A lot of a…sharks out there…try’na take a bite of somethin’ What’s hot Perhaps these lyrics from Cypress Hill’s Rock Superstar best capture the whimsical nature of the American education system… If you’re in this system, then you’ve most likely experienced some Finnish envy: The top-performing nation. Teachers are highly regarded. For every 45 minutes of instruction, there’s a […]
The American students “worked on it less than 30 seconds on average and then they basically looked at us and said, ‘We haven’t had this,’ ” he says. But the Japanese students worked for the entire hour on the impossible problem. “And finally we had to stop the session because the hour was up. And […]
As we work to instill a sense of mindful presence and gratitude in the students who fill our classrooms, may we especially seek gratitude for the presence of others who fill our lives this holiday season. And for those who celebrate Christmas today, may this sentiment be only deepened by the underlying theme of Christmas, the gift of an unrelenting pursuer […]
Over the last few years, thousands of schools around the world have jumped on board with the growth mindset. It seemed to become the low-hanging fruit for schools to easily grab. Going from school to school, posters about effort that focus on “trying harder” and books about the mindset for teachers and students are all […]
Can Grit Save American Education? In education, grit has become a buzzword that has permeated the American education system. But should we even be teaching it? What about the disadvantaged child who believes if he is just “grittier,” he can eventually overcome the socioeconomic obstacles in his path to success? What happens if the success he imagined never […]
Our schools are breaking. Not that I would personally attribute state budgets to solely breaking US schools, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to deny that we’re not facing a huge problem. Mr. Bill Gates, although not necessarily proposing a solution beyond gold standard accounting (*note – he also slips in the need for technology…), does […]
As I sit quietly in my living room with my feet crossed on the table, a cup of tea warm and steamy beside me, I’m finally able to exhale and reflect on how these days seem to pass so very quickly. Two years ago, I became a mother to the most beautiful little girl, and […]
“Being optimistic doesn’t mean you don’t get upset when bad things happen—it’s normal to get upset! But the optimist recognizes that most bad things are temporary and looks for opportunities to change circumstances for the better through new efforts or strategies.” The words above come from characterlab.org, a “nonprofit on a mission to develop, disseminate, […]
“SAT scores for the Class of 2015 were the lowest since the test was revised and re-normed in 2005.” “This year’s reading score is the lowest average score ever published. Math scores have not been this low since 1999.” “Education reform isn’t hitting a wall. It is the wall.” This is not a clean bill […]
Story about Pat. Pat slowly got up from the mat, planning the escape. Pat hesitated a moment and thought. Things were not going well. What was most bothersome was being held, especially since the charge had been weak. Pat considered the present situation. Pat was aware that it was because of the early roughness that […]
