Conference fee $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information, please email Mara Gross at: mgross@morningsidecenter.org.

MORNINGSIDE CENTER for Teaching Social Responsibility educates young people for hopeful and intelligent engagement with their world. A national leader in fostering social and emotional learning (SEL), Morningside Center reaches tens of thousands of educators and students each year through an array of programs that develop such skills as handling anger, being assertive, solving conflicts creatively and nonviolently, and dealing well with diversity. We help teachers make their classrooms more caring and productive. We support students in taking leadership to improve their communities--from the classroom to the world. Support our work by making an online contribution!

See the services we provide for schools:

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See Morningside Center's newly published
2008-2009 ANNUAL REPORT

It's official!

New gold-standard study shows our 4Rs Program helps kids do better socially, emotionally & academically.

Top researchers at New York University, Fordham University, and Harvard have published their findings from a three-year, federally funded study of Morningside Center's 4Rs Program (Reading, Writing, Respect & Resolution). The study tracked the development of children in nine New York City elementary schools that implemented the program compared with children in nine control schools.

Findings from the first two years of the study are now official: Compared with children in the control schools, children in the 4Rs schools were less hyperactive, less aggressive, and saw their social world as less hostile. They were happier and more likely to resolve interpersonal problems competently.

What's more, during the first year children judged to be at greatest behavioral risk by their teachers had better attendance than their counterparts in the control schools and made better academic progress as rated by teachers. By the second year, they were also doing better on standardized tests. In addition, 4Rs schools had significantly higher levels of overall classroom quality compared to control schools.

• Learn more about The 4Rs
• Read the details of The 4Rs study
  
  

What's New on TeachableMoment.Org

TeachableMoment.Org, Morningside Center's website of free teacher resources, provides timely, inquiry-oriented lessons on issues of the day. Newly posted items include:

HOWARD ZINN: People's Historian (2/3/10) The important and often controversial historian and social movement activist Howard Zinn died on January 27. A student reading about the man and his ideas is followed by discussion questions and suggestions for further inquiry and citizenship.

Supreme Court Rejects Limits on CORPORATE ELECTION SPENDING (1/27/10) A student quiz, reading and discussion explore the court's role in interpreting the Constitution and its recent decision to lift limits on corporate & union election ad spending.

HAITI CRISIS (1/19/10) Help your students learn about the earthquake and Haiti's history, and brainstorm about how they can help Haitians now and in the long run.
High School: DEVASTATION IN HAITI
Elementary & Middle School: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HAITI?

STONES INTO SCHOOLS (1/20/10) Alan Shapiro reviews the new book by Greg Mortenson, whose mission is to "promote peace through books, not bombs" in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King: THE POWER OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE (1/13/10) Through engaging activities, video, and small-group discussion, elementary or middle school students consider the Montgomery Bus Boycott and how they might stand up against injustice in their own lives.

THE DRONE STRIKE CONTROVERSY (1/13/10) Two student readings explore the controversy over the use of remotely-piloted aircraft to drop bombs in the Afghanistan/Pakistan war. Discussion questions, a fish bowl activity and a writing assignment follow.

The SENATE FILIBUSTER & DEMOCRACY (1/6/10) A classroom activity has students simulate a US Senate filibuster. Two student readings then explore the Senate's less-than-democratic 60-vote rule and possible methods for reforming it. Discussion questions, writing and citizenship activities follow.

BRINGING THE IRAQ WAR TO A 'RESPONSIBLE END' (12/29/09) Three student readings and discussion questions probe current conditions in Iraq and the U.S.'s moral responsibilities there.