Massachusetts School Committees Urge Voters to Reject Question 2

Massachusetts School Committees Urge Voters to Reject Question 2

The Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) today urged voters to vote No on Question 2, which would erase the limits on charter school expansion. 

By an overwhelming show of hands, delegates to MASC’s annual conference passed a resolution saying, “[T]he possibility of the expansion of Commonwealth charter schools in Massachusetts poses a threat to the ability of public school districts to provide services to the children of the Commonwealth.”

“The people elected to govern Massachusetts public schools overwhelmingly agree that Question 2 will harm children across the state, and especially the most vulnerable children in our urban areas,” said MASC President Jake Oliveira of Ludlow after the vote. 

He noted that School Committees in all of the state’s 10 biggest cities and in more than 90 percent of urban districts have already passed their own resolutions opposed to Question 2. They are among 207 school committees that have passed No on 2 resolutions, mostly by unanimous votes.

“Question 2 would not only take significant revenue from our schools, but will undermine our ability to give public school children, including kids in economic despair and emotional need, the education to lift them up,” said Framingham School Committee member Beverly Hugo, vice president of MASC. 

MASC delegates passed the Question 2 resolution on the first day of their annual conference in Hyannis. 

In addition to urging voters to reject Question 2, the resolution proposes far-reaching reforms in the charter school system in Massachusetts:

·      A requirement that charter schools enroll a representative cross section of students who live in the school districts from which they draw;

·      Accurate reporting of students who leave charters and return to their home district schools;

·      Requiring the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to report accurate data on enrollment of students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, economic disadvantage, emotional disability and status as racial and linguistic minorities;

·      Separate state funding for charter schools that are not approved by the community, rather than using funds earmarked for that community;

·      Full funding for the state mitigation program that is intended to offset temporarily the loss of state money when students attend charter schools. This program has been funded at slightly over 50 percent for the past three years. 

“It is our job to provide the best possible education for every child in our district,” said Oliveira. “That’s why we propose these reforms. Charter schools should not harm the education of other children.”

MIT 100K 2017 創業賽敲鑼

麻省理工學院新一輪的100K創業比賽，從140多組報名團隊中挑出23隊，11月1日晚在MIT 10-250大教室中做二，三分鐘的電梯陳述(elevator pitch)，為新年度的創業比賽熱身。Smart News，Infinite Cooling各贏得2000元獎金，High Q Imaging贏得3000元獎金。MIT校報今年七月報導過的Pison公司創辦人Dexter Ang，雖未報名參加活動，在主持人於活動結束，歡迎在場者上台陳述時，走到台前，向三，四百名出席者作了簡報，歡迎有興趣人士加入該公司行列，一起幫助受困於ALS等病症者，更輕鬆的和人溝通，交流。新年度賽事將從11月16日舉辦的組團隊活動開始。

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for the Pitch Finale. It was a great, action packed night where we gave out $7,000 in prizes. Learn more about the winners below: First Place:  High Q Imaging, a technology that reduces the cost, weight and size of a MRI machine Second Place:  Infinite Cooling, a technology that captures water that is lost in thermoelectric power plants Audience Choice:  Smart News, a smart, personalized news outlet for the modern consumer Read more about the winners here

MIT $100K Events, News & Updates $100K Team Formation Mixer Join us on November 16th from 6:30-8:30 PM for a drink on the MIT $100K Team! This meet-and-greet mixer will be a great chance to meet the $100K organizing committee, as well as current and alumni $100K participants. If you are interested in finding a team to participate in the MIT $100K Accelerate Competition, come mingle with other entrepreneurs and students pursuing their startup aspirations. We will provide an opportunity to pitch your idea to the group as well as detail what you are looking for in teammates. Food and drinks will be provided!  Sign-ups are limited so please RSVP here Accelerate, MIT $100K's Second Competition, Is Coming Up! Accelerate is the second contest of the MIT $100K. The purpose is prototyping. Semi-finalists will have a small budget, access to industry experts, and a dedicated month to turn their idea into a product or service. They then present their prototypes behind closed doors. Ten outstanding finalists will compete live for a $10K Grand Prize and a $3K Audience Choice Award. Applications open 11/22, they're due 12/4 and the Finals are 2/15 Learn more here: http://www.mit100k.org/#accelerate

裁判群。

Pison科技公司創辦人 Dexter Ang。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長反對第二號選票問題 稱危及政府其他服務

波士頓市長馬丁華殊認為不該有第二號選票問題。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)11月1日晚，慷慨激昂的批評關於擴大特許學校的第二號選票問題。他認為根本就不該有這個選票問題出現，強調這麼做改善不了教育制度，卻會危及市鎮府服務民眾的整體運作，波士頓市並不是唯一受影響的城市。

馬丁華殊指出，特許學校目前在波士頓市預算中佔5%，一旦選票問題通過，所佔比率可能升到20%，到2018會繼年度就達到8億元左右，波市府勢須從其他部門調動經費，才能平衡預算，已然面對著財政困難的市府，營運情況恐將更糟。

馬丁華殊表示，過去幾個月來他和許多企業首長，家長，教育界人士討論，大家都認為這樣做是不對的，真正該有的選票問題，其實是讓整個麻州都辦理學前兒童教育，投資進彌平成就差距，為學童提供支援等，而不是弄出這樣一個很多人不知道可能後果是會讓制度破產的選票問題。波士頓並不是唯一面對這樣危險的城市。

他強調自己並不是反對特許學校，無論是公立學校或私立學校，他認為波士頓市內的學校其實都很好。第二號選票問題的關鍵，其實是教育，人們該做的是確保學校能獲得所需資源。他從來沒看到過以一個選票問題就能把教育制度改好，他希望大家都投票反對第二號選票問題。

根據麻州政府發給選民的選票問題說明，第二號選票問題提議，准許麻州中小學教育局最高可每年批准新建12所特許學校，或是容許現有的特許學校擴增註冊人數至麻州公校註冊總人數的1%。

根據該說明，支持者聲稱特許學校也是公立學校，所有學童都可申請入讀，通常上課日數較長，學生獲得較多個別關注，有成績改善證明，麻州目前有33,000名學生排在特許學校的等候名單上。

反對方認為，麻州公立學校的經費本來就已經不夠了，特許學校還要來分杯羹。僅今年一年，特許學校就拿走了4億元。若第二號選票問題通過了，未來10年，麻州內的特許學校數量可能翻3倍，從公校系統拿走的經費會超過10億元。

波士頓市政務長 Dave Sweeney就第二號選票問題做過分析。他在報告中指出，波士頓市本年度大約得付給特許學校1億5700萬元，另外再付1350萬元交通費。這筆錢是直接從波士頓市府預算中扣除的。

做信用調查的穆迪斯(Moody’s)公司也警告市鎮官員，如果第二號選票問題通過了，各市鎮的財務信用可能都會受影響。該公司指出，根據麻州政府資訊，特許學校今年從231個學區領走了4億5133萬多元。麻州已有32名市長站出來反對第二號選票問題。

Governor Baker Nominates James M. Stanton to the Boston Municipal Court

Governor Baker Nominates James M. Stanton to the Boston Municipal Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has nominated James M. Stanton, an attorney from Walpole, to serve as a Boston Municipal Court Justice.

“James Stanton’s experience in federal and state court, coupled with nearly fifteen years of private practice, makes him an outstanding candidate to serve the Commonwealth on the Boston Municipal Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am pleased to nominate someone with his credentials to the Governor’s Council for their consideration.”

“James Stanton is well versed in the numerous criminal and civil matters that come before the Boston Municipal Court, making him an exceptional nominee for the Governor’s Council to review,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.

The Boston Municipal Court Department has thirty judges serving the City of Boston in eight court divisions located in Brighton, Central (downtown), Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury.  

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February, 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April, 2015.

About James M. Stanton 

James M. Stanton was born in Boston and raised in Hyde Park and attended Boston Latin Academy. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1990 with a B.A. in Political Science and from Suffolk University Law School in 1995. Mr. Stanton began his legal career at the United States Department of Justice, Immigration & Naturalization Service, as Assistant District Counsel.  He then became an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, working as a prosecutor in the Chelsea District Court and other Suffolk County Courts for two years.  In 2000 he went to work as a Leasing & Zoning Specialist for Nextel Communications for two years. Since 2002 Attorney Stanton has worked in private practice, at the Law Office of James M. Stanton.  His work is the general practice of law focusing on Criminal Defense, Real Estate, Personal Injury, and Estate Planning. Attorney Stanton has served as an eight year member of the Walpole Zoning Board of Appeals from 2006 – 2014, has been a Walpole Representative Town Meeting Member since 2012 and was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2014, where he is currently serving as Vice Chairman. He and his wife Judy and their three children reside in East Walpole.

MAYOR WALSH, COMMUNITY LEADERS UNVEIL NEW NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING RESEARCH

MAYOR WALSH, COMMUNITY LEADERS UNVEIL NEW NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING RESEARCH

Convenes Leaders to Focus on Continued Success; Renews Call for Increased Statewide Support

BOSTON - Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today unveiled the results of a national survey which showed Boston's summer learning effort outpacing its peers - data the Mayor used to renew calls for greater public and private investment in critical summer programs. Surrounded by leaders from 127 summer learning programs at the historic YMCA on Huntington Avenue, Mayor Walsh showcased results from the 2016 Boston Summer Learning Community, which reached 10,084 Boston school children in 2016 with an average attendance rate of 85 percent. Additionally, a new national report from RAND, which includes Boston, shows that high attending students outperformed the control group in math, and these benefits persisted through the school year. After a second summer, high attenders outperformed the control group in math and reading, both in the fall and in the following spring. "The Boston Summer Learning Community is an asset for our families and our schools," said Mayor Walsh. "The value of this programming goes far beyond better grades. It creates safe spaces for children to explore their interests, build confidence and practice real-world skills, which is why I look forward to taking our city's summer learning program to the next level." The academic advantage for students with high attendance after the second summer is substantial, representing between 20 percent and 25 percent of typical annual gains in mathematics and reading. "Summer is the fifth quarter of the school year," said Superintendent Tommy Chang. "Students from these programs are now learning new material in school and not just catching up on last year's lessons." The summer network features a wide array of enrichment activities, from boat building to entrepreneurship, and a focus on social-emotional skills, like perseverance and critical thinking. Teachers rated high attenders more highly on these skills than the control group students. "By engaging students based on their interests, we can increase attendance and provide real world context and practice for developing skills," said Chris Smith, executive director of Boston After School & Beyond, the city's lead partner on after-school and summer learning efforts. Boston is one of five cities participating in the $50 million National Summer Learning Project, funded by The Wallace Foundation and evaluated by RAND. The report, Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth, explains the impact of programs in summers 2013 and 2014. The other cities include Dallas, Duval County (FL), Pittsburgh, and Rochester (NY). "The strong results from the national study, and the commitment of so many programs, are evidence that we can make high quality summer learning the norm for low-income students," said James Morton, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. "We need effective public policy to get there."  According to the study, Boston had a greater share of students who were high attenders than the five-city average, reaching 73 percent in year one and 67 percent in year two, compared to 63 percent and 60 percent nationally. Local data collected across all 127 summer programs reinforce these national findings. On average, the 2016 Boston Summer Learning Community met or exceeded the research-based benchmark in all aspects of program performance, including program organization, supportive environment, and student engagement. Both teachers and students reported significant improvements in all measured social-emotional skills at the end of programming. Most notably, 83 percent of youth reported improvements in academic motivation; 81 percent in learning interest; and 75 percent in critical thinking, perseverance, and empathy.Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth, is available at  www.rand.org and www.wallacefoundation.org.

BPDA board approves over $220 million in development at Nov. 1 meeting

BPDA board approves over $220 million in development at Nov. 1 meeting

BOSTON – On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 4 p.m., a special Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) board meeting was held in the Kane Simonian Board Room on the ninth floor of City Hall. During this meeting, three development projects were approved. Upon completion these projects will generate 64 residential units, 19 affordable units, and 810 jobs in the city of Boston. 

In addition to the approval of these three development projects, the BPDA board also awarded tentative designation status to Millennium Partners for the redevelopment of the former City of Boston parking facility located at 115 Federal Street, also known as 115 Winthrop Square in Boston’s Financial District. It is estimated that this project will yield nearly 3,000 construction jobs, offering an opportunity to partner with Suffolk Construction’s Trade Partnership Series to promote Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise participation in the construction process. Furthermore, it is expected that this project will eventually be home to more than 2,600 permanent employees. Millennium is committed to working with a diverse and local group of third-party service providers to help train Boston residents to acquire the skills needed to be a part of this work force. Other noteworthy elements of the project include:

• Its approximately 12,750 square foot “Great Hall” concept, an area that, as proposed, will serve as an 18-hour per day cultural and commercial anchor. 
• Its ability to achieve LEED Platinum certification, from an environmental standpoint

In terms of next steps, the Winthrop Square project will be reviewed under Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code, along with a continuation of the community participation process achieved to date. This process is also expected to include review by an Impact Advisory Group (IAG) and the Boston Civic Design Commission (BCDC).

An approval unrelated to development projects includes the board’s approval to hire Bonnie McGilpin as Director of Communications for the agency. In her current role, McGilpin is press secretary and official spokesperson for Mayor Martin J. Walsh, overseeing all press operations for the Mayor’s Office and City of Boston departments. Her past experience includes working on the Martha Coakley campaign and in the office of Governor Deval L. Patrick. She attended Northeastern University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy and Administration. Her start date is November 10, 2016.

Below are summaries of the newly approved projects. The full board agenda and archived video stream can be found here.

Development plan for General Electric headquarters project approved; includes $50m in philanthropic commitments to Boston communities

Total Project Cost: $200,000,000

Total SF: 388,070

Construction Jobs: 282

The General Electric Company (GE) headquarters project will be located in the Fort Point neighborhood of the South Boston Waterfront. The project site is made up of two existing buildings at 5 and 6 Necco Court, consisting of approximately 388,070 gross square feet. 

The project will require the rehabilitation of the existing buildings, including:

• The connection of the buildings by a shared glass lobby; 
• The construction of a new, approximately 293,300 square foot, 12-story headquarters building that will be connected to the buildings by an overhead pedestrian bridge and GE Plaza;
• A new pedestrian walkway open to the public that will run from Necco Street to the Fort Point Channel; and
• The construction of public realm improvements, including approximately 61,490 square feet of outdoor public space, including a Harborwalk, green space, interpretive signage and amenities.

GE has embraced the following three guiding principles in designing the proposed project: 

1. Community Convener: creating a compelling street-level experience open to the public that supports work-life integration to draw a steady flow of employees, GE collaborators, building guests and the public to the project site; 
2. Performance Enabler: minimizing physical barriers and utilizing semi-permeable layers between spaces for greater program integration and visual connectivity between GE employees and the public; and 
3. Resiliency Pioneer: committing to exploring emerging sustainable strategies that address tomorrow’s energy challenges.

Other features of the project include: 

• Public Realm Improvements: A unique feature of the project will be its extensive indoor and outdoor public spaces. The indoor public spaces will include work lounges, “Brilliant Labs,” planned as an educational and collaborative space for use by Boston Public School groups as well as members of the public; a bistro and café; and a public museum. Approximately 75 percent of the ground floor area of the project will be open to the public. The project will also be a catalyst for the execution of the 100-Acres Plan and provide a benchmark for future waterfront and public realm development in the City of Boston by expanding the Harborwalk from 12 to 18 feet in width, and using context-appropriate materials to rehabilitate and expand the Harborwalk and the adjacent public open spaces. 
• Sustainability: As a digital industrial company, GE will bring its expertise and leadership in sustainability through partnerships, digital solutions, and new business models. Through its ecoimagination program, GE seeks to solve global challenges around energy, efficiency, Greenhouse Gas emissions and water. Predix, GE’s cloud-based platform for the industrial internet, provides a unique foundation upon which to increase energy and materials efficiencies and reduce emissions using the power of analytics. Predix applications will be applied throughout the Proposed Project. GE will also apply the new, more stringent version of the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system to the project. Other key features of the project that will make it more sustainable are the Solar Veil and the incorporation of vegetated roof areas to mitigate heat island effect, help stormwater runoff and extend the life of the roof materials. Additionally, in support of the City’s goal to not overbuild parking, and in recognition of the project site’s close proximity to local, commuter rail and bus service at nearby South Station, the project will include 30 below-grade parking spaces, and upto 150 bicycle spaces for GE employees, as well as additional public bicycle racks. 
• Resiliency: Since the project is located on the Fort Point Channel, GE is utilizing strategies to ensure preparation for the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, and ensure that the company is a leader in providing resiliency solutions for the City. The elevations of the first floors of the project will be set to at least +19.5 feet, which would provide protection against a 500-year storm event in 2075. In addition, critical mechanical and life safety/standby emergency building systems will be placed above vulnerable elevations and the stormwater infrastructure will be designed to effectively manage inland flooding, including through the use of adaptive landscaping that will be resilient against flooding and saltwater intrusion. 

Finally, the public benefits of this project are many:

• As a Development Impact Project (DIP), this project will result in a total of approximately $2,402,503.80 in Housing Exaction payments to the Neighborhood Housing Trust, and approximately $481,076.90 to the Neighborhood Jobs Trust
• As a result of GE’s move to Boston, approximately 4,000 new jobs will be created in the Greater Boston area over the next 3 years. Those jobs will include permanent GE employees and employees based at GE vendors, as well as temporary construction jobs.
• In April 2016, GE announced $50 million in philanthropic commitments, to be donated over the next five years, to the Boston community. GE’s commitment includes $25 million to Boston Public Schools, $10 million to building out a diverse workforce population and $15 million to developing the next generation healthcare workforce and increasing training for specialty care.  

Cresset Development, LLC’s proposal to renovate existing Chinatown site moves forward

Total Project Cost: $14,000,000

Total SF: 43,393

Construction Jobs: 60

Located at 8 Harrison Avenue in Chinatown, PBX Residences will consist of an approximately 21,193 square foot parcel that is currently occupied by two masonry buildings: an eight-story building at the corner of Essex Street and Harrison Avenue and an attached three-story masonry building to the south. The eight-story building, currently known as the Verizon building, was constructed in 1919 as a New England Telephone and Telegraph central switching station and currently houses telecommunication equipment for Verizon. 

Cresset Development, LLC has proposed to renovate the top three floors of the existing eight-story structure to create 46 residential rental units, including seven affordable units. As currently proposed, the 46 residential units will consist of 18 studio units, 20 one-bedroom units, and eight two-bedroom units. Cresset will also renovate the ground level of the buildings to create a new residential lobby entrance for future residents, including a mailroom, a trash and recycling center, a bicycle storage room, and two spaces for tenant storage.

In addition to increasing the city’s housing stock, this project will result in a number of public benefits for the Chinatown neighborhood and the City of Boston as whole, listed below: 

• New pedestrian activity along Harrison Avenue and Essex Street; 
• Pedestrian access improvements including new sidewalks in and around the project site; 
• Installation of Boston Police Department monitored surveillance camera(s) along the Harrison Avenue façade to provide real time video access to local law enforcement officials; 
• Installation of new lighting along the building perimeter to improve visibility and pedestrian safety; and 
• A commitment of up to $150,000 for the redesign and construction of Philips Square to be made available to the BPDA within six months of building permit issuance;

Board approves Garrison Trotter Phase II project, creating homeownership opportunities in Roxbury

Total Project Cost: $6,066,216 

Total SF: 20,638

Construction Jobs: 15

The Garrison Trotter Phase II project is a collaborative effort between the BPDA and the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND). After nearly one year of comprehensive neighborhood planning with the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association (GTNA), this project signifies a representative commitment by Mayor Martin Walsh, DND and the BPDA to leverage City-owned property to create much needed mixed-income homeownership housing.

Located in Roxbury, the sites will be developed as part of Mayor Walsh’s Neighborhood Homes Initiative (NHI), a product of Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030, the Walsh administration’s comprehensive housing plan. NHI uses City-owned land and funding as a resource to create affordable and mixed-income homeownership opportunities for a range of homebuyers. In turn, this project will feature 18 residential units, 12 of which will be designated as affordable.

新英格蘭地區中文教師協會第五屆年會

新英格蘭地區中文教師協會卸任會長王命全(前排左六)和新任會長胡龍華(前左四)等人合影。

新英格蘭地區中文教師協會第五屆年會及中文教學國際會議於十月二十九日在麻州College of the Holy Cross召開。

左起，何寶璋，胡龍華，王命全(左五)，何文潮(右二)。

大會開幕式由Holy Cross的何寶璋教授和羅雲教授主持, Dr. Margaret Freije 院長致開幕詞。協會會長王命全教授即將換屆卸任，他介紹了協會五年來的發展狀況，並介紹了本屆兩位新任中小學理事：來自牛頓北高中的陳毅星老師和Philips Academy 的趙聰敏老師 。他宣布了下屆協會會長由布朗大學的胡龍華教授出任，副會長是麻州大學安赫斯分校的王志軍教授。新會長胡龍華老師在發言中感謝前兩任會長何文潮和王命全老師的出色領導，並向卸任會長王命全老師贈送了协会紀念獎杯。

本次大會的主講嘉賓是愛荷華大學的Michael Everson (麥文賢)教授 。麥教授曾參與愛荷華大學外語教育，並主持K-12年級包括中文在內的8種外語及ESL 的文憑課程。 他長期致力於中文讀寫教育研究，並發表了很多著作和論文。麥博士還是“閱讀中文(Read Chinese )”高中生網上閱讀課程的主要設計者之一。他的演講題目是：推動有效的中文讀寫指引。他強調讀寫在中文學習中的重要性，強調老師在讀寫教學中扮演重要角色， 因為老師在學生面前可堪稱是中國文化的代表。他分別介紹了K-5及K-12的閱讀內容所不同的側重點，還介紹了一些閱讀中文的資源。

主講嘉賓麥文賢教授

本次參加中文教學研討會的達一百二十餘人，分別來自美國及中國四十多個學府及機構，專題講者五十餘人。

前兩場研討會的主要內容包括：中小學漢語教學發展，語法教學研究，課堂活動設計及科技手段的研發，讀寫能力及漢字教學， 語音教學，文化內容與漢語教學的結合等。擔任各單元評議人的是林遊嵐、趙維娜，高晨，李亦，陳毅星，楊春生, 黃偉嘉和Erica Pollard。聖十字學院的蘇麓壘老師設計的一年級課程大綱，紐約大學高晨老師的“翻轉課堂在中文課程中的運用” 等報告，開闊了中文教學的思路。牛頓北高中的陳毅星和陸明老師把谷歌瀏覽器運用到課堂教學與檢測中，使人耳目一新。波士頓大學黃偉嘉老師建議在漢字教學中適當介紹漢字的出處。賓州大學的楊蕾老師強調教學中應發現東西文化差異，糾正教材中的錯誤描述。

後兩場研討由趙聰敏，Emmanuek Poche, 萬敏，周康，何文潮，Cheng-Fu Chen和龔薇老師主持，內容包括：中小學AP考試，教學評估和測試，多媒體教學及軟件運用，語音矯正策略及讀寫綜合教學的突破等。其中，多媒體教學會場受到老師們的歡迎，MIT的周康老師利用暑期回國拍攝了視頻補充教材，用於高年級課堂教學； 普林斯頓大學的丁啟璠老師生動概括了老師自選影視材料的擔心：“老師大費周章，學生饒有興趣，看時嘻嘻哈哈，看後抓耳撓腮”，並用教學案例詳細解析了怎樣使學生把教學內容轉換到觀點表達。萬敏、嚴蕾，孫鴻運、李愛民等資深教師分析並總結了學生易出現的閱讀偏誤，高年級的多種教學手段，初級階段的漢字教學策略等。 龔薇、郭旭、馬慧英、李梅秀和范雅婷老師針對泰越韓粵背景學生的語音、寫作偏誤設計出不同的矯正策略。

這次大會的籌備者是聖十字學院的何寶璋和羅雲老師，他們為這次活動傾注了大量的時間和努力。大會並獲得了羅德島大學孔子學院、麻州大學波士頓孔子學院、塔夫茨大學孔子學院的贊助。(供稿：郭旭  UMass Boston)