Teachers Write

The easiest way to experience professional development for teachers is to write. That's right, write. And, you not only help yourself, but you help others AND your profession. Here is an article I wrote in Independent Teacher that is titled "Teachers Write." While the title can be read two different ways, the meaning is all the same, teachers should write; it is what distinguishes us among professions.

Read the article and see what you think. Comment if you agree . . . or disagree.

Time Lapse With a Beautiful Message

If you have 10 minutes and you want to view a stunning video with a message of nature, beauty and gratitude, watch the work of Louie Schwartzberg. The two narrators of his latest project are special in words and feeling. Watch this now. You will want to see it a second time with your students and children. Also, be sure to watch it full screen.

From a Different Perspective

Drop-off is a time of the school day I relished; standing at the front door of the school greeting children, parents, and faculty was pure joy. Now that I am a grandpa, I get to participate in drop-off from a different perspective; that is, dropping off my grand daughters. You might enjoy an article I wrote last fall describing the differences of receiving children at school and dropping off children at school. Here is a link to "From a Different Perspective," that was published in the quarterly paper Public School Montessorian.

Brave Parenting

Before you go out and order Krissy Pozatek's book, Brave Parenting: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Children, read the excellent review in Rewire Me by my good colleague Launa Schweizer. Her review reports the book in a beautiful personal voice.

Delayed Gratification: Beyond the Marshmallow Test

You remember psychologist Walter Mischel's famous marshmallow test, right? If not, click here for a quick review and a cute video.

Well, a recent npr segment discusses research that was done on the way people park their cars — drive straight in v. back in — AND the correlation it has to a country's economy. Listen to Shanker Vedantam's entertaining and enlightening npr piece #19 "Parking Behavior May ReflectEconomic Drive."

A Chance in the World

I first learned of Steve Pemberton from the recent NAIS Annual Conference venue where he was a keynote speaker. His life story intrigued me enough for me to buy his book and read it. While his story is a model of success, I was horrified to read about his early life as a foster child. Grounded in reality, Pemberton writes with sincerity and honesty, and a balanced sense of diversity.

John Chubb, President of NAIS, wrote eloquently about Pemberton's conference keynote address in a NAIS Bulletin.

The Evolution of the College Degree OR Online/Blended/Hybrid Learning - Part II

I came across this very informative article "The Evolution of the College Degree" that I think you will enjoy perusing, especially as it pertains to online learning. The multi-page graphic is excellent.

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 . . .

The Ultimate Forgive

In Malcolm Gladwell's latest book David and Goliath there is a section on a family that has to deal with the tragic loss of their nine-year old daughter, Candace, and how the family chose to deal with the loss.

A very similar story can be found on The Moth website where Hector Black talks about how he chose to deal with the death of his daughter in his story Forgiveness.

I think you will find both stories compelling, and they may give you a new outlook on forgiving.

On Leadership and Governance

Next week I am off to The College of New Rochelle to teach a class to Montessori school administrators at the Center for Montessori Education | NY. The class will cover school leadership, governance, enrollment, legal considerations, and taking care of yourself. It is the highlight of my work in governance teaching. Here are a few resources I use in my work:

The Nonprofit Board Answer Book: A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives - BoardSource
Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business - Danny Meyer
Governance as Leadership - Richard Chait, William Ryan, and Barbara Taylor
"Golden Governance" - Dane Peters

Far Far Away

When the librarian and I were talking about young adult and middle reader literature, she immediately steered me to a book that I devoured in a week's time, and that is fast for slow-slow reader me. This coming-of-age YA book about two 15-year olds intertwined with the fairy tale Grimm brother, Jacob, is captivating and compelling. Far Far Away by Tom McNeal is a must read.

Babies Dancing?

If you need a quick chuckle during these restful—I hope—summer days, watch this one-minute video. Eighty-five million other viewers have.

Play

"Who knew that we learn empathy, trust, irony, and problem solving through play — something the dictionary defines as 'pleasurable and apparently purposeless activity.' Dr. Stuart Brown suggests that the rough-and-tumble play of children actually prevents violent behavior, and that play can grow human talents and character across a lifetime. Play, as he studies it, is an indispensable part of being human."

This is taken from the On Being website introducing the in depth interview host Krista Tippett had with Dr. Stuart Brown.

Teachers Touching Lives

Teachers touch their students' lives everyday, and the teacher may never know how much until a student is well into adulthood. Recently, I wrote an article entitled "Teachers Touching Lives" because I received an email that surprised me to no end.

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, at some point in your life, a teacher made a difference in your life—a difference that has affected you forever.

How Children Succeed

Paul Tough, author of the NYTimes bestselling book How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, draws upon the work of Angela Duckworth (the grit and resilience guru), Dave Levin (KIPP founder), and Dominic Randolph (Head of Riverdale Country School) to demonstrate the importance of character and the non-cognitive characteristics of child development.

Fault in Our Stars - Part 2

It was a year ago when I read John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, a popular young adult book. Now #1 and 77 weeks on the NYTimes bestseller list, the book will debut as a movie this week. Below is the trailer.

Be sure to listen to npr's Neda Ulaby's interview with the 36-year old Green to learn what inspired him to write the story. Oh, it is also impressive to note that Looking For Alaska, Paper Towns, and An Abundance of Katherines by Green are in the top 10 on the bestseller list as well.

It Was the Children

"But I was most impressed with the children. The children were very eager to want to reach out and try to help me, in some way."

This quote is taken from an npr interview with Mormon Bishop David Musselman when he was disguised as a homeless person and stood outside of his church before the service as congregants entered the church. Listen to his powerful interview with npr's, Ari Shapiro.