Early Learning Grants coming to states to administer

Early learning grant programs will be coming from the federal level to the states for administration.  Here is a link to a recent Chronicle of Philanthropy article and the announcement in May.  Details on the programs should be available in late summer:

 http://philanthropy.com/blogs/public-measureshttp://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/obama-administration-announces-500-million-race-top-early-learning-challenge/a-new-race-to-the-top-for-innovation-in-early-learning/80

A slight twist on an old favorite -- teamwork

Team success depends on careful planning

J. Richard Hackman is the Edgar Pierce Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Harvard University and a leading expert on teams. The misperceptions that are summarized in this post are explored in greater depth in his new book Collaborative Intelligence: Using Teams to Solve Hard Problems (Berrett-Koehler, 2011).

Perhaps you have felt some frustration with your team's results, interactions, performance or communication.  Now might be a very good time for you to revaluate what you have been taught about teamwork, hands-on involvement; conditioning the team and bringing in new players.You can rethink the teamwork paradigm to your organization's advantage.

Prof. Hackman brings up some though-provoking ideas to our whole concept of team, including the individual players and leadership.  It turns out, bigger isn't necessarily better, nor is communication primarily through technology. 

Interesting reading.

Enjoy,

Diana