Small Talks, No. 70
July 29, 2022
Welcome to the seventieth edition of Small Talks. Every Friday, I highlight 6 areas of weekly joys and reflections in early childhood and the whole family. Small Talks leverages my experience at the intersection of education, philanthropy, and impact investing. Enjoy!
What I’m celebrating -
Thought provoking essay by Erika Bachiochi, Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, about the reunification of home and work.
As an illustration, Rachel Carlson, CEO/founder of unicorn Guild Education posted those pictures of little learners.
1) So many important meetings happening at @GuildEducation this week...! 2) The office is so much more joyful when our Guild preschool kiddos come on up to have lunch with the grown-ups! Their parting words - "Now get back to your work, typing on keyboards or whatever!"
New report by Capita highlights the gaps in parents’ capacity for nurturing parenting.
1 in 3 parents are lonely.
1 in 4 do not have anyone they look to for parenting advice during their child’s critical developmental years.
Amazing profile of Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy and Khan Academy Kids by Mark Swartz at Early Learning Nation, who refers to Sal as the Dumbledore of "a planet-changing education powerhouse.”
“We may try to put away childish things, but we can’t, or shouldn’t. The best thing that can happen is that we turn them into something bigger & more beautiful.” — Sal Khan
Great summary by the Ballmer Foundation on what bold and flexible philanthropy looks like- totaling $544m in donations.
For inspiration, check this artwork for limitless imagination…
What I’m listening to -
What do we mean by transforming education? Why is it so difficult? Fascinating keynote address at the UN High Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development by Leonardo Garnier, Special Adviser to the UN.
I particularly appreciated the comprehensive answer to “What do we mean by transforming education?”, especially this piece:
“A fourth and usually underappreciated role of education is that of developing our capacity to enjoy life and to live it fully and well. This includes many of the most sublime aspects of the human endeavor: our creative potential; our aesthetical capacity to enjoy and to express ourselves through the arts; our disposition for leading a healthy life; our practice of physical activities, games, and sports; as well as the pleasure of stimulating entertainment and our capacity for sharing this joy with others.”
What I’m reading -
“The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionalize Everything” by Matthew Ball is an interesting read given all the hype around the metaverse. I would have loved to see more at the intersection with learning, so went to read this recently published manual. Good book review here. Also contains a solid definition of the metaverse:
“A massively scaled and interoperable network of real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously and persistently by an effectively unlimited number of users with an individual sense of presence, and with continuity of data, such as identity, history, entitlements, objects, communications, and payments.”
What I’m watching -
“The Truth About Reading” is a new documentary that highlights the major reading issue in America. 1 in 4 children grows up without knowing how to read. 43 million adults in America do not read. It advocates to look beyond to “reading wars” for more children to become proficient readers.
What I’m learning more deeply -
Interesting survey from WeeCare about parents’ struggles during summer months.
93% of U.S. parents do not receive any form of childcare benefits from their employers that can be utilized to access summer childcare.
Nearly 8 out of 10 parents (78%) report that the search for summer childcare is a source of anxiety and stress.
Great piece by Elissa Strauss for CNN on socio-emotional learning, and why, more than ever, we need to teach our small humans about how to be human.
American’s Child Care Equilibrium Has Shattered by Elliot Haspel in The Atlantic highlights growing child care wait lists throughout the country, and why the child care crisis hinges on a well-compensated & well-respected job.
Beautiful piece about teaching moments by Kerry Graham.
A Quote I’m pondering -
“Children do not play because they learn; They play because they play.”
— Magda Gerber
Feedback is a gift. Which part above is your favorite? What did I miss? What do you want more or less of? Other recommendations? Please kindly let me know. Thank to all of you who are sending me amazing suggestions.
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Have a wonderful week. Please stay safe and care for each other.
Isabelle