and or community.

THINK Together’s summer program helps keep middle school youth engaged in their education at a time when many students are beginning to disengage from school. With the use tools and curriculum such as Fulcrum C.R.A.T.E. our staff have been trained to empower students, enhance their confidence and build math, literacy and leadership skills. Throughout the day, they provide developmentally appropriate activities and incentives and build peer-leadership opportunities. At Harriet, one group of students took the lead in organizing a contest to see which team can learn the most words in the academic vocabulary list.

Exploratorium

At the end of the first week, over 500 Elk Grove students visited the San Francisco Exploratorium, one of 3 field trips sites our students will visit this summer. The Exploratorium, located in the historic Palace of Fine Arts, includes a wide range of hands-on exhibits relating to biology, physics, listening, cognition, and visual perception. The field trip experience complemented the classroom-related learning activities and just as importantly, gave students the opportunity to engage first-hand with an important cultural asset in their community.

One of key measurable objectives of the THINK summer learning program is help students develop a sense of belonging, a connection to their school, a feeling of optimism about their place in the world. A few days into the program we received this parent testimonial as evidence that we are making progress towards our goal.

Matthew McConaughey's j.k. livin Foundation to partner with THINK Together

2011-06-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

From the OC Register, June 9, 2011

THINK Together and McConaughey's j.k. livin Foundation will begin programs this fall at Century and Valley high schools in Santa Ana aimed at promoting fitness and healthy lifestyles among students.

Actor Matthew McConaughey, left, and partner Camila Alves

will appear Saturday in Anaheim to announce a partnership

between their youth group and Santa Ana-based non-profit

THINK Together.

AP FILE PHOTO

Founded by McConaughey and his partner, Camila Alves, the j.k. livin Foundation provides after-school programs for thousands of teens in large, inner-city high schools. The foundation works with schools across the nation and in other parts of the world, with students learning to set attainable goals, plan nutritious meals, exercise and give back to their communities.

THINK Together already provides services that include after-school tutoring, summer enrichment and other programs to dozens of local schools in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and surrounding areas.

Through the program, participating students will receive healthy snacks and learn about nutrition. They will also learn about fitness through workouts including running and lifting weights.

McConaughey and THINK Together representatives will officially announce their new partnership Saturday at the nonprofit's annual fundraising gala at the Anaheim Hilton. (Read Complete Story)

Geoffrey Canada & Matthew McConaughey to be featured at THINK Together Benefit

2011-06-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

There are less than 10 days before our 2011 Annual Benefit (6.11.11) which will feature Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, and special guest Matthew McConaughey! See invitation below or visit http://issuu.com/thinktogether/docs/thinktogetherbenefit

Click to learn more about the 2011 Annual Benefit or register online.

Vision, Mission, Values @ THINK Together

2011-05-22T23:28:00.000-07:00

Vision – What THINK Together might become

All children will receive the support they need from family, school and community to enable them to reach their full potential and become productive adults and responsible, contributing members of the community.

Mission – Why THINK Together exists

To provide high quality academically-oriented out-of-school programs for students regardless of race, creed or socioeconomic status.

Values – How THINK Together intends to make our shared vision a reality

Be accountable to our mission
Service above self
Treat others with dignity and respect
Open and honest communications
Collaborate internally & externally
Honor our commitments
Embrace diversity
Be humble
Persevere
Enjoy the journey and have fun!

Early Literacy + Parent Empowerment Program Transform Homelife

2011-05-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

By Jeff Jordan

When I first walked into the THINK Together Raising a Reader early literacy program, I was not sure what to expect. The last thing I thought I would see was a fairy, yes a fairy, teaching the children. Nevertheless, there she was, a grown woman in a pink fairy outfit complete with wings. When I inquired as to what was going on I was informed that she was the garden fairy here to teach the kids about insects and flowers. It seemed simple enough.

The classroom itself looked like any ordinary classroom. Crayon drawings hung from bulletin boards and cut out letters of the alphabet were pinned to the top of the chalk board. There were books, cute little tables and chairs, carpet squares and maps on the walls.

Yessenia O'Campo & daughter Nicole

The four-year-olds were enthralled with the book that was being read to them as they learned about counting insects. One such kid was Nicole O’Campo, a dark haired, bright eyed girl who was pointing eagerly to the pictures of caterpillars in the book. We watched awhile longer as the kids listened. It was obvious they were learning and having a great time in the process.

The catch is that none of this would have been possible without THINK Together and its partnership with Santa Ana Unified. Nicole’s school does not have a preschool program of their own and Nicole’s mother, Yessenia, was thrilled when a friend told her about THINK Togethers’ one day a week program. She signed her daughter up as soon as she could. It has made a huge impact in Nicole’s social and educational development.

“Before this she was really aggressive,” explains Yessenia. “I had a lot of people complaining that she was always fighting or wouldn’t share her toys. Now she shares her things and even cares for her little sister. Her grandmother has noticed a big change in her and wonders what has gotten into her.”

Yessenia continues, “She was afraid to come here at first, but it’s been a good experience for her. Now she wants to come to school. She didn’t have that before. She likes to ask so many questions now. What’s this? How does this work?”

What has she been learning? “She is starting to learn how to read a little. She knows her shapes, her numbers and her alphabet. She even encourages herself to learn.”

Yessenia informs me that Nicole has become very fond of books, in particular. “She likes Dr. Seuss. I have no idea why, but she really likes him. Every time we go to the store she asks for books, not candy or toys, just books. Now she even tries to talk to her dad like Dr. Seuss.” I told Yessenia that I still like Dr. Seuss as well.

In addition to the changes in her daughter, Yessenia has seen many changes in herself. The THINK Together program also includes a parent empowerment group that she is attending. In this program parents learn how to understand and communicate with their children better as well as learning how to control their own frustrations.

“I was at the point where I was losing my mind,” explains Yessenia. “I would have to scream at Nicole to get her to listen. If I told her to pick up her toys she would scream back at me. She has really changed since joining the program. Now I tell her to pick up her toys, and she says ‘okay mommy, can you help me?’ and we do it together. She is even trying to teach her little sister how to do things.”

What would life be like without THINK Together? “Things would be so different without these programs. Beforehand I wasn’t paying much attention to Nicole, and she didn’t have the chance to be herself. Now I have a lot of communication with her. Now I sit down and read stories to her and help her with her homework.”

Like any good parent, Yessenia desperately wants what is best for her daughter. “She is very independent and likes to do things her way, and I like to encourage that,” Yessenia continues. “I really want her to go to college and get a good education. I don’t want her to stop in junior high or high school. I don’t want her to have to depend on anybody. I want what is best for her.”

THINK Together is helping her achieve these goals by laying a foundation that Nicole can build upon for years to come. At the ripe old age of four, college may be years away for her but the Raising a Reader program is providing what is best for her today, even if it’s something as simple as bugs, pink fairies and Dr. Seuss.

If you are touched by stories of kids, bugs or pink fairies like this then don’t be a stranger! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook! Or perhaps you have an encouraging story as well. If so we would love to hear it! Leave us a comment here by clicking on the comments link below.

Somerville-Bennett hired as THINK Together's IE General Manager

2011-04-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Lisa Somerville-Bennett is THINK Together's newest General Manager with responsibility for the organization's Inland Empire (IE) Region. Adriana Kingtson who previously managed the IE Region will move over to manage a new Southern California Region.

Born and raised in Southern California, Lisa has enjoyed more than 31 years in education.

Lisa began her teaching career in Lake Elsinore as one of the first female high school Vocational Agriculture Teachers and FFA Advisors in California. With extensive school and community support, Lisa was able to build an Agriculture Department and FFA chapter that became one of the top programs in Southern California, with her students earning recognition throughout the state.

After five years teaching high school, and looking for a change, Lisa began teaching Kindergarten in the Jurupa Unified School District. During her twelve years at JUSD, she taught a variety of grade levels, served on numerous site/district curriculum and leadership committees, and served as PTA President at Troth Street School.

While not originally planning to become an Administrator, Lisa was mentored and encouraged to do so. In 1997, after seventeen years of classroom teaching, she completed her Administrative coursework and was hired as an Assistant Principal in the Ontario-Montclair School District. In 1999, she was promoted to Principal and in total has 4 ½ years as an Elementary Principal, 6 years as a Middle School Principal, and one year as a Community Day School Principal under her belt. During her 13 years with OMSD, Lisa gained in-depth training and experience to effectively assist a very large population of English Learners, many coming from a low socio-economic background, to achieve at “opportunity gap” closing levels. Her middle school experiences included exiting the “SAIT” state monitoring process within two years; and in collaboration with her staff and West-Ed, developing an “Alternative Services Delivery Model” which provided full-inclusion in regular education classes for Resource and “Special Day Class” Special Education students. Her middle school ASDM became the template for Ontario-Montclair’s middle schools, was presented at LACOE in conjunction with West-Ed, and was featured in the “Special Edge,” a statewide newsletter which focuses on Special Education issues in California. As Principal of OMSD’s Community Day School, Lisa was able to hire and work with a staff totally dedicated to doing “whatever it takes” for the district’s most academically and behaviorally challenging middle school students. With a “no excuses, never give up” attitude, her proudest moments came when students who “wouldn’t do school” started to “do school” and were able to “earn” their way back to their home school, or begin 9th grade at their regular high school.

Lisa holds a B.S. and Master’s Degree in Agriculture Education, as well as Single Subject and Agriculture Specialist teaching credentials (earned at Cal Poly, Pomona); a Multiple Subject teaching credential; and also has her SB1969 certification. She completed her Tier I Administrative credential through Chapman University, and received her Tier II Professional Administrative credential through Cal State San Bernardino.

Hear how THINK Together helped this local family

2011-04-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

click arrow below to play video here

In this video, hear how THINK Together's early literacy program, carried out in partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and the Children and Families Commission of Orange County, helped one local family.

Visit THINK Together's channel on YouTube.

Pio Pic Parents visit Santa Ana Library with THINK Together

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

Nearly two dozen parents and 35 children visited the Santa Ana library with Pio Pico’s THINK Together Community Outreach Coordinator Arianna Esparza. Parents are a part of THINK Together’s Early Literacy program where they rotate a book bag weekly and learn literacy techniques as part of the program. At the end of the school year, each parent will receive a blue book bag with 1 free book. Parents are encouraged to continue sharing the love of reading with their children by checking out books from the public library and using the blue book bag.

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr

THINK Together & AmeriCorps: April 2011 Newsletter

2011-04-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Read about the meaningful impact THINK Together and AmeriCorps are having on several Southern California neighborhoods and communities. (April 2011 Newsletter)

click graphic to access complete .pdf

See What These Kids & THINK Together did on Spring Break

2011-04-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

Last week, THINK Together offered a full-day Spring Break program that served more than 5,000 Santa Ana students district-wide. Here's a slideshow with photos of the representatives activities in which students participated.

click arrow below to view slideshow here

THINK Together Completes Successful Santa Ana Spring Break Program

2011-04-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

Post by
Randy Barth, THINK Together founder & CEO

Last week, our tireless staff ran a full-day Spring Break program district-wide that served more than 5,000 Santa Ana students. This created an opportunity for these students to have a fun-enriching week as well as the opportunity to participate in preparation for the upcoming California Standardized Tests (CST). This also created an opportunity for the parents of these 5,000 students to have a worry-free week of work while their children were out of school for the holiday.

Thanks to our Orange County General Manager Tia Dwyer, these students were able to receive both free breakfast and lunch each day. When it appeared that the district was not going to be able to provide free meals at the Spring Break program through its normal channels, Tia demonstrated her initiative and creativity to solve the problem. She connected us to another feeding program that she had heard about and we were able to work with the district to bring that opportunity to Santa Ana students.

As part of the Spring Break culmination activities, I visited the program at Thorpe Fundamental Elementary last Friday. That site served students from both Thorpe and Greeneville Fundamental. While at Thorpe, I got to enjoy a dance performance that was spearheaded by our enrichment partner Active Learning. The students had a great time and I want to congratulate our combined Thorpe/Greenville staff under the leadership of Donna Hinojasa and Elizabeth Thompson.

Finally, our I want to extend our congratulations to the entire OC Region for executing a very successful week of programming on top of your regular duties. Running full-day programs with no school support (administrators/office staff/cafeteria support) and feeding 5,000 students two meals a day (on top of your regular work) is no easy task. Congratulations on job well done!!!

See some representative photos of the week on Flickr.

THINK Together Students Participted in LA Marathon

2011-04-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

As part of the 2011 LA Marathon activities, students from the THINK Together program at Tracy Elementary (Baldwin Park, CA) participated in KidsMarathon.

In the weeks leading up to the LA Marathon, the Tracey Elementary students lopgged a total of 25 miles running on their own, then on race day they ran 1.2 miles along the LA Marathon route! All finishers received a T-shirt and medal!

Kids Marathon is an 8-week fitness education program that enables kids to complete a full marathon (26.2 miles) by running approximately 3 miles per week. Through the program, kids learn the value of exercise and nutrition habits for healthy living and, best of all, they have fun! The program is completed in grand fashion as each child finishes the final 1.5 miles of their marathon distance in front of hundreds (sometime thousands!) of cheering fans, friends, and family. KidsMarathon was founded by Rod Dixon, winner of the 1982 New York Marathon and Olympic distance runner.

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

More on KidsMarathon.

Early Literacy: An Entire Family Benefits

2011-03-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Written by Jeff Jordan with Nadia Flores

Betty Torres and her son Peter at
Sepulveda Elementary School in Santa Ana

In the constant battle against TV and video games versus education, parents are fighting an uphill battle. Many kids do not want to study and try to avoid homework. The forces of pop culture and peer pressure are strong and parents are often in an unfair fight and need some help along the way.

So was the case with Betty Torres and her family. After school her children would come home, plop down on the couch and waste the evening in front of the TV. Any attempts by her to encourage them to play outside or read were met with hostility and usually resulted in arguments and chaos. Then one day her children brought home a flier for THINK Together’s educational programs. The difference has been profound.

“Before it was come home, do homework and then watch TV and play video games all night. Now, instead of just sitting on the couch they have learned to be more active and do other things,” explains Betty.

The biggest difference can be seen in Peter, her three year old. The school they attend does not have a preschool program so THINK Together worked with the school to establish a Raising a Reader early literacy program. By participating in the program he learns the basic tools he will need to be more successful in the years to come. He is learning the alphabet and his numbers, plants and animals, shapes and colors, and a myriad of other things about the world around him. He is also learning that books are fun and that school can be exciting. Most importantly he is learning how to interact with other children in a social environment and establishing his self-confidence. These were opportunities her two older children never had and Betty is grateful.

Betty continues, “It’s exciting to hear him ask, ‘Oh mom, do I get to go to school today?’ He is really excited about going to school and learning and playing with the other children. He is always asking questions now and it’s because the program encourages this and helps him be sure of himself.”

Her other two children are now enrolled in the THINK Together after school program and she can see a difference in them as well. Now, instead of TV, they think of creative ways to entertain themselves or go outside to play. Now they are far more interested in learning about the world around them.

THINK Together has made a tremendous difference in Betty as well. Before she started attending THINK Together’s parent education program her life was a swirl of chaos that seemed to be spiraling out of control. Her marriage was on the rocks, her children were defiant, there was a lot of fighting and she was constantly under stress. When she tried to fix things she became controlling and demanding which only served to make things worse. She was not sure how much longer things would last the way they were going.

“I was at the point where I was ready to throw my marriage away,” explains Betty. “I was really depressed and full of anger and could blow up over the littlest things. I didn’t know what crazy thing I might do.”

But when she signed Peter up for the Raising a Reader program she was told about the parent education component of the program. She had no idea that free parenting help was available and she had always felt embarrassed at the idea of asking for help. But when she realized it was only for three hours one day a week, she thought why not? The decision has changed her life.

“My husband and I are young and we aren’t that experienced as far as how to properly raise them (their kids) without the hitting and screaming that we grew up with,” says Betty.

The program teaches parents how to handle the stresses of parenting and marital relations. It has taught her healthy ways to deal with conflict and how to manage her stress. Whether it is something as simple as screaming into a pillow or learning advanced breathing techniques, what she has been taught has made a huge impact in her life.

Not only that, but her children appreciate it too. Betty has learned ways to discipline her children without creating more chaos. With a three year old boy, a very independent six year old girl, and another ten year old boy with Attention Deficit Disorder her home situation is almost the perfect storm. So how has THINK Together helped her?

“The THINK Together program that we have is teaching us techniques on how to control our anger and stress so we don’t take it out on the kids,” continues Betty. “They teach you to dedicate your time to your children and give them attention because if you don’t do it now they will turn around and get that attention somewhere else. Be it gangs, drugs or other bad influences.”

Perhaps the person who has noticed the changes the most is her husband Isaac. Before her involvement in THINK Together he had not been around much and was vehemently against going to any kind therapy or help. Now he sees how the parent education program has made a difference for Betty and is working on implementing the strategies she brings home with her.

“My husband has noticed a big change in me,” she says with a smile. “I’m not nagging him as much and we don’t fight nearly as much as we did, especially not in front of the kids.”

Without THINK Together she does not know where she would be now but she knows it would not be in a good place. She certainly could not imagine life going on the way it was before. Now she knows she can manage her family, keep her patience and most importantly, love her children and be there for them. Now she has the sense of peace and calm she lacked before. Now, for the first time in a long time, her complicated life seems livable.

Even though we offer our services freely of course, they are not truly free. Donors make up a vital part of the resources that allow THINK Together to bring the highest quality care to families. We rely on the support of individuals like you to serve the needs of families throughout the state. Your donation plays a critical role in helping us serve families just like Betty’s, so that students like Peter can reach their full potential.

To reach even more families, we need your help.

Note: The THINK Together early literacy program at Sepulveda Elementary School is in partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District with support from the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.

THINK Together Moves Into Northern California

2011-03-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

Students at Franklin Elementary School (Elk Grove Unified School District)

THINK Together, the largest non-profit provider of extended learning time programs, is expanding to Northern California opening after-school programs this Spring in partnership with the Elk Grove Unified School District (Sacramento County). These new programs will serve 400 students at Barbara Comstock Morse, James McKee, Roy Herburger, Mary Tsukamoto, and Franklin elementary schools.

Alicia Maciel Hired as Director of Strategic Initiatives at THINK Together

2011-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

SPOTLIGHT
New Hire

Alicia Maciel has been hired at THINK Together as Director of Strategic Initiatives. In joining the largest nonprofit provider of extended learning time programs in the U.S., Alicia sees herself, among other things, as paying forward the opportunities she was provided to achieve her own full potential as a student growing up in the farming heartland of California’s Central Valley.

One of four children of a migrant farm worker, Alicia moved from Mexico to California at the age of seven and entered third grade at McFarland Elementary School. During the next seven years the family would move seven times. Their living circumstances were much less than ideal as they moved from farm to farm. In middle school, she took up the flute and as part of the band she would travel outside her neighborhood to see other cities and towns in the region. Teachers identified her as a learner and scholar, as well as a student leader. They helped her excel, gave her a chance to achieve. She was invited to take part in California’s MESA program (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) and among other things was exposed to California’s college and university campuses. She would be elected student body president and graduated from Delano High School among the top of her class.

Her mother had always encouraged Alicia to reach for a college education, but when she learned that Alicia had been accepted to UC Berkley and would have to leave her family home in the Central Valley, her mother was less than excited. Nevertheless, because Alicia’s family had gained U.S. citizenship in 1986, she was able to qualify for financial aid and so she moved to the Bay Area to pursue a degree in finance and accounting from Cal’s Haas School of Business. At Cal, everyone is challenged academically but Alicia also had to juggle work and demands of her family back home.

At Cal, Alicia took advantage of Inroads, a program that finds internship placements for minority students and she landed at Chevron where she was hired full-time following graduation.

She was married in 1996 to a man whom she’d known as a child back in Mexico. Like Alicia, his family had also come to California and while they’d not seen one another in years, they became reacquainted when their families gathered for a joint Mother’s Day celebration. Alicia had not been content with earning a bachelor’s degree at UC Berkley and had applied and been accepted to Harvard’s MBA program. So, just two months after getting married, she and her husband, an electrical engineer, packed up and moved to Boston. Given her experiences at Chevron she was able to forgo Harvard’s summer internship placement and she completed the MBA coursework in 18 months.

Fresh out of Harvard she was recruited home to California by the Walt Disney Company where she would be a Strategic Business Planner at The Disneyland Resort. Among other things, she conducted financial evaluation of potential real estate acquisitions, developed a synergistic business plan for the Resort’s diverse photo merchandise opportunities, managed the proforma for the Tarzan Tree House and Chevron Autopia renovation projects, and facilitated a new business plan for the Annual Cast Member Holiday Party.

When Alicia and her husband decided it was time to expand their family, Alicia established a business consulting practice that would provide her with more flexibility. Her clients would include the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange Center for Spiritual Development, UCI Medical Center, Cal State Fullerton, Community SeniorServ, Grandma’s House of Hope, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, National Latina Business Women Association of Orange County, Paramount Farming Co., KRAFT Foods, Creative Memories Corporation, and more than 100 start-up to mid-size businesses in Orange County. She taught as an adjunct professor in the Entrepreneurship program at Cal State Fullerton. She was the first co-president of The Drucker Society in Orange County.

At THINK Together Alicia Maciel will oversee strategic initiatives.

“THINK Together is poised to double in size during the next couple of years. Alicia will help build the infrastructure to support and help us manage that growth,” explains Randy Barth, THINK Together’s founder and CEO.

Contact Alicia at amaciel@thinktogether.org or 714.543.3807. Learn more about Alicia at LinkedIn.

THINK Together Hires Parent Education Director in Santa Ana

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

SPOTLIGHT
New Hire

Maria Paez-Jimenez has been hired as THINK Together’s Parent Education Trainer. In addition to offering parenting classes and workshops at 7 schools in Santa Ana, Maria also connects parents to resources and serves as a liaison between the community and the school. The classes themselves focus on themes such as self-esteem, communication, anger management and parenting skills.

She has been a part of the Santa Ana community for over 20 years and her children have all gone through SAUSD.

Maria started as a student in Healthy Tomorrows, a school based parenting program supported by the County of Orange. She was immediately drawn to the changes it made in her own life that she decided to finish the 6 month course and become a leader in the program.

Maria has tremendous passion for the community and has always wanted to improve the lives of her community members. Prior to her work with parents she worked as a nurse where she noted many families needed emotional support as well as physical support for well being. We are excited to have Maria as part of the THINK Together team.

You can reach Maria at mjimenez@thinktogether.org , 714 543-3807 ext. 8179 or her mobile phone: 714-417-6214

THINK Together Volunteer Yariza Amaton to be Honored at Spirit of Volunteerism Luncheon

2011-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yariza Amaton is a wonderful volunteer that supports THINK Together's Pre-K Early Literacy Programs at both Heninger and Sepulveda Elementary Schools in Santa Ana. She is one of seven THINK Together volunteers who will be among those honored at OneOC's 35th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon April 14th at the Disneyland Hotel.

Yariza balances studying for school, working part time, an internship with a child abuse prevention organization, helping with her church and volunteering at THINK Together. Yariza is wonderful with the families we serve. She is warm, funny and a great help to all of us.

Congratulations Yariza!

SAVE THE DATE: THINK Together's Annual Benefit Dinner - June 11, 2011

2011-03-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE!

THINK Together

Annual Benefit Dinner

June 11, 2011

Hilton Anaheim

Questions: email Mcastillo@thinktogether.org or call (714) 543-3807, x 8118

THINK Together proudly announces this year's keynote speaker, Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the extraordinary Harlem Children's Zone. Mr. Canada, a nationally respected advocate for educational reform, was prominently featured in the wrenchingly eye-opening documentary about America’s educational system, “Waiting for Superman.” He will deliver an impassioned talk on the dire state of America’s public education system and the important role programs like THINK Together must play in its future.

Extended details and online reservations at THINK Together Annual Benefit

THINK Together Volunteer Abi McBean to be Honored at Spirit of Vounteerism Luncheon

2011-03-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Abi McBean is a senior at Corona Del Mar High School and has been volunteering at the Shalimar Learning Center (THINK Together's Costa Mesa "Legacy" site) for two years. She is one of seven THINK Together volunteers who will be among those honored at OneOC's 35th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon April 14th at the Disneyland Hotel.

Abi has been an inspirational volunteer to the students and staff at the Shalimar Learning Center. She is always giving of herself beyond the duties of a volunteer. She comes to the Shalimar Center every day of the week to tutor students and is currently leading our cookie club during Fun Friday Club activities. The students really enjoy her presence at the learning center.

Congratulations Abi!

THINK Together & AmeriCorps: March 2011 Newsletter

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Read about the meaningful impact THINK Together and AmeriCorps are having on several Southern California neighborhoods and communities. (March 2011 Newsletter).

Click graphic above to access complete .pdf

THINK Together Volunteer Rocio Montalvo Among Those to be Honored at Spirit of Volunteerism Luncheon

2011-03-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Rocio Montalvo is a patient, helpful and friendly THINK Together volunteer who enjoys working as well as laughing with our students at Madison Elementary (Santa Ana, CA). She is one of seven THINK Together volunteers who will be among those honored at OneOC's 35th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon April 14th at the Disneyland Hotel.

Rocio is a positive role model for the first graders she works with and is a thoughtful mentor supporting them with homework. She is great at reassuring the students and at encouraging them to complete their homework correctly. She is very helpful to THINK Together's staff too. The students' parents appreciate the individual attention she provides to all of the students in the class.

Congratulations Rocio!

THINK Together Students Light Up After-School

2011-03-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Students in the THINK Together programs at Madison Elementary School (Santa Ana, CA), With the help of photographer Eric A. Nelson and their THINK Together support team, used their brilliant minds and focus to create this human light bulb as part of "Project Light Up."

THINK Together Students Land on Postage Stamp

2011-03-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

Click graphic above to order

Students and staff at Madison Elementary School (Santa Ana, CA), working with photographer Eric A. Nelson, created this photo which is now available on a U.S. Postage Stamp. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the stamp go to THINK Together. Purchase here.

Together a Garden: THINK Together + Southern California Edison and Miramonte Elementary School

2011-03-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to play video here

Together a Garden: THINK Together with Southern California Edison and Miramonte Elementary School (South El Monte, CA) on Make A Difference Day.

Volunteer at THINK Together
Visit THINK Together on YouTube
Alternative viewing on SchoolTube

On Seuss' Birthday 'Cat in the Hat' Visits the Early Literacy Program at Sepulveda Elementary

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

The 'Cat in the Hat' (THINK Together Community Outreach Coordinator Joevanie Lopez) visited the pre-kinder literacy program at Sepulveda Elementary School (Santa Ana, CA) to mark March 2, 2011, 'Read Across America' Day as well as Dr. Seuss' Birthday.

"The Cat in the Hat wants to thank the Healthy Tomorrow's and Raising a Reader pre-kinder classes for a great day, I must say!"

Also, thank you to Sandra Barron (SAUSD) for sharing the photos.

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr (more than 2,750 pictures in all).

THINK Together Volunteer Yesenia Acolco to be Honored at Spirit of Volunteerism Luncheon

2011-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yesenia Acolco, a former Garfield Elementary School (Santa Ana, CA) student, has been volunteering with THINK Together at Garfield since last October. She is one of seven THINK Together volunteers who will be among those honored at OneOC's 35th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon April 14th at the Disneyland Hotel.

Yesenia has volunteered more than 130 hours to THINK Together beginning last October. Yesenia is a volunteer who is always willing to help in all areas of the after-school program from organizing supplies and setting up snacks to assisting students with homework.

Congratulations Yesenia!

'Read Across America' & THINK Together's Family Literacy Night at Dollahan Elementary

2011-03-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

The THINK Together program at Dollahan Elementary School (Rialto, CA) held a Family Literacy Night to mark 2011 'Read Across America' Day!

Along with their student(s), parents participated in THINK time doing the following activities: read a book to their child(ren), made creative bookmarks, completed Dr. Seuss worksheets & doorsigns, played word games, shared snacks and lastly, colored a Dr. Seuss 'Read Across America' participation award.

Ultimately, participating parents modeled strong reading skills and were proactive with their student's extended learning time.

Thank you Site Coordinator Melanie Magpantay for sharing these pics!

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss: Students at THINK Together's Highland Learning Center Support 'Read Across America'

2011-03-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

Students who attend programs at THINK Together's Highland Learning Center (Orange, CA), one of the organization's 'Legacy' Community Sites, took part in 2011 'Read Across America' Day and celebrated Dr. Seuss' Birthday as well.

Much thanks to THINK Together Site Coordinator Ruth Malagon for sharing these pics!

View other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

It's National Reading Month & THINK Together's Got Bookmarks!

2011-03-02T14:39:00.000-08:00

It's National Reading Month and THINK Together's got new bookmarks. If you'd like one, visit THINKtogether.org and in the upper right-hand corner "Join Our Email List" (be sure to include your standard mailing address too).

THINK Together Volunteers to be Honored at Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon

2011-03-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

OneOC (formerly the Volunteer Center of Orange County) will include seven THINK Together volunteers among honorees at its 35th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Luncheon to be held April 14th at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA.

The volunteers, who support Santa Ana schools and our Costa Mesa "Legacy" site, include:

Yesenia Acolco - Garfield Elementary;
Yariza Amaton - Early Literacy Program at Heninger/Sepulveda Elementary Schools;
Abi McBean - Shalimar Learning Center (THINK Together's "Legacy" site);
Rocio Montalvo - Madison Elementary;
Kara Morgan - Davis Elementary;
Rosa Sanchez - Lincoln Elementary; and
Victoria Solomon - Martin Elementary.

Inspiring Others: TED & THINK Together

2011-02-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

At THINK Together we appreciate TED: Ideas Worth Spreading.

In this funny, personal and suprisingly moving TED Talk, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.

At THINK we're Teaching, Helping, Inspiring and Nurturing Kids. Let's help all students realize their fullest potential.

"Like" THINK Together | The World is Obsessed with Facebook

2011-02-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view video here

The World Is Obsessed With Facebook from Alex Trimpe on Vimeo.

If you're a Facebook user, "Like" THINK Together to stay up with news and information about our extended learning time programs and share your stories, photos and insights too!

Also, find THINK Together on Vimeo.

Valley High THINK Together Students Take Top Honors

2011-02-23T11:03:00.000-08:00

The Swaggas at ValleyTHINK

The Swaggas, a hip-hop dance group that formed as part of the THINK Together after-school program at Valley High School in Santa Ana (ValleyTHINK), took first place among the Dance group and the Overall Talent award at the school's annual talent show. The group, which formed last year, is lead by dancers Yismar Toribio, Jasmine Cortez, Viridiana Brito and Bianca Martinez. The Swaggas had been practicing for months with the help of their dance instructor and THINK Together volunteer Mary Martin, and it paid off when they beat out more than ten other groups in the musical performance competition which was held Friday, February 18, 2011.

THINK Together's AmeriCorps Leadership Program - Feb. 2011 Newsletter

2011-02-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

Click above to view Feb. 2011 via Google Documents

THINK Together currently has 72 AmeriCorps members serving schools and neighborhoods in the greater El Monte, South El Monte and Rialto communities.

THINK Together's AmeriCorps Members Officially Sworn-in

2011-02-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

AmeriCorps members working with THINK Together to serve schools and neighborhoods in the greater El Monte, South El Monte and Rialto communities were officially sworn-in at a ceremony on February 14, 2011. Those in attendance included Rialto City Attorney Jimmy Gutierrez, Rialto schools superintendent Dr. Harold Cebrun and THINK Together founder and CEO Randy Barth.

Thanks to Donna Davis, Lawrence Gustafson, Adriana Kingston and Frances Vasquez for sharing information and pictures.

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr

Baldwin Park Students Celebrated Valentine's Day with Bring-A-Friend to THINK Together

2011-02-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

Students who take part in the THINK Together after-school program at Walnut Elementary School in Baldwin Park, CA, celebrated Valentine's Day with "Bring-A-Friend" to introduce fellow students to the program.

Thanks to Vanessa Jaquez, THINK Together Site Coordinator at Walnut Elementary, and Kathleen Sanchez, THINK Together Manager of Volunteers, for sharing pics and details about this event.

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

St. Joseph Health System's Ryan Faulkner Elected to THINK Together Board of Directors

2011-02-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Faulkner elected to THINK Together Board

Ryan J. Faulkner, senior vice president of Human Resources at St. Joseph Health System (SJHS), has been elected to the Board of Directors of THINK Together, the nonprofit provider of extended learning time programs supporting at-risk and low-income students throughout California.

"St. Joseph Health System believes in THINK Together and its vision. We've followed its evolution closely and we understand and support THINK Together's plans to scale its award-winning programs. I'm looking forward to playing a more active role in THINK Together's continued success," explains Faulkner.

Randy Barth, founder and CEO of THINK Together notes, "St. Joseph Health System continues to be one of our strongest community partners, and Ryan is a recognized leader in human resources, learning and leadership development. His expertise and perspective will help guide THINK Together as we continue to grow and expand our learning organization statewide."

Faulkner currently leads the HR function at SJHS. Previously, he was vice president of Talent and Rewards at SJHS, and an account executive with Accenture. He has experience developing human capital solutions to drive both top and bottom line improvement. Faulkner has successfully rolled out large-scale change in human resources programs with a focus on workforce transformation and leadership development. He is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, and holds a master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

See Press Release

THINK Together's FY 2009-10 Annual Report

2011-02-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

Use the embedded viewer below to review THINK Together's FY 2009-10 Annual Report. This year's annual report is a simple design by intention. See THINK Together's FY 2008-09 Annual Report for a more comprehensive guide to the programs and people behind THINK Together.

Open publication - Free publishing - More students

See THINK Together's complete library at issuu.com

University of Phoenix and THINK Together Bring Wonder of Robotics Science to Thousands of Southern California Children

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

excerpted from a Press Release

University of Phoenix Funds Support Mobile Robotics Labs
at 44 Schools

Costa Mesa, CA., Feb. 2, 2011 – University of Phoenix Southern California Campus announced today that it has teamed with THINK Together, California's largest non-profit provider of after-school and other academically focused extended learning programs, to provide a four-month curriculum and mobile robotics labs that will rotate among 44 area schools...

The funding from University of Phoenix allows for a complete installation of 22 mobile robotics laboratories that will serve 44 Southern California schools and be available to more than 15,000 students who participate in the THINK Together after-school programs at those sites.

The laboratories support STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning and are specifically designed to teach students scientific and mathematical concepts through robotics and applied technology. As part of the lab’s STEM curriculum, students engage in scientific endeavors that include designing in a Computer-Aided-Design program, building walking machines and conducting programming experiments. Through this curriculum, students also develop workplace skills including teamwork, cooperative learning, problem solving, critical thinking, analysis and logical development. The program is designed to empower students to excel in mathematics, science and engineering as well as prepare them for a potential career working with technology...

See Complete Press Release

THINK Together's Social Media Channels & Web 2.0

2011-02-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

A primer on Web 2.0 and THINK Together's social media channels.

Open publication - Free publishing - More youtube

THINK Together on:

At LA Kings NHL Hockey: University of Phoenix Supports THINK Together

2011-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

During a break at last wednesday's Los Angeles Kings game versus San Jose Sharks, University of Phoenix (UPOX) representatives took the ice and presented THINK Together with a check to support STEM curriculum available to 15,000 THINK Together students at 44 schools across Southern California.

Front: THINK Together students Jonathan Bucio, Alex Aguilera, Jose Campos,

Montserrat Ojeda, and Jocelyn Esparza.

Rear: Dr. Michael Geraghty, UOPX Director of Academic Affairs; Tom Linnert,

THINK Together Director of Volunteers; Johanna Vaca, THINK Together Site

Coordinator; Randy Barth, THINK Together Founder & CEO; Dr. James Ghormley,

UOPX Associate Director of Academic Affairs.

See this photo and THINK Together's entire photostream on Flickr.

THINK Together, Americorps and the City of El Monte Partner on 2011 LA County Homeless Count

2011-01-27T11:20:00.000-08:00

A THINK Together team, including site coordinators (SCs), program leaders (PLs), school site volunteers and AmeriCorps members, came together on January 25th, to aide the City of El Monte's participation in the 2011 LA County Homeless Count.

From left to right: SC Hector Martinez; El Monte Volunteer; PL/AmeriCorps Dasy Valdez;
PL/AmeriCorps Kary Guzman; PL/AmeriCorps Cesar Abad; 2 city

officials; Police Captain Santos Hernandez; El Monte police officer.

The El Monte effort was part of the nation's largest homeless census being conducted this past week utilizing thousands of volunteers who swept across 4,000 square miles of Los Angeles County to tally the number of people who lack permanent housing.

During El Monte's homeless count, which began at 8 PM and lasted until 2 AM, the representatives from THINK Together had a chance to talk to various city commissioners and officials. They shared details about THINK Together's local AmeriCorps program and discussed how THINK Together staff and AmeriCorps members might be more active in El Monte's civic affairs and community events. By the time they'd finished El Monte's homeless count in the early morning hours, all had exchanged contact information and pledged to continue the dialogue.

Word Cloud Suggests What You'll Find Here @ THINK Together

2011-01-26T18:37:00.000-08:00

Wondering what you'll find here at THINK Together's Blog? Check out this word cloud for some idea...

Want to surf around? Click the masthead at the top of this page to get back to the blog's main page. Then scroll down to view recent posts.

Want to see older posts? Trying to find something in particular?

Scroll to the bottom of the last post published here and click "Older Posts.
In the column to the right, scroll down and find "blog archive."
Smply return to the top left corner and search using key words.

This word cloud was created at Wordle.com.

Urban Learning Environments Mix Focus with Fun

2011-01-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

In The NEWS: A Summit 54 "Emerging Trends" Article

by Amy Fletcher

An after-school program. A coffee shop. And a high school targeted for turnaround. Their approaches are different, but their goals are the same: create learning environments for urban students that are positive, safe … and, well, cool.

It’s no easy feat, and leaders from these organizations say they themselves are still learning what works best. Yet, there is much to learn from THINK Together in Southern California; TeachBar, near Oakland, Calif.; and Manual High School in Denver, Colo.

Leaders from all three organizations spoke at the Emerging Trends & Innovations in Urban Education Conference, co-hosted by Summit 54 at the Aspen Institute earlier this year. Some of what’s working in their organizations is shared below. (Read more)

Ralphs President Michael Donnelly Elected to THINK Together Board

2011-01-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

Donnelly Elected to THINK Together Board

Michael J. Donnelly has been elected to the board of directors of THINK Together, the Santa Ana-based nonprofit provider of extended learning programs supporting at-risk students in Southern California. Mike is president of Ralphs Grocery Company, a position he has held since 2007. Prior to that, he was president of Fry’s Food Stores, a Phoenix-based division of The Kroger Company, and had served as Kroger’s senior vice president of Drug/GM Merchandising and Procurement.

“THINK Together has experienced unprecedented growth in the recent years because of the quality and success of its extended learning programs. The organization’s programs are in demand throughout California. We are humbled by the opportunity to help guide THINK Together as it enables even more students to achieve their full potential,” said Donnelly.

See Press Release

THINK Together at 2011 People's Choice Awards

2011-01-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

Tracy Bennett, THINK Together's manager of program evaluation and a THINK/UCI Doctoral Fellow took our trademark yellow light bulb along with her to "Light Up" the 2011 People' Choice Awards.

"Project Light Up" at the People's Choice Awards 2011

See other "Project Light Up" photos on Flickr

Martinez Received November Star THINKer Recognition From Peers

2010-12-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

SPOTLIGHT
Peer Recognition

Corina Martinez, Executive Administrative Assistant supporting THINK Together CEO Randy Barth, was awarded the Home Office Star THINKer Peer Recognition Award for November 2010. The following quotes are pulled from the nominations submitted by Corina's peers:

“I would like to nominate Corina because she has done an amazing job filling in some tough shoes. In addition, she has such a pleasant and professional voice. She’s perfect for the job!”

“I would like to nominate Corina because she is so wonderful at her job that she almost makes it look easy, even though we all know that it’s not. She has a great attitude about everything and it shows by the smile on her face and the great work that she produces. She not only takes care of Randy well but she also assists the different Chiefs while still finding the time to help others in the office. If anyone has seen the Jimmy Dean breakfast commercials, that’s what Corina reminds me of – she is a bright ray of sunshine that perks everyone up and gets them going through their day.”

Congratulations, Corina!

What I Learned at THINK Together...

2010-12-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

THINK Together's Project Light Up: Holiday Ornament Edition

2010-12-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

In an homage to THINK Together's trademark yellow light bulb, throughout the school year students at THINK Together after-school programs have collected old light bulbs and then decorated them for re-use as ornaments (for Christmas trees or other uses) during the holiday season. Some enterprising students sold their creative works at holiday fairs and boutiques where the items sold out quickly!

See more about "Project Light Up" and other photosets at Flickr.

Picture Perfect: THINK Together Students at Madison Elementary School Working on a New Year's Surprise!

2010-12-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to play video here

Students from the THINK Together program at Madison Elementary School in Santa Ana, CA are featured in this teaser video "Picture Perfect" -- part of "Project Light Up!" More to come in the New Year...

Special thanks to THINK Together Board Member Eric Nelson and THINK Together's Madison Site Coordinator Jonathan Harris for their creative support with this "Project Light Up!" effort.

See other THINK Together videos at SchoolTube.com and also on YouTube.

THINK Together's Holiday Open House for Board Members and Supporters

2010-12-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

THINK Together held its annual Holiday Open House for Board Members and key supporters at the home of Board Chair Fran Inman this past weekend. Below are some photos from the event which was hosted by some of the Santa Ana area high school students who have participated in THINK Together's programs.

click arrow below to view slideshow here

View other THINK Together photosets on Flickr and Facebook.

I Would Choose THINK Together...

2010-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

THINK Together in London...

2010-12-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

Former THINKer Franki Bickerdyke took THINK Together back to London

click arrow to see slideshow of other

pictures contributed to "Project Light Up"

If you are travelling over the holidays and want to take along THINK Together's trademark Light Bulb and/or want to contribute your own photos (travel or otherwise creative representations that make use of THINK Together's trademark Light Bulb) send such to info@THINKtogether.org and put "Project Light Up" in the subject line. Get creative! Help us share the good work of THINK Together throughout our communities and all over the globe!

Maria Reichel Hired as Strategic Projects Manager at THINK Together

2010-12-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

SPOTLIGHT
New Hire

Maria Reichel has been hired as Strategic Projects Manager at THINK Together. She will act as THINK Together’s Project Manager for the Santa Ana Promise Neighborhood (SAPN) Initiative: helping to drive service systems and data integration efforts involving multiple agencies that comprise the Promise Neighborhoods Collaborative; serving as a liaison to the Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABHC) Initiative, helping to ensure that SABHC and SAPN leverage efforts; and, serving as an integral part of the team that pursues additional funding for this effort including helping to manage the writing of the implementation plan.

Previously Maria was a project manager for the Children & Families Commission of Orange County; an Associate at Mercer Consulting; and a Summer Fellow at Goldman Sachs in New York.

She graduated cum laude with both a B.A. in International Political Economy from Colorado College and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Columbia University.

You can reach Maria at mreichel@THINKtogether.org or at (714)543-3807, x. 8184.

Steven Amick Joins THINK Together as Director of School District Partnerships

2010-12-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

SPOTLIGHT
New Hire

Steven Amick has been hired as THINK Together’s Director of School District Partnerships. He will be working closely with Founder and CEO Randy Barth to manage the organization’s expansion efforts in targeted communities across California.

Steven has over eighteen years experience at every level of after-school direct service and administration. Beginning in 1992, he served seven years as a program director for the School Outreach Services Department of the YMCA of San Diego County, providing after-school services to students ages 8 to 15 living in socio-economically impacted communities. In 1999, he was selected to administer the City of San Diego’s “6 to 6” Extended Day program, which brought after-school services to scale within its jurisdiction in partnership with San Diego Unified School District. In 2003, he was hired by the San Diego County Office of Education to coordinate the second largest state-funded after-school program in California, and the following year he was appointed to lead the Region 9 Technical Assistance Center, serving over 500 after-school programs in San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties.

In 2007, he co-founded the League of California Afterschool Providers and served as its executive director. This three-year project convened and coordinated the state’s largest publicly-funded after-school grantees to inform policy and administrative decisions affecting the field. Steven is Vice-Chair of the National Afterschool Association, is past Co-Chair of the California Afterschool Network Executive Committee, is an Ambassador Emeritus of the Afterschool Alliance, and was designated by the state Office of the Secretary of Education to serve on the California Advisory Committee on Before and After-School Programs.

During the remainder of the current fiscal year, Steven will continue to work on policy efforts part-time as Coordinator of the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance, a coalition of after-school supporters dedicated to protecting Proposition 49 funding. Beginning in July of 2011, he will work for THINK Together full-time.

Steven is a graduate of San Diego State University (SDSU) and holds a B.A. in Political Science.

You can reach Steven at samick@thinktogether.org or at (714) 543-3807, x8185.

Q&A with THINK Together Benefactor Donald Bren

2010-11-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

Donald Bren

The following is from an Orange County Register Q&A with businessman and philanthropist Donald Bren, Irvine Company chairman, originally published November 26, 2010.

...This past month, when he was given the first "Donald Bren Legacy of Giving Award," (a permanent award created by the investment group that backs National Philanthropy Day in Orange County), the group listed Bren's total charity – so far -- at $1.3 billion and some 93,000 acres of land...

Q. Some of your gifts have touched areas that don't seem to have much to do with your core businesses. Can you fill in some detail about why you give the way you do?

A. Rather than limiting my contributions to a singular geography, I have tried to focus on certain areas of need – education, for example. I believe that by doing so, we can collectively have the greatest impact. I believe the greatest investment we can make is in the education of our children, wherever they live. Using THINK Together as an example, I saw a need off The Irvine Ranch, in Santa Ana, to help improve the quality of education in local public schools. Through my partnership with THINK Together, we have been able to serve some 70,000 at-risk and low-income students, raise test scores and improve the overall quality of life for children throughout Southern California.

Q. Your developments and reputation indicate that you see minute detail as critical to the success of any venture. Do you take the same mindset when involved in philanthropy? Do your nonprofit projects take on a life similar to business projects?

A. I consider myself lucky because I have been able to transfer many of my business experiences and much of my own time toward creating nonprofit community investments. And I do try to bring the same level of attention to both my philanthropic and business ventures.

Q. How does one measure the success of a gift?

A. We use the same philosophy for our nonprofit investments as we do for our real estate investments. First, we ask that the nonprofits we support to have goals and to be able to measure their results. We also look for strong leadership, with a passion in their mission. And our nonprofit partners have done a fantastic job due to this shared philosophy and focus. (Full Story)

THINK Together's Now on SchoolTube.com (Check out our videos)

2010-11-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

http://bit.ly/THINKonSchoolTube

Haven't been able to view videos associated with THINK Together's YouTube Channel?

Well, now you can find THINK Together on SchoolTube.com:

Visit our THINK Together "school" or
Simply search for videos tagged "THINKtogether."

"THANKS for GIVING" Mosaic Features 500 Images Found on THINK Together's Photostream at Flickr.com

2010-11-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

click to access/view larger image

This harvest image mosaic was created with the help of THINK Together board member Eric A. Nelson as the cover of the organization's annual "THANKS for GIVING" card mailed to stakeholders this past weekend. Eric, who is also vice president of Red Mountain Retail Group and a photographer, used more than 500 of the 2,600 images that have been contributed by scores of individuals and uploaded to THINK Together's photostream on Flickr.com since November 2008.

Find the mosaic image alternatively at THINKtogether.org/2010HarvestMosaic, on Flickr.com or via the tabs (Photos or "My Flickr") at Facebook.com/THINKtogether.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

THANKS for GIVING

2010-11-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

To all who dedicate their time, talent and resources to support THINK Together throughout the year ...

2010 "THANKS for GIVING" Card

View more presentations from THINK Together.

THINK Together's Bill Fennessy Recognized with California Afterschool Network's Innovator Award

2010-11-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

click above to read/download poster

highlighting Bill Fennessy's work

Bill Fennessy, THINK Together's Director of High School Programs, was honored by the California Afterschool Network at its 2010 Step Up High School Summit Innovator Awards Reception.

The High School Afterschool Innovator Awards were established to highlight promising practices and honor the contributions of outstanding individuals demonstrating innovative practices within high school after-school programs, and the field of high school after-school.

California Afterschool Network: 2010 High School After School Innovator Award Recipients

THINK Together News from Orange County

2010-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Summer/Fall 2010 Newsletter | THINK Together's Orange County Region

click graphic to read or download

In This Issue:

OC Top Picks
Volunteers in Action
Summer Learning Program 2010
Early Literacy
Tia's Slice
A Veteran THINKers Goodbye

THINK Together Students Made Their Presence Known at HomeWalk 2010

2010-11-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

click arrow below to view slideshow here

More than 600 students from THINK Together's Middle School programs particpated in HomeWalk 2010, a 5k walk organized annually by United Way LA and others to raise funds for and bring attention to the homelessness situation in Los Angeles County. Thanks to Site Coordinators John Gaines and Mirna Medina for providing photos in this set.

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

Also, photographer Ralph Goody has generously shared his complete HomeWalk 2010 photo album on SmugMug (nearly 1,000 images).

THINK Together Board Elects Fran Inman as Chair

2010-11-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

Fran Inman

The board of directors of THINK Together has elected Fran Inman as its Chair. THINK Together, a nonprofit with annual revenues of $50 million, is the largest and a leading provider of after-school and other extended learning programs supporting at-risk students throughout Southern California. Inman joined the board of directors in 2008, has co-chaired the organization's annual benefit and helped recruit other community and civic leaders to serve on THINK Together's newly established regional leadership councils.

Inman is senior vice president at Majestic Realty Co. In that role, she directs all government relations and community affairs activities for Majestic, one of the nation's largest privately held, family-owned real estate development companies. She is also founding president of the Majestic Realty Foundation.

A civic and philanthropic leader, Inman was recently appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the California Transportation Commission. As immediate past chair of the board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Inman has served on numerous statewide and regional goods movement committees and serves on the board of governors for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the executive committee for the Central City Association (CCA), the executive committee for the California Business Properties Association (CBPA) and is the former chair of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. She also is founding board member and executive committee member for FuturePorts.

Inman earned both a B.A. and an M.B.A. in finance from California State University, Fullerton and served on the Executive Council of the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics at CSUF. She and her husband Ron, a retired teacher, live in Lemon Heights.

THINK Together Students Supporting HomeWalk 2010 to End Homelessness in LA County

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, November 13th, approximately 600 middle school students, among those who participate in THINK Together's after-school programs across Los Angeles County, will take part in HomeWalk 2010 organized by United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Their participation represents the fourth year that THINK Together students have supported this walk to end homelessness in Los Angeles County. This year THINK Together's AmeriCorps Members in LA County will also join the students.

The 5k walk is centered around Exposition Park/USC/Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and kicks off at 9:00 AM. To support HomeWalk 2010 visit http://www.homewalkla.org/.

HomeWalkLA.org
888.2.HELP.LA

Thank a Teacher!

2010-11-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

We've discovered yet another terrific animated video on the state of education. This one, "Thank a Teacher," is making its way across the internet.

click arrow below to play here

This video written and produced by Sonja Jacob for mudpiesandbutterflies.com is similar to another we've previously posted, "The Future is in Our Classrooms."

To see other videos we have posted, like, or included in our playlists, click on the "video" label below or visit the THINKtogether YouTube channel.

THINK Together News from Foothill Region

2010-11-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

Fall 2010 Newsletter | THINK Together's Foothill Region

Click graphic to read or download

In This Issue:

Lights on Afterschool
Volunteer Update
Farewell to Sue, Welcom to Fernando
Welcome to our new SES Analyst
Foothill Birthdays
Pictures from Foothill Programs

Shalimar Teen Center to host Scary Movie Night

2010-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Shalimar Teen Center's Scary Movie Night, October 29th, 7-10pm,
779 Shalimar Dr., Apt. 1, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. More Info: 949.650.7648

Highland Teen Center in Orange Celebrates Grand Opening of Expanded Facilities

2010-10-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

THINK Together's Highland Teen Center hosted the Grand Opening of the new facilities for its high school program last Friday, October 22nd. This expansion ultimately means that THINK Together will be able to serve nearly double the number of students in the Highland community and provide a safe, enriching place where they can go after school.

Daisy Velazquez (10th grade), Tanairi Mendoza (11th grade), Bethany
Grimes (Community Site Specialist), and Tony Bracamontes (Program Leader)
getting ready to cut the ribbon.

The students and staff at the Highland Centers appreciate all the support they receive and thank all the guests who we were able to attend the Grand Opening including Fran Inman, THINK Together Board Chair. This is a new beginning for Highland Teen Center and the staff and volunteers at the center look forward to serving more students in the community.

Daisy Velazquez (10th grade), Tanairi Mendoza (11th grade), Bethany

Grimes (Community Site Specialist), and Tony Bracamontes (Program

Leader) getting ready to cut the ribbon.

Miramonte Principal Jeff Lagozzino Says Thank You for "Make a Difference Day" Support

2010-10-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Following the 2010 Make a Difference Day "Breaking Ground" garden project held at Miramonte Elementary School in South El Monte, CA this past Saturday...

"The toughest part about getting a project started is actually starting. This garden has been three years in the making but we just couldn't get it going. Thank you so much to THINK Together, SCE (Southern California Edison), Thompson's Building Materials, students, families, staff, and community volunteers! Our vision for a school garden is now becoming a reality!"

--- Jeff Lagozzino, Miramonte Elementary School Principal

Make A Difference Day 2010: Breaking Ground with THINK Together, Edison and Miramonte Elementary

2010-10-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Click arrow below to view slideshow here

In partnership with Southern California Edison and Miramonte Elementary School in South El Monte, CA, THINK Together organized "Breaking Ground," a "Make a Difference Day 2010" project to establish a student/community garden at the school. Everyone got dirty and had a lot of fun.

THANKS to all at Miramonte Elementary, Mountain View School District, Southern California Edison, THINK Together staff and volunteers, students and parents all of whom contributed their time and hard work. Now let's watch their garden grow!

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

Join THINK Together and SCE Tomorrow for "Make A Difference Day"

2010-10-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Click graphic above or link below to view details

THINK Together & SCE Plan 2010 "Make a Difference Day" Project in El Monte

Also via San Gabriel Valley News.

THINK Together Crew Supports Baldwin Park Blood Drive; Saves lives of 18 children

2010-10-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

From left to right: Raul (THINK Together SC @ Geddes Elementary),

Maria (SC @ Bursh Elementary), Elizabeth (SC @ Foster Elementary), PL from

Foster Elementary, Laura (SC @ Kenmore Elementary) and Vanessa (SC @

Walnut Elementary) give blood to help student in Baldwin Park.

On Thursday October 14, 2010, THINK Together staffers in Baldwin Park got together at Foster Elementary to donate blood for a student that has Leukemia. As the THINKers checked-in and talked to the nurses they learned that for each bag they donated 3 children's lives would saved. Together they contributed enough blood to save the lives of 18 kids. We were so happy and proud of our Baldwin Park team members who came out during their lunch breaks to support this cause. Once again they demonstrated that they care, above and beyond what's expected, about the students in their communities.

See related pics: http://flickr.com/photos/think-together/sets/72157625067529997

See other THINK Together photosets on Flickr.

Video Highlights THINK Together's Early Literacy Partnership

2010-10-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

click arrow below to play video here

THINK Together's Early Literacy Program from THINK Together on Vimeo.

THINK Together serves more than 500 pre-k students and families through the early literacy program it's piloting in partnership with the Children and Families Commission of Orange County and the Santa Ana Unified School District.

Santa Fe Depot Event Benefited THINK Together's Inland Region Extended Learning Programs

2010-10-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

More than 100 area residents raised money recently at a "Cocktails at the Museum," event for THINK Together, an after-school and extended-learning program.

click arrow below to view slideshow here

The event, held at the Santa Fe Depot Museum, benefited more than 225 schools and community sites throughout the Inland region, including Colton, Jurupa, Lake Elsinore, Redlands and San Bernardino.

"Cocktails at the Museum" was hosted by Joe and Leona Aronoff-Sadacca.

Among those in attendance were Dr. Dan and Carol Averill, Vaughn and Ann Bryan, Rialto schools Superintendent Harold Cebrun, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, Paul and Susan Shimoff, Bruce and Nancy Varner, Redlands School Board President Neal Waner, Stan and Ellen Weisser and Kent Paxton.

Also attending were THINK Together founder and CEO Randy Barth and the organization's board chair, Fran Inman.

The Hobos band provided entertainment.

Proceeds from the event will go towards THINK Together's Inland region $1 million annual private fundraising goal.

THINK Together @ Valley View Elementary Recognizing October as "PINK Together"

2010-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Activities Centered around Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Supporting Spirits of Cancer Patients at Nearby City of Hope

http://www.cityofhope.org/

In 2009, the mother of Jami Mendoza, THINK Together Site Coordinator at Valley View Elementary School in Duarte, was diagnosed with breast cancer. So, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jami and her student's have made October "PINK Together" month at THINK Together. Among other projects and activities, students have created posters and greeting cards to share with cancer patients and survivors at nearby City of Hope.

THINK Together students at Valley View Elementary created cards & posters for
cancer patients/survivors at City of Hope.

The October theme for students in the THINK Together program at Valley View
Elementary is "PINK Together" in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

NBC's "School Pride" Premiers Tonight @ 8PM

2010-10-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

New NBC reality TV program hopes to show ordinary Americans how to make a difference for public school students caught in dismal situations.

click arrow below to play video here

Jack Soboroff
Co-Host, NBC's School Pride

"The documentary film Waiting for 'Superman' has many people talking about the state of education in America. We all want to improve schools, but the details of the debate -- merit pay, teacher tenure, charter schools -- are enough to make your head spin.

"Luckily, you don't need to be an expert in school policy to make a difference. With a little organization, communities can come together and start forcing change all by themselves. "School Pride" proves there's enormous desire among everyday Americans to improve our schools and demand accountability from our leaders.

"The movement we're hoping to be part of isn't just about makeovers -- it's about bringing communities together to show young people their future matters. We hope our work will help students achieve educational success by removing physical barriers to learning, while showing viewers at home the human toll of our dysfunctional school bureaucracies.

"Ultimately, school leaders and politicians work for us, not the other way around. It's our job to make sure they know we care, and we're watching. School reformer Geoffrey Canada got it right in Waiting for 'Superman' -- it won't be a flying man in tights who will save our kids. We have to save them ourselves." (see more on Huffington Post)

Follow "School Pride" on Facebook (facebook.com/NBCSchoolPride) and Twitter (@NBCSchoolPride)

THINK Together to Host More Than 210 "Lights on Afterschool" Events

2010-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

More than 210 THINK Together sites will host events next Thursday, October 21, as part of a nationwide celebration called "Lights on Afterschool."

The celebration, now entering its second decade, is intended to call attention to the importance of after-school programs for America's children, families and communities. The events hosted by THINK Together will be among the more than 5,100 such happenings around the country.

Among other things, Mount Rushmore and the Empire State Building will be specially lit in recognition of "Lights On Afterschool."

To find a THINK Together event near you, click here. Use the keyword "THINK" and select State: CA (California).

"Lights on Afterschool" is organized nationally by the Afterschool Alliance.

See details about "Lights On Afterschool 2010" - Celebration at the CA State Capitol.

Follow the Afterschool Alliance and "Lights On Afterschool" on Facebook and Twitter.

Also ... see pictures from THINK Together's "Project Light Up!"

Oprah's Infographic: Shocking Education Statistics

2010-10-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

click infographic to view as originally posted at Oprah.com

More from Oprah: Waiting for "Superman:" the movie that could revolutionize America's schools

Waiting for Superman Director Salutes Great Teachers

2010-10-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

In this animated short video, Waiting for "Superman" director Davis Guggenheim salutes his 10th grade History teacher Harvey LeSure and all the other great teachers!

click arrow below to play video here

To get Waiting for "Superman" updates via your mobile device, text POSSIBLE to 77177.

"Like" the film on Facebook or follow the film on twitter.

Leave a comment below and tell us about one of your great teachers or a great teacher you know. Or let us know what you think makes a great teacher.

THINK Together & SCE Plan 2010 "Make a Difference Day" Project in El Monte

2010-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 23 • 9:00am - 1:00pm
Miramonte Elementary School
10620 Schmidt Rd. • El Monte, CA

Join THINK Together and Southern California Edison (SCE) in "Breaking Ground" at Miramonte Elementary (El Monte, CA) to celebrate "Make a Difference Day" 2010. Working together, we will be building a garden for Miramonte's students and there will be fun activities for the students to do as well.

How can you help? By getting your hands dirty, taking photos, visiting the "green" stations or by donating garden supplies. This is going to be a very memorable day, and we would love to have you be a part of it! For more information or to sign up, contact Kathleen Sanchez or RSVP via Facebook.

On Facebook: THINK Together; Hands on Network; Make a Difference Day.

Via Twitter: THINK Together; Hands on Network; #MDDay10

THINK Together in Baldwin Park on Flickr

2010-10-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tisha Acquino, THINK Together's Quality Assurance Coach (QAC) for the Baldwin Park Unified School District, has set up a photostream on Flickr to feature schools she supports. Currently it features photos from Walnut and DeAnza Elementary Schools.

THANKS for sharing Tisha! We look forward to seeing more from your sites in Baldwin Park throughout the school year!

click arrow below to play slideshow here

See THINK Together's photosets on Flickr too.

Education by the Numbers Infographic

2010-10-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Education created this infographic. Click on the graphic above to open a printable version in your browser.

Follow Microsoft Education on Twitter. Visit Microsoft Education Newsroom.

Enter Microsoft's Make Education Great contest and win $5,000 for you and $20,000 for your school.

THINK Together Students to Participate in 2010 "Read for the Record" Global Literacy Event

2010-10-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

4th Annual "Read for the Record"

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010

This Thursday (Oct. 7, 2010), THINK Together students will join with Jumpstart, The Pearson Foundation and several million fellow students across the globe to "Read for the Record." This international literacy campaign brings children together with valued grownups in their lives who will all read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. This year participants will be reading Ezra Jack Keats’ book The Snowy Day (UN Dia De Nieve).

In 2009, more than 2 million students, including 6,000 from THINK Together, participated in “Read for the Record.” That was up from the 700,000 children who participated in 2009. "Read for the Record" started in 2006.

It’s still not too late to participate. Take the Pledge to Read now and help us take part in setting a new World Record. You can also sign-up for other parent and family resources when you register.

Jumpstart Kids: “Read for the Record” Resource Page.

Read The Snowy Day Online. Google Books: The Snowy Day

Follow Jumpstart and "Read for the Record" on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube.

Teachers in America Infographic Supports "Thank a Teacher" Campaign

2010-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

This infographic designed by Column Five Media for mudpiesandbutterflies.com, details how important teachers are to our children's lives and society in general. At THINK Together, we collaborate with some great teachers as we work to align after-school with school day learning and help students close the achievement gap.

Click graphic below for larger version

To see infographic in original full view, click here

This infographic was designed to support the animated video, "Thank a Teacher," created by Sonja Jacob for mudpiesandbutterflies.com which we previously shared.