Small Talks, No. 79
September 30, 2022
Welcome to the seventy ninth 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 -
New research from Pat Kuhl, Professor of Speech & Hearing Sciences, and her team at I-LABs at the University of Washington demonstrates that mothers’ and children’s brains fired in neural synchrony. This is a new big scientific step in demonstrating the causal relationship of social interactions on learning.
Interesting analysis of megatrends in education by Michael Moe at GSV.
Metaverse
Thinking w/ Machines
Digital World
Friction Free
Glocalization
Rise of the Middle Class
Mission Corp
Everything is a Subscription
Women Power
Sustainability
TeachFX is an interesting innovator to watch providing automated feedback to teachers driving better learning outcomes.
For inspiration, check this out…
What I’m listening to -
New podcast MOMnumental by Jesse Draper explores the world of childcare, education, foster care, and parenting. The first episode features Jessica Chang, CEO and Co-Founder of WeeCare.
What I’m reading -
Learning in Public - Lessons for a Racially Divided America From My Daughter’s School by Courtney Martin is a thought provoking book about a mom enrolling her white child in a lower resourced school in Oakland. Good summary here by Connor Williams.
What I’m watching -
I had the chance of hosting psychologist Carol Dweck this past week, and enjoyed re-listening to her TEDTalk on growth mindset and the power of “not yet”.
What I’m learning more deeply -
A great piece in the Atlantic: Our ability to create more space for families of young kids to flourish impacts everything, from education to parental and child well-being. Family is the foundation.
Psychologist Alison Gopnik reflects on the state of science about brain plasticity and the disconnects with policy.
“The science tells us that love allows learning, nurture leads to resilience, a rich environment generates a sense of possibility.”
Raw powerful portraits of families and the impact of the absence of paid family leave nationally by Glamour
Why do we laugh? Scientist say it has to do with human survival…
A quote I’m pondering -
“I am still learning.”
— Michelangelo (at age 87)
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.
If you enjoy this newsletter, please help spread the word by sharing with your friends, colleagues, and networks.
Have a wonderful week. Please stay safe and care for each other.
Isabelle
The Glamour reporting about mothers' lives in the first 28 days after giving birth are so powerful. Our country's lack of support for mothers is shameful.
These mothers' stories illustrate the need for inclusive policies that are not built around waged work. Matt Bruenig of the People's Policy Project has written critiques of recent paid leave proposals, showing that millions of mothers would be left out. He proposes a universal leave plan that would help mothers like some of those in the Glamour reporting who have no paid leave: a pediatric dentist (works as a contractor), a chef, a supermarket worker, an entrepreneur.
I hope everyone who advocates for paid leave with read the Glamour article and pay attention to the details of proposed paid leave plans and insist on universal coverage, without consideration of paid employment. Include all mothers!
Bruenig makes the case for universal parental leave here: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2021/10/26/the-case-for-making-parental-leave-actually-universal/