Thursday Thoughts: Interesting Literacy and Learning Links From the Past Week

BRAIN TEASER:
 
Glance at the picture below. Then stare at it and see what happens. Cool, right?
 

By arranging a series of patterns, images, and colors strategically, or playing with the way an object is lit, the brain can be tricked into seeing something that isn't there. In this case the frontal view of this man’s face can be interpreted in the brain as a profile view instead. Do you see it?

INTERESTING LITERACY AND LEARNING LINKS:
 
Teaching Four-Year-Olds to Feel Better. Improved social and emotional skills can help four-year-olds spend more time engaged in learning. NPR, July 14, 2014.
 
Learning to Read May Take Longer Than We Thought. "In a nutshell," Coch says, "by fourth grade you stop learning to read and start reading to learn. We're done teaching the basic skills in third grade, and you go use them starting in the fourth." But, Coch's team found that assumption may not be true. NPREd, July 26, 2014.

Americans Overwhelmingly Favor Expanding Early Childhood Education. Is Congress Listening? According to a new poll released by The First Five Years Fund, 71 percent of voters—including 60 percent of Republicans—support investment in early childhood education even if it increases the deficit in the short term but pays for itself in the long-term by improving children’s education. NEA Today, July 28, 2014.

Stern Center July ENews. Tips on getting organized to go back to school, heavenly vacations to bid on in our online auction, and a warm welcome to Dr. Eileen Harris, Psy.D, NCSP, who will be joining our team.