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October 1, 2011
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Speakers: Becky Hegstad & Valerie Borey, Concordia Language Villages
Topic: Culturally authentic play: Preschoolers gather at a Norwegian fish market…in Minnesota
Concordia Language Villages' pre-K Norwegian program, Barnehage, is built on a situated learning model of education. This model emphasizes the concept of relationships and community as foundational to language and cultural learning. Play maintains a fundamental role in situated learning, where learning to know is not the same as learning to do. Authentic play meets young learners where they are developmentally, which supports language learning and a broadening worldview. The presenters discuss an example of community of practice as they tell about a Barnehage simulation in which the children travel to Bergen's Fisketorget (fish market). Community building, language scaffolding, and authentic play guided students to their culminating adventure: the trip to the fish market, so that they could "live" the market, versus learning about the market.
Rebecca "Annika" Hegstad, is program leader for Barnehage, a preschool Norwegian immersion program of Concordia Language Villages located in Minneapolis. Hegstad has worked for Concordia Language Villages for 17 years. As Assistant Director for Language Discovery Programs, she currently facilitates Chinese, Norwegian and Spanish preschool immersion programs during the academic year. During the summer, Hegstad directs language and culture immersion day camps in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Scandinavian Studies at Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), and earned an M.A. in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Hegstad's professional emphases and interests have been focused on early childhood world language instruction methodologies, teacher education and training, and curriculum development.
Valerie Borey "Magna" has been on staff for 12 years on at Concordia Language Villages, leading Barnehage, Norge Rundt (Twin Cities Norwegian pre-K and youth programs) and Skogfjorden summer programs in Bemidji. She studied Anthropology and has a master's in the Social Sciences. Valerie says she learned Norwegian "at my grandmother's knee" and is glad to have had her connections to Norway grow throughout childhood to adulthood and into parenthood. Valerie says, "I think magic can be found in all sorts of places, especially in small closets, under stairs, and in pockets that don't get checked very often. I like reading and writing, theatre, doing spotlights for the circus, and working on art projects."
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November 5, 2011 |
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Speaker: Sarah "Hannah" Hansen
Topic: Women in Mathematics: A Study of Learning, Leadership from One Women's Journey to China.
For ten days in late 2010, Sarah was a member of the Mathematics Education Delegation with the People to People Professional Ambassador Program. She met with math educators from the primary through graduate university levels in Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. Along the way, she learned some surprising tidbits about mathematics education in China and also some unexpected revelations about herself as a teaching mathematician. She also ate a lot of delicious food and visited a childhood dream destination. Come experience her journey through pictures and stories!
Sarah E. Hansen has been teaching and tutoring in mathematics and statistics since she received her M.A. in Mathematics from Saint Louis University and her B.A. in Mathematical Sciences from College of St. Catherine (now a University!). Currently, she is the Associate Director of the Center for Academic Excellence at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota. As Associate Director, Sarah has direct responsibility for staff and students working in the Math Center, Science Center and Testing Center. She also teaches in the Applied Mathematics Department as a Community Faculty Member and participates in the MnSCU Tutoring Workgroup, hosting Tutor Summits with tutoring professionals and coordinators across the MnSCU system. In addition to Metropolitan State, Sarah has taught mathematics at the University of Minnesota General College, College of St. Catherine, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Inver Hills Community College. As Hannah, she was on staff for 10 summers at Skogfjorden, the Concordia Norwegian Language Village and she has continued to volunteer for summer and year-round programming since 2001. She has been a member of Lakselaget since 2005. Oh, and she really likes to knit. A lot.
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December is our annual fundraising month.
Please consider making a donation to our scholarship fund!
To make our December meeting more festive,
consider wearing a bunad if you have one.
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December 3, 2011
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Speaker: Laurie Jacobi, Laurie Jacobi Designs
Topic: Woolen Designs Inspired by Nature
Laurie Jacobi is a storyteller in wool.
Her unique blanket, rug and clothing designs are inspired by legends of nature. Welcome to our world of wool where nature, legend, beauty and meaning combine with natural fibers and the highest quality craftsmanship to create functional works of art
Laurie Jacobi, whose mother was born in Sweden and who has a home near the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota, is an award-winning graphic and textile designer. Her work as a designer of corporate identities and printed materials has won her national recognition. Inspired by the beauty of northern Minnesota she began designing a unique collection of blankets for the Faribault Woolen Mills a decade ago. The popular Wellspring Legend blankets have been sold world-wide and have even appeared in movies and on television. The blanket designs evolved into rugs as well as an exclusive line of clothing. Her work is inspired by nature and how Scandinavian and Native American cultures have expressed their relationships to it through art and legend. "The stories are very important to me. And being a first generation Swedish-American, I can't help but be influenced by the Swedish tradition of making beautiful things an integral part of daily life."
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January 7, 2012 |
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Speaker: Dr. Maureen Reed, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum
Topic: The Nobel Peace Prize Forum: Placing Norway's Gift to the World in the Spotlight
Dr. Maureen Reed is the Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. She co-chaired the Executive Committee from 2005-2011, shaping its evolution and its vision. She has attended nearly every Forum since it began in 1989. For her, the annual Forum is "a respite and a retreat -- the unique opportunity to renew my spirit and re-energize my mind."
A graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Reed practiced medicine for twenty years in the Twin Cities and is a member of the Medical Reserve Corps. With expertise in health care policy, she served on the 2007 Minnesota Health Care Transformation Task Force and has been a candidate for Lt. Governor and for U.S. Congress.
With a passion for higher education, Dr. Reed was twice elected to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and served as its chair from 2001-2003. She holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine, and she is the chair of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.
Her business experience includes serving as President of Aspen Medical Group, Vice President and Medical Director of HealthPartners, and Executive Director of the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota.
Dr. Reed has worked for brief stints in Norway, Thailand, and Uganda. She and her husband Dr. Jim Hart live in Stillwater and enjoy ice skating, family gatherings, and cross-country skiing.
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February 4, 2012 |
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Speaker: Claudia Schmidt - Dannert, Professor - Department of Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of MInnesota
Topic: Norwegian Centennial Chair Program
Six years ago, the Norwegian government and the University of Minnesota established a joined fund to create the Norwegian Centennial Chair Program (www. nocc.umn.edu) to promote transatlantic research and educational activities between Minnesota and Norway. Initially, this cooperative agreement was between the University of Minnesota and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and collaborative activities promoted research and education in bioenergy, food safety and genomics related fields. Two years ago, the University of Oslo joined this agreement. Shortly after, in Spring of last year, I was appointed the Centennial Chair of this now expanded, trilateral program. My task is together with my counterparts at the two Norwegian universities to develop and kick-start new research and educational initiatives that include the additional expertise, e.g. in medical and engineering related fields, brought in by the University of Oslo. In this presentation, I will provide a brief overview on how this transatlantic collaboration was started, which activities have been supported in the past, what the program is doing currently to promote new research and educational interactions between Minnesota and Norway.
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March 3, 2012 |
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Speakers: Sasha Aslanian, Reporter, Minnesota Public Radio
Topic: TBA
Sasha Aslanian was born in Minneapolis and grew up in St. Paul so she's pleased to be part of MPR News' team of Metro reporters. Ms. Aslanian got her start as a daily news producer in the MPR newsroom in 1992. From 2000-2008 she produced documentaries for American RadioWorks, the national documentary unit of American Public Media. She is the creator of MPR news' Youth Radio Series and has won several awards for her work She is a graduate of Grinnell College.
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April 14, 2012 |
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Speaker: Rita Docter
Topic: The Important Role of Creativity in the Growth of Children
Rita Docter is a St. Olaf alum who has joyfully applied her music education degree to develop skills and smiles in kids of all ages. She is the author and Program Manager of the BRAVO Music Appreciation program used in schools in MN and now from coast to coast. Her 30 years as a volunteer, a director and an administrator of the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs have been filled with the rewards of helping to develop young voices and of helping to develop a passion for music in young people. Her statement of, "To share with a child what has delighted you, to find the child's delight added to your own, so that there is now a double delight seen in the glow of trust and affection, this is happiness" sums up how she feels about the enjoyment and blessings of these three decades. Rita has conducted children's choirs, directed and written countless Christmas programs, musicals and worship services and produced the opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” at her church.
Rita and her husband, Dave, are the parents of three married children whose creativity has also touched many appreciative audiences. Their son, Pete Docter, and his colleagues at Pixar have entertained us with the heart warming messages and pleasant humor of, "Toy Story," "Monsters Inc." “Wall-e” and "Up." These are among the animated stories that led to his earning an Oscar, a Golden Globe and many other awards. Their daughter, Kirsten, travels the world as violist of the Cavani String Quartet, and teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Oberlin College. Their youngest daughter, Kari, is a cellist with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. And yes, four of Rita and Dave’s grandchildren are also budding young musicians.
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May 5, 2012
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Speaker: Khadra Abdi
Topic: TBA
Khadra Abdi is originally from Somalia, she grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is a recent graduate of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs with a Master of Public Policy. Khadra received her Bachelors degree from Luther College in Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies. She has a strong background and interest in international development, humanitarian assistance, HIV/AIDs and health issues, educational policy, human trafficking, global feminism movements, human rights, and women-led NGOs and Co-ops. She has worked with children in Kenya and ethnic communities in Twin Cities with focus on program development and the creation of healthy relations across cultures.
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Member's Only Picnic
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