Afrocentric Learning Tools

Something Postive For The Kids

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 15:10:00 +0000

$3.67
Golden Blaze

The animated movie “The Golden Blaze” features multicultural characters and is the story of two boys whose schoolyard rivalry spirals out of control, when in a freak accident their fathers develop superpowers and become puppets in their sons’ war. The movie is filled with plenty of lively action and loads of laughs, and will delight and thrill both kids and adults of all backgrounds.

Quality without Cost: The Top NYC Public Schools and Specialized High Schools

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 15:24:00 +0000

For a number of reasons the private school experience is not for everyone and it doesn’t have to be. There are also exceptional public schools at which your child can receive a quality education. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to research the best schools in your area and the internet is an excellent research tool. Whether it is from the comfort of your own home, at the office, the library, or an internet café, it is well worth your time to visit the following web pages dedicated to NYC Schools.

The NYC Department of Education [www.nycenet.edu]
When researching NYC public schools the Department of Education’s website is the best place to start. Packed with an abundance of tools, resources, news, and information, this site can turn any curious parent into an Educational Guru.

Insideschools.org [www.insideschools.org]
Created by a group of committed public school parents, children’s advocates, journalists and teachers, this website contains the inside scoop on schools. These dedicated individuals visit schools, speak with parents and teachers, and comb the media to present an independent and authoritative view of New York City schools.

New Visions for Public Schools [www.newvisions.org]
New Visions for Public Schools, is the largest education reform organization dedicated to improving the quality of education children receive in New York City’s public schools.

What’s so special about Specialized High Schools?
As a graduate of Brooklyn Technical Specialized High School, Class of 1998, I can personally state that these schools are special because of a gifted student population, dedicated teachers, devoted staff members, challenging courses, and an extensive list of extra-curricular activities. From the minute these kids take the Specialized Entrance Exam to their last Advanced Placement course, they are encouraged to work to their full potential.

At present, the list of NYC Specialized High Schools is as follows:
ü Bronx High School of Science
ü Brooklyn Technical High School
ü High School for Mathematics
ü High School of American Studies at Lehman College
ü Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts
ü Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
ü Science and Engineering at City College
ü Stuyvesant High School

With the exception of Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Arts, all NYC Specialized High Schools make use of the same Entrance Examination. Students interested in attending LaGuardia High School must audition for the studios of their choice. To learn more about the admissions procedures for these schools, review the Specialized High Schools Student Handbook available at the Department of Education’s website, www.nycenet.edu.

For those interested in Test Preparation Resources there are a number of community-based organizations that offer prep classes. However, if you are not interested in another search, there are companies like Princeton Review and Kaplan, which also provide the same services.
Similar to private institutions, Specialized High Schools are highly competitive. The possibility of rejection is real, but such an event is not the end of the world. Finding the right school can be like shopping for the right clothes. In both cases brand names aren’t everything. I strongly believe the key is having enough drive to initiate an independent search whenever necessary. Remember, those who shop for bargains, often find the best deals. And shopping for schools is no exception to that rule.

About the Author:
This article is an excerpt of A Better Today Brings a Brighter Tomorrow, (abt.msoyonline.com) a resource guide for African American parents, self-published by LaShanda Henry. Visit www.lulu.com/msoy to purchase a copy of this book or email lhenry@msoyonline.com for details.

NOTE: You are welcome to forward or “reprint” this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the “about the author” info at the end and the copyright notice), and you send a copy of your reprint to lhenry@msoyonline.com.

BP Links

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 15:30:00 +0000

Websites for African American Parents

Quality Black Sites of Kids

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 15:37:00 +0000

Sites for Black Teens

Web Content for African American children and teens.

Lil’ Bits (for African American Children)

Lil Bit’s Apparel

Baby Girls (for black kids)

African American Kids Directory

Black Children’s Books

Black Family Cartoons & Movies

African American Teens Directory

Educational Resources Directory

Movies for Black Teens

Books for Black Teens

ABT Guide for Black Parents & Students

Higher Learning Scholarships
and Fellowships Academic Programs Talent Programs Internships and Jobs

Black Families Online

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:11:00 +0000

$26.54
Black Families Onl..

Black Families Online: Directory of Online Resources for Black Parents. The reviews about this book have been great. If you are looking for a way to find the best sites for black parents, this might be a great start.

$8.99
Raising Black Chil..

In this revision of their acclaimed parenting manual Black Child Care: How To Bring Up a Healthy Black Child in America ( LJ 5/15/75), noted psychiatrists Comer ( Maggie’s American Dream: The Life and Times of a Black Family , LJ 11/1/88) and Poussaint explore central psychological, social, and educational aspects of child development from infancy through adolescence. Using a question-and-answer format, they address problems and situations particular to raising an African American child in a predominantly white society. Topics discussed include how to cope with racism, the pros and cons of busing, and universal child - rearing concerns. Many issues overlooked in traditional parenting manuals, such as the absent parent, gang involvement, and teenage sexuality, are treated here with admirable candor and directness. The importance of developing a child’s self-esteem, sense of security, and racial and personal pride is affirmed throughout. This is a necessary addition to all parenting and parent-teacher collections.
- Linda Cullum, Lake Superior State Univ. Lib., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

$4.97
The Black Parentin..

The parents of America’s 3.6 million black children under age six face unique challenges and, until now, there has not been one complete resource for them. Combining pediatric expertise, cultural wisdom, insight from leading experts, and the newest research, The Black Parenting Book finally fills this void. With stories from parents across the country and authoritative advice for all aspects of a child’s early life–including sleep, nutrition, discipline, play, medical treatments, hair and body care, spirituality, and education–this is the most comprehensive book of its kind.

Black Parenting Articles

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:02:00 +0000

$11.80
Family Digest Maga..

Black Parenting Guides. As a black parent where can you find help on the web? There are a number of places online to read articles about African American Parenting tips and suggestions.

Help for Mommies to Be

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:17:00 +0000

Having a baby is a wonderful blessing. Mother’s to be should have all the information they need to make their child’s world a wonderful one. Here are a few great websites about Maternity & Babies for African American women:

*MommyToo Magazine celebrates mothers of color. *great concept* This site is filled with helpful information, include an area just for Preganancy and Babies.

*Mocha Moms is a support group for stay at home mothers of color who have chosen not to work full-time outside of the home in order to devote more time to their families.

*MahogonyBaby.com also include an informative Pregnancy and Birth section.

*For more website, review the Pregnancy Category on the best black search engines online: msoyonline.com of blackrefer.com.

The Hip Hop Generation

altools — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:42:00 +0000

$8.77
The Hip Hop Genera..

This is a great read for anyone who is interested in the hip-hop culture. It is particuclarly good for parents to read, who are interested in finding out what today’s young people are thinking and where their head is at, so to speak.

Read a previous post of mine on Africanamerica.org: The Sons and Daughters of Hip-Hop

Also a great Hip-Hop Youth Site is Russell Simmons Hip-Hop Summit. Founded in 2001, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well-being of at-risk youth throughout the United States.

A Better Today Brings a Brighter Tommorrow (an msoy original project) is working to create a listing of Hip Hop Helpers and Super Celebs, to showcase the postive impact the Hip-Hop can have on youth and within the community. Click here for more details or find other Community Outreach efforts for / by people of color.

Useful Black Family Links

altools — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 16:56:00 +0000

If you are looking for more links that highlight resources for African American Families / Black Parents, here are a few places to start.

These and other link pages available on Multiple Shades of You Online: an e-community for African American online viewers.

Have you heard the story of Henry Box Brown?

altools — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 13:54:00 +0000

When actress Karyn Parsons (best known for her role as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) first heard his amazing story, she decided to create Sweet Blackberry, a series of educational animated DVDs remembering the lives of forgotten American heroes: men and women of color whose adventures will live with our children for generations to come. Narrated by Emmy Award-Winning “Desperate Housewives” star Alfre Woodard, Sweet Blackberry’s debut DVD, The Journey of Henry Box Brown, tells the true story of slave Henry Box Brown, a man who mailed himself in a wooden box from a plantation in Richmond, Virginia to freedom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Site URL is http://www.sweetblackberry.com