Anne Frank Revisited

Even though it has been a while since I read the book The Diary of Anne Frank, my mind was refreshed when I recently read The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak and saw the beautiful movie with Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush. Here's the movie trailer.

But I must say that it was listening to Deborah Feldman's ten-minute Moth podcast that gave me a whole new perspective on how Frank's diary could touch so many lives. One site claims over 25 million copies have been sold.

Also, visit the Anne Frank website for more information.

The Smartest Kids in the World

I just finished an excellent book that brought much perspective on testing. Here is a neat review from Independent School Management's (ISM) online "Monthly Update"

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley

"On its surface, the basic structure of the book doesn’t seem all that exciting. However, The Smartest Kids in the World becomes a fascinating case study of global teaching pedagogy. Amanda Ripley puts her investigative reporting skills to use when she follows three students during their year in a study abroad program. What’s unique about these high-performing American students is that each spends his or her year in countries categorized as “high performing” according to international standardized testing. Using a combination of the students’ narratives coupled with research and data from Ripley’s observations on the various educational systems and how they help (and hurt) their students, The Smartest Kids in the World becomes a fascinating glimpse into how a school’s mission influences and molds the young people of the world."

Also, here is a video of author Amanda Ripley talking about the book.

Online/Blended/Hybrid Learning - Part I

I thought you might be interested in the ObaWorld and the Stanford University Online High School platforms for learning. I heard representatives speak from these two organizations at a recent think tank I attended about online/blended learning. 

Be sure to click on the video when you click over to the Online High School home page.

A Great Message for Children . . . and Adults

Andrew DeGraff - NYTimes

In his excellent Op-Ed piece in the NYTimes Sunday Review section, Arthur C. Brooks writes eloquently in "Love People, Not Pleasure."

Here's an excerpt:

“This search for fame, the lust for material things and the objectification of others—that is, the cycle of grasping and craving—follows a formula that is elegant, simple and deadly:

Love things, use people.

It is the worldly snake oil peddled by the culture makers from Hollywood to Madison Avenue. But you know in your heart that it is morally disordered and a likely road to misery. You want to be free of the sticky cravings of unhappiness and find a formula for happiness instead. How? Simply invert the deadly formula and render it virtuous:

Love people, use things.”

Appreciating Unity in Diversity

Seeing this video reminded me of how diversity should be viewed by children and adults. Having had the opportunity to interview Andrew Solomon for Montessori Life magazine and now hearing and watching him in this video only heightened my appreciation for his insights and writing. See what I mean . . .