https://artofeducation.net/blog daily 0.75 2025-03-15 https://artofeducation.net/blog/diffusive-thinking-where-ideas-come-from monthly 0.5 2025-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/6e7235c2-2c63-4b42-a4ee-388ff4c3ddca/runner.jpeg Blog | - Diffusive thinking: where ideas come from - Make it stand out Three conditions help activate the DMN: Dopamine release: Exercise is particularly helpful as are other dopamine releasing activities. Walking, running, in the shower, while cooking, and in meandering conversations with colleagues – these are my creative spaces. A relaxed state of mind: "A relaxed state of mind is absolutely important to be creative," says Jonah Lehrer. This is why many people claim that they think of new ideas while in the shower – when they are relaxed, and removed from the immediate space that demands creativity. Deactivating the decision-making, high executive functioning part of the brain: Thinking hard about a problem perpetuates habitual cycles of thinking. Instead, mundane activities that distract away from the decision-making part of the brain activates the DMN to make free association. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/6b8df721-c9ea-4e7d-a551-89e729208029/brainstorming.jpeg Blog | - Diffusive thinking: where ideas come from Ideas are a dime a dozen. It is in their development that they come to life. Excellent development of an idea comes from the buzz of the team hive mind. It is in that team hive mind that idea gets polished and develops into durable and lasting value. Over the years, I have noticed that these individual and team practices create fertile ground for germinating novel ideas: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/7a45ba97-cac6-48ab-91b0-33ef3d5b449f/Beige+Minimalist+Aesthetic+Moodboard+Photo+Collage+Instagram+Post.png Blog | - Diffusive thinking: where ideas come from - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://artofeducation.net/blog/changing-how-i-work-ai-powered-hacks monthly 0.5 2024-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/a794f798-be09-42e5-b7e2-9b89a27ae0ac/email-with-copilot.png Blog | - Changing how to work: AI-powered hacks - My two go-to Copilot prompts in Outlook are: Find all messages that @ mention me Find all messages that require a response from me I use these about 3x/day between meetings to stay on top of emails that need my attention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/d091c2ef-b72f-47ab-86b3-62bb19fb3432/deck-with-designer.jpg.png Blog | - Changing how to work: AI-powered hacks - My go-to hacks are: Create great visuals with Designer Make the text on the slide more concise with Copilot Use Copilot to find pertinent information from related docs, decks and spreadsheets, add that info to the notes section of the slides It took me all of 30 mins to produce the short deck late on a Friday https://artofeducation.net/blog/digital-fast-an-experiment-in-the-neuroscience-of-leadership monthly 0.5 2024-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/45880e02-1a21-4f1d-a8d6-87bfe52f1330/butterfly-mosaic.jpg Blog | - Digital fast: An experiment in the neuroscience of leadership Does the neuroscience of exemplary leadership start by just creating space and time where new habits can form and thrive? https://artofeducation.net/blog/working-with-ai-experiments-in-image-generation monthly 0.5 2023-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/a91b931f-71aa-436b-9796-ba1ee6428bb0/image+2.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation Next, adjust for lighting. Prompt: "a small team of adventurers climbing a mountain, looking out at the horizon, rolling hills at high noon, inspiring simple rendering". The image gets brighter, evoking a sense of optimism. Still fake though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1fdbc921-92f3-45dc-a07e-f9470412870d/Image+8.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - And could the sky have some pink in it? Yes. See wispy pinkness created with “Vary Region” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/40bffe9f-350e-4794-9f7c-3c9b31d351b8/Image+3.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Plot twist -- Use ChatGPT to generate the prompt for MidJourney. This is not a new trick, not by any measure but how effectively could I use it, allowing myself just 1 hour to generate the desired image? Prompt: "a futuristic, inspiring, photo-realistic image featuring a group of people climbing a steep mountain trail. The group should be looking out at multiple mountain peaks in the distance, all under the glow of a sunrise, add backpacks to the people's backs, extend the trail far into the distance" These people all look like they are on a military expedition, but the image is more "real." Still not inspiring enough. Collaboration is a key LEAD program value. Where is the collaboration in this image? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/f334c1c6-11c4-4947-9a73-be8af55be862/Image+7.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Prompt: "a futuristic, inspiring, photo-realistic image featuring a group of people climbing a steep mountain trail. The group should be looking out at clearly visible multiple mountain peaks in the distance, all under the natural soft light of high noon, add backpacks to the people's backs, extend the trail far into the distance simple rendering " with Vary Region https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/d82c237e-8249-4792-a5f5-01ce56c4d189/Image+9.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Still looks fake, what if the foliage could be varied to make the image more real? Prompt: an inspiring photo-realistic image of a group of people running up the steep trail of a mountain ascending towards the peak at high noon. They can see many more peaks on the horizon. The trail is clearly visible for a long distance into the horizon. The mountain is covered in greenery with pockets of red and yellow flowers. The sky has wisps of lightly colored clouds --s 250 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/763192b3-a2ec-4e41-8d93-ef0e4d99f5bd/Image+6.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Twist: Use "Vary Region" in MidJourney to vary a specific part of the image. Hat tip: Emma Gray for showing me the feature. Prompt: a futuristic, inspiring, photo-realistic image featuring a group of people climbing a steep mountain trail. The group should be looking out at multiple mountain peaks in the distance, all under the glow of a sunrise, add backpacks to the people's backs, show one person helping another, extend the trail far into the distance simple rendering The trail is not so readily visible, what if it was? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/e6068b04-5bdb-4258-885d-0fba37731837/Image+4.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Resource: Use Web searches to generate ideas, and also chat with ChatGPT. What if the people were helping each other? Prompt: a futuristic, inspiring, photo-realistic image featuring a group of people climbing a steep mountain trail. Each person should be helping the one behind them, forming a chain of assistance. The group should be looking out at multiple mountain peaks in the distance, all under the glow of a sunrise. Ensure the lighting is photo-realistic, capturing the nuances of the sunrise, the shadows on the mountain trail, and the reflections on the people's faces and backpacks. Please add backpacks to the people's backs. simple rendering --s 250 - That did nothing. And no matter how hard I tried, MidJourney did not make these people help each other. Also, now I have ended up with a SciFi look, note the distant "help" in the sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/296d2f0c-1e7d-43f3-9322-960cdc78f47e/Image+1.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Prompt: "a small team of adventurers climbing a mountain, looking out at the horizon, rolling hills at sunrise, inspiring simple rendering" The image looks AI generated, like out of a comic book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/dd4d7177-7b4f-46d8-ae0f-0bdd994685bc/Image+11.png Blog | - Working with AI: Experiments in image generation - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://artofeducation.net/blog/one-innovation-strategy monthly 0.5 2023-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/3b67a12a-b898-4d2a-a70c-0947fc08e9a3/Innovation-light-bulb-colors.JPG Blog | - One innovation strategy - Shape product with customers rather than merely for them Image credit: Generated with MidJourney https://artofeducation.net/blog/a-learning-culture monthly 0.5 2023-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/131a6fc6-f183-47ca-a43f-c3df6817c909/agile+innovation.png Blog | - A learning culture - Individually and collectively innovators are constantly aware of what they don’t know, doubt existing practices, and stay curious about new routines. Image: Generated by MidJourney; prompt: abstract image of “Agile Innovation” https://artofeducation.net/blog/leaning-back-and-in monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/fd7b61ab-83c4-43d1-adc9-3362d7d89468/woman+leaning+back.jpg Blog | - Leaning back, and in Leaning back is empowering to the team. It upholds the values of fail fast, and growth mindset. When you lean back, you set context, share principles, agree on the definition of success, and then spend most of your time coaching and caring. You hold your tongue, turn on your active listening ears and curious mind. I leaned heavily on my curious nature to help me lean back. https://artofeducation.net/blog/so-to-speak monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/26129121-f240-4e71-a761-a3c2583abdf8/three_gates.PNG Blog | - So to speak Before you speak (or write), let your words pass through three gates: At the first gate, ask yourself, "Is it true?" At the second gate, ask yourself, "Is it necessary?" At the third gate ask yourself, "Is it kind?" https://artofeducation.net/blog/is-ai-a-gift-to-education monthly 0.5 2023-06-16 https://artofeducation.net/blog/chief-of-staff-diaries-culture-clarity-agility monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/41a19908-b014-4578-98da-a52938eb14c7/view+from+mountain+top.PNG Blog | - Chief of staff diaries: Culture, clarity, agility A healthy culture means everyone is recognized, feels secure, energized, and empowered to take on challenges. Image credit: MidJourney https://artofeducation.net/blog/ai-in-education-limits-possibilities monthly 0.5 2023-06-05 https://artofeducation.net/blog/judicious-innovation-value-driven-innovation-in-a-resource-constrained-environment monthly 0.5 2022-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1cfc91b6-b947-43f6-a2cd-60b33f14b74d/02-InnovationJourney-HowToScoreInnovationProjects.png Blog | - Judicious Innovation: Value-driven innovation in a resource constrained environment Judiciousness is critical for breakthrough innovations to provide lasting value, and build a successful business. Based on sound principles, and grounded in disciplined practice, judicious innovation creates clarity, fosters creativity, empowers teams, ensures responsible investing, delivers financial and cultural returns. This paper summarizes learnings from multiple sources with the goal of providing a single resource for anyone interested in driving innovation in today’s constrained economic climate. It emphasizes principles and practices for mission-driven organizations that serve high growth industries constrained by limited resources. The paper is more focused on cultural and organizational elements than detailed execution processes. Read the full paper https://artofeducation.net/blog/gen-z-as-change-drivers-a-case-in-point-for-a-youth-led-education monthly 0.5 2022-01-09 https://artofeducation.net/blog/future-of-work-case-in-point-for-a-youth-led-education monthly 0.5 2022-01-09 https://artofeducation.net/blog/why-an-equitable-youth-led-education-why-now monthly 0.5 2022-01-09 https://artofeducation.net/blog/building-a-relationship-with-your-childs-teacher monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615442753755-Y17DLH8QKO5JPE9TN7RP/Parent-teacher-partnership-768x432.jpg Blog | - Building a relationship with your child’s teacher https://artofeducation.net/blog/character-comes-from-adversity-but-how-do-we-let-our-kids-fail monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615451810450-7SUUH4LF2YLJFNLE8QB4/gritkid.jpg Blog | - Character comes from adversity, but how do we let our kids fail? https://artofeducation.net/blog/should-my-child-go-to-public-or-private-school monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615452482007-WX14M8RNVWGYYI8IQA9S/aagirlwithglasses-768x511.jpeg Blog | - Should my child go to public or private school? https://artofeducation.net/blog/anti-bias-books-key-to-raising-a-racially-sensitive-child monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/q-how-does-my-family-decide-between-public-and-private-school monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615453068866-KGUK02PCAV07LF5O53TX/aagirlwithglasses-768x511.jpeg Blog | - Q: How does my family decide between public and private school? https://artofeducation.net/blog/your-child-is-headed-to-their-local-public-school-so-what-is-there-really-to-think-about monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615453511447-MM4CMZNWVVRA3BPA5S54/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c744e741970b-800wi+%281%29.jpg Blog | - Your child is headed to their local public school, so what is there really to think about? https://artofeducation.net/blog/parenting-for-creativity monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615453817392-DIJM2URGAIEUI9KJA8LT/imaginaryworld.jpeg Blog | - Parenting for Creativity https://artofeducation.net/blog/digital-media-and-its-impact-on-elementary-years monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615454362685-VURXEWL7OYWOEL472AFD/may-article-2-pic-3-girl-on-ipad-768x510.jpg Blog | - Digital Media and its Impact on Elementary Years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615454280746-7ZT8DFM44QUP72W6NECE/may-article-2-pic-2-kids-with-ipads.jpeg Blog | - Digital Media and its Impact on Elementary Years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615454118057-OM0ZQUTA8RS3NSFIVCY0/may-article-2-pic-1-boy-on-ipad-768x512.jpg Blog | - Digital Media and its Impact on Elementary Years https://artofeducation.net/blog/who-am-i-as-a-learner-growth-in-elementary-years monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615454830848-X8SAA87RA7MKOG8GQ5UR/may-article-1-pic-3-768x334.jpg Blog | - “Who am I as a learner?”: Growth in Elementary Years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615454650960-NJKVWW5XB2XN9GPU45BO/may-article-1-pic-1.jpg Blog | - “Who am I as a learner?”: Growth in Elementary Years https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615454736470-WTA11BVMYHM4OEOPTXXE/may-article-1-pic-2-300x200.jpg Blog | - “Who am I as a learner?”: Growth in Elementary Years https://artofeducation.net/blog/teaching-kids-for-tomorrow monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615459072890-MP371N40WCYX19OQ5XGF/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c78ee0f2970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Teaching Kids for Tomorrow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615459689392-4ADOFFTE8IPV0P157EX4/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d1187694970c-800wi.png Blog | - Teaching Kids for Tomorrow https://artofeducation.net/blog/myths-and-characteristics-of-gifted-learners monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/bilingualism-impact-beyond-language-learning monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615455455554-R58B5QJ9VRIJQ74MSFSZ/bilingual-pic-2.jpeg Blog | - Bilingualism: Impact Beyond Language Learning https://artofeducation.net/blog/summer-matters-a-whole-new-reason monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615456064689-9C4IVIWV2XOR2FDG9M53/nature-journal.jpg Blog | - Summer Matters: A Whole New Reason https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615455967964-EVY5HT63JCIXK0IRBGWE/science.jpg Blog | - Summer Matters: A Whole New Reason https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615455867008-XUA2S7VKSG0S4I5381AO/reading-on-dock.jpg Blog | - Summer Matters: A Whole New Reason https://artofeducation.net/blog/the-importance-of-identifying-giftedness monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615457045342-SYF0JW2OIDBFLQ25OIMW/Gifted_Medium-300x200.jpg Blog | - The Importance of Identifying Giftedness https://artofeducation.net/blog/top-3-tips-for-choosing-a-school monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615457614081-EZIOOM823LSN0KBCARG6/Mother-and-girl_sliderimage_Medium-300x200.jpg Blog | - Top 3 Tips for Choosing a School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615457478598-ECJJFU2FL1IM88YFTK5A/Supporting-your-child_Medium-300x200.jpg Blog | - Top 3 Tips for Choosing a School https://artofeducation.net/blog/back-to-school-a-relaxed-fulfilling-high-school-experience monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615457967776-2V45QGPXIOU1P6NNS9L4/happy-student.jpg Blog | - Back-to-School: A Relaxed, Fulfilling High School Experience https://artofeducation.net/blog/ready-or-not-is-your-child-prepared-for-the-kindergarten-plunge monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615458329771-6IW71RIKDPYMS42ZZGQ4/Kindergarten-Ready-300x300.jpg Blog | - Ready or Not: Is your child prepared for the Kindergarten plunge? https://artofeducation.net/blog/will-the-iphone-8-ditch-glass-for-plastic-rumours-here monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/most-likely-to-succeed-preparing-our-kids-for-the-innovation-era monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615460205354-S1QQKCIWQT77WN9T7YDC/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d11508be970c-800wi+%281%29.jpg Blog | - Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing Our Kids For The Innovation Era https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615460579366-0NG1B8WMEK1R2CD5IQGW/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d115151a970c-100wi.jpg Blog | - Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing Our Kids For The Innovation Era https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615460036401-J5877NF51FEILNLJZ5V5/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d1187694970c-800wi.png Blog | - Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing Our Kids For The Innovation Era https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615460429621-MIRX1O43NHII97LROJLB/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c78b88e4970b-100wi.png Blog | - Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing Our Kids For The Innovation Era - Founder/Director of Puget Sound Consortium for School Innovation, Big Picture Learning https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615460534335-X4L2RPX2BQ8GWFA45HKH/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c78b8920970b-100wi.jpg Blog | - Most Likely To Succeed: Preparing Our Kids For The Innovation Era https://artofeducation.net/blog/maharashtra-hsc-result-2018-expected-to-be-declared monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/the-myth-of-the-gifted monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615461094839-A7C6R7OV76VNRTC0PB67/6a00d834200ef553ef017ee49f1e63970d-800wi.jpg Blog | - The Myth of the Gifted https://artofeducation.net/blog/choosing-a-balanced-preschool-experience monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615461790466-KCFZALFQ93OOGW09FCYG/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c74a7301970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Choosing a balanced preschool experience https://artofeducation.net/blog/raising-children-in-an-age-of-peshawar-ferguson-and-paris monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615461949095-V5J0HF33IILJVCTI5S91/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c73a485c970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Raising children in an age of Peshawar, Ferguson and Paris. https://artofeducation.net/blog/writing-independent-school-applications monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/the-parent-coach-toys-by-age-and-stage monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1617268013344-Z18V8P4EG8GOW0W2WIML/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d0a7d1e8970c.jpeg Blog | - The Parent Coach: Toys by Age and Stage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1617268074657-PL0C6K33DQBKRPK9Q4B2/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d0a7d210970c.jpeg Blog | - The Parent Coach: Toys by Age and Stage https://artofeducation.net/blog/who-is-a-gifted-child-1 monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615467151725-Z5QQBQGJH957SQRFTHTQ/6a00d834200ef553ef017ee49f1e63970d-800wi.jpg Blog | - Who is a "gifted" child? - The term “gifted” conjures up images of a wild haired, bespectacled, scrawny child who asks many questions, stays socially isolated and produces a body of work that would put many 40 year-olds to shame. It is exactly this image that makes “gifted” such a poorly descriptive term. If you are progressively inclined, you probably also cringe at the elitism inherently implied by the term. Often “giftedness” is defined by the result of an IQ test. This measure, one that many consider limited and unreliable, further alienates the idea of “giftedness”. Ahead of the term and the measure of intelligence is a human being. I fundamentally believe that every child, every person was put on this planet to fulfill a calling, to pursue a passion. I also believe that the manifestation of the calling and the ability to follow a passion shows up very differently for every child. https://artofeducation.net/blog/ready-set-go-choose-a-school monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615462178035-NIZMDXWRFEU1UXF82UJT/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c6e50926970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Ready?, Set?: Go Choose a School! https://artofeducation.net/blog/its-the-mistakes-and-not-right-answers-that-lead-to-more-learning monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615462298208-X0C4D3VCKEVHP1LPMSV7/6a00d834200ef553ef01a73e14fb43970d-800wi.jpg Blog | - Its the mistakes and not right answers that lead to more learning https://artofeducation.net/blog/new-routines-reading-hour monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/back-to-school-building-a-partnership-with-your-childs-teacher monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615462525831-P5B2PRPCN4J01EG6MS6M/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c6d91720970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Back-to-School: Building a Partnership with your Child’s Teacher https://artofeducation.net/blog/making-an-intentional-empowering-public-school-choice monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615461502177-6DUVYLA6CWKN8JNUBXUH/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d0dd0194970c-800wi.jpg Blog | - Making an Intentional, Empowering Public School Choice https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615461603967-1JDUQM1D2CEWRN8NEMIF/6a00d834200ef553ef01b8d0dd01cf970c-800wi.jpg Blog | - Making an Intentional, Empowering Public School Choice https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615461568748-YA3L9H31YO07R2KQ52RX/6a00d834200ef553ef01b7c753bc46970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Making an Intentional, Empowering Public School Choice https://artofeducation.net/blog/play-store-apk-free-download-guide-for-android-amp-pc monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/best-wireless-router-recommendation-asus-rt-ac88u monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/choosing-the-right-elementary-school monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615704689620-XCDNFZN312SX1WPLHQUR/6a00d834200ef553ef0147e3c98b7f970b.jpg Blog | - Choosing the Right Elementary School https://artofeducation.net/blog/yamaha-fg830-solid-acoustic-guitar-product-review monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/lucky-patcher-apk-download-for-android-no-root-required monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/khan-academy-finlands-schools-just-one-step-in-the-many-miles-ahead monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615464872178-7TI076U4Q33A4TV2DM6Y/6a00d834200ef553ef017d41355746970c-800wi.jpg Blog | - Khan Academy, Finland’s schools: Just one step in the many miles ahead https://artofeducation.net/blog/snapdeal-coupons-amp-sale-offers-upto-85-off monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/what-does-animals-climbing-trees-have-to-do-with-finlands-schools monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615465192726-YOSO6LXSDZ50O5F1LBLY/6a00d834200ef553ef017d40923d7a970c-800wi.jpg Blog | - What does animals climbing trees have to do with Finland’s schools? https://artofeducation.net/blog/play-matters-in-preschool-get-to-know-it-yourself monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615465463850-S0L5J0IABD1UZGFTJW4J/6a00d834200ef553ef017c35813adb970b-800wi.jpg Blog | - Play matters in preschool: Get to know it yourself! https://artofeducation.net/blog/stories-of-passion-teenagers-and-science monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615465846936-ZYMNPBTADDS41PAMGLIP/6a00d834200ef553ef017ee71950f2970d-800wi.jpg Blog | - Stories of Passion: Teenagers and science https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615465884896-BY0HML79IM9UI5S69ISG/6a00d834200ef553ef017d3fa4ec9f970c-800wi.jpg Blog | - Stories of Passion: Teenagers and science https://artofeducation.net/blog/pursuing-a-true-vocation-passion monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615466768862-OWVK7KFY2PJH7TNOQJLL/6a00d834200ef553ef017d3f9c255b970c-800wi.png Blog | - Pursuing a true vocation (passion) https://artofeducation.net/blog/is-santa-real monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615467009456-RWS6JALRY5X10W3QEZLI/6a00d834200ef553ef017d3e78a6d1970c-800wi.jpg Blog | - Is Santa real? https://artofeducation.net/blog/getting-philosophical-language-and-number-sense monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1617267510907-BGKJQYNW2703Z2SCZ9PY/6a00d834200ef553ef017d3e51a3f1970c.jpeg Blog | - Getting philosophical: Language and number sense - An alphabet is a symbol. A number is a symbol. A symbol is a shape with a special meaning like a sound or a quantity that gives it meaning. A symbol is connected to another symbol that also has a special meaning. The connection between two symbols also has a special meaning. Symbols are not the actual thing. Words are symbols. They are tools. They are powerful tools. They help us convey ideas. But they are not the ideas. They are not the actual things they describe. There is a separation between the description and the actual object, experience or idea. Descriptions are powerful. So are objects, experiences and ideas. https://artofeducation.net/blog/who-is-a-gifted-child monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615467151725-Z5QQBQGJH957SQRFTHTQ/6a00d834200ef553ef017ee49f1e63970d-800wi.jpg Blog | - Who is a “gifted” child? https://artofeducation.net/blog/to-redshirt-or-not monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/public-or-private-gifted-or-not-how-to-choose-a-school-for-your-child monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/education-leads-to-success-how-do-you-define-success monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615469763331-I10P2IXJTAV2DFOQOK3O/6a00d834200ef553ef017ee3e1f5c3970d-800wi.jpg Blog | - Education leads to success. How do you define success? https://artofeducation.net/blog/grit-character-come-from-adversity-how-you-can-let-your-child-fail monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615482404452-BIAD5OLZRQE8WEBQRVJS/6a00d834200ef553ef017d3c4b65f4970c.jpg Blog | - Grit, Character come from adversity. How you can let your child fail? - In Paul Tough's talk last week, he cautioned the committed, involved crowd of parents, educators and counselors against overprotecting children. He showed with well-researched anecdotes and data, the benefits of letting children fail. He stated that failure builds character and grit that lead to success in life. I was talking to my committed, involved, engaged parent and colleague about this earlier today. She, like me, agreed that Tough's offer of letting children fail makes sound sense. As committed and involved parents, we often do for our children what they can do for themselves. We are so blinded by our care for them, we protect them from the slightest pain or inconvenience. We get what Paul Tough is saying, but how much adversity are we supposed to allow? How do we let our children fail? While my answer to this question is still evolving, I have one ready tip to offer parents. Ask yourself these questions: Is my child capable of doing/handling/responding/dealing with this situation? https://artofeducation.net/blog/gifted-students-deserve-more-really-yes-and- monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615482740156-3PO0EWMTL8WA0EL9ZS0I/6a00d834200ef553ef017c3203261f970b.jpg Blog | - “Gifted Students Deserve More”. Really? Yes. And … - "Gifted Students Deserve More Opportunities", that's the title of a New York Times article from two days ago. The title is sure to make many of you cringe and wonder, "really, gifted students need more? Aren't they already gifted and talented? They'll make it everywhere." "Giftedness" in K-12 students is identified with an IQ test, using a metric that assesses a narrow band of abilities. That's the nature of IQ tests — they test a specific, narrow band of cognitive abilities. Cognitive abilities don't represent the full spectrum of human abilities or intelligence. Much of human intelligence is invisible. It is not all grounded in cognitive abilities. And, it cannot be measured. The results of an IQ test and the quantified measure of a specific type of intelligence measured by them is not representative of the complexity and the wholeness that makes a child rich and unique. I think we need a broader lens for understanding giftedness. The design of this broad lens does not need to be limited to understanding only "gifted" learners. https://artofeducation.net/blog/time-out-no-way-lets-go-to-the-beach-instead monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615533889152-KXTTOE1XSG43BM0WUBQV/6a00d834200ef553ef017c31f14612970b.jpg Blog | - Time out? No way! Lets go to the beach, instead! - I have been reading Jane Nelsen's Positive Discipline these last few weeks. Positive Discipline offers parents a respectful, honoring way to think of, understand and work with children. My one sentence translation of the book is — Treat your children with the same honor and respect you accord your best friend. The book invites parents to understand that misbehavior is really a result of discouragement. Its full of such nuggets, tips, ideas and more. One such idea (amongst many), that made me rethink my perspective on a common parenting technique was Positive Time-out. I take a strong stand against punishment in my own parenting and teaching. So, I have never used time-out. That said, when my son turned four and became the full-of-life, fast-paced, boy of energy that he still is, it became evident to me that he would outrun his own energy, draining himself to the point of becoming a puddle. He needed to take some time, every now and then and especially in the midst of an escalating conflict with me, to cool off and breathe. I needed to do the same. So, we came up with the "break". If one of us felt like we were getting out of hand, we'd go on break. Initially, this felt just like a time-out, wrapped in fancier wrapping paper. And it was. When I asked my son to take a break, my tone would be punitive. No wonder it felt like a punishment. It never sat right with me. https://artofeducation.net/blog/tough-on-tough monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615533976225-XPI5MF5V2TE99GHDYSFB/6a00d834200ef553ef017744b6b3d8970d.jpg Blog | - Tough on tough - Grit, perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism and self-control; those not test scores are the keys to success says Paul Tough. The writer of the provocative New York Times article What If the Secret to Success is Failure comes to Seattle next week to talk about How Children Succeed. I haven't read the book yet. In a past post, I shared my thoughts on the New York Times article which I found provocative. Its invitation to inspect character education as central and essential to successful education was compelling. I am curious how Tough defines success. That remains my central question. https://artofeducation.net/blog/ready-or-not-its-time-to-transition-to-kindergarten monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615534204246-XH4HSG8VG7ZNZ51KP29V/6a00d834200ef553ef017d3bc3f537970c.jpg Blog | - Ready or Not, Its Time to Transition to Kindergarten - As the days get shorter and cooler winds blow, it is time return indoors to quieter play and work. For many families, this is a time of transition. For those headed to Kindergarten, it is a significant time of change. In such a time of transition, it is easy to think of readiness – Are we ready with our supplies? Are we ready with transportation? What about school lunches? These are important pieces of the transition process. It is also important to reflect on the inner changes a time of transition brings. This is a time of transition, not just of readiness. https://artofeducation.net/blog/philosophy-and-values monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/teaching-and-tutoring monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/happiness-and-education-a-film-and-a-discussion monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615534795228-TPPMWBA6EAHW1UT2YFRZ/6a00d834200ef553ef0177441c5512970d.jpg Blog | - Happiness and Education: A Film and a Discussion - The Seattle Center celebrates 50 years this year. As part of the celebrations, the month of August is dedicated to discussing education. A lecture, a series of films and public discussions are offered this month. See a complete listing of education events on Seattle Center's Next 50. Catch a thought-provoking, education-related film every Wednesday night this month. This week watch Happy. A post-film discussion will include questions on the connection between happiness and education. I will be on the panel for this discussion. https://artofeducation.net/blog/are-children-using-technology-or-is-it-the-other-way-around monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615534881801-YERJH360P3YUWWQ3ESVG/6a00d834200ef553ef0167692bb047970b.jpg Blog | - Are Children Using Technology Or Is It the Other Way Around? - Lisa Guernsey's Slate article is the provocation for today's post. I was most struck by one paragraph in Lisa's article: I love that they are creating things, talking about their creations, and planning ahead for new projects. But I hate that the real thing—their Legos, the cardboard boxes saved for building forts—can’t hold a candle to Minecraft in capturing their interest. As today's youth, no, today's young children engage technology, virtual worlds in place of the real world, what might happen to how they think, relate, create, solve, feel? At a family gathering, one of my younger cousins pulled up his iPhone to share a real-time representation of the night sky. My uncle pointed out that we could just as easily see the night sky, simply by looking at the actual sky. My cousin responded with, "but this is real, it really is real, it is real-time." My cousin's reaction is provocative. What is real? What is reality? When the virtual world is beginning to represent reality in its many abundant forms? https://artofeducation.net/blog/back-to-school-what-is-that monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615534973338-413D4KCZBKWGKFFWT2BC/6a00d834200ef553ef017743cb094d970d.jpg Blog | - Back to School: What is that? - August is right around the corner and while those of us in Seattle are still counting on half of our summer in the next month, its already time to start thinking about school. I am certainly turning my head from a summer of contemplation, reading, writing to a whole new year of working with parents and students. Before students return to school, teachers do. Just as I turn my head, my head is turning me; inside out that is. What does it even mean to go "Back-to-School"? In my first year of teaching, now almost a decade ago, I remember pausing at the end of each school day and asking, "So now what, we stop learning?" Of course, we didn't. My question was metaphorical. That said, summers were hard for me. I get that we need a break, to step away, to be with family but the question remains: Why are our lives, our ways of learning strucutured in ways that demand periods when we "learn" and others when we are on "break". My overly simplistic counter argument is that we learn all the time. I am certainly not an advocate for the 12-month school calendar. But, I do wonder what it means to weave living and learning together more tightly so they are two sides of the same fabric of life. Its a big question, I know. https://artofeducation.net/blog/make-a-wish monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615535765219-RDR0YKJQJ47EXJE7DBTM/6a00d834200ef553ef016767e2a1b1970b.jpg Blog | - Make a wish - At the start of each of my workshops, I ask parents this question — "What is the one thing that you hope will happen for your child because of her education? What is your ultimate hope for your child, one that will be fulfilled because of her education?" Over and over, parents give these resounding answers. My greatest hope for my child is that she will … … be confident … be caring … be financially stable … find and pursue a passion … experience happiness and fulfillment … contribute to society … have the courage to follow her own path … gain an understanding of the world's greatest disciplines … be excellent at whatever she chooses to do Do any of these answers resonate for you? What is your greatest hope for your child or any child? Ponder the question and please share your answer. You will, with your response, bring clarity to someone else. https://artofeducation.net/blog/education-lasts-a-lifetime-when-you-land-in-a-school-of-your-choice monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/gratitude monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615537705794-16QOQIE8F622A61HUER3/6a00d834200ef553ef016305babb6a970d.jpg Blog | - Gratitude - This has been a fantastic year for me and the Art of Education. I have worked with over 200 parents through talks, workshops and individual consultations; engaging questions on how education can meet and touch every child. I have been energized by the response from parents, school administrators and community members. The response from the larger community has grounded me further in my mission to see the gift in every child, to support every child experience a fulfilling education. I am deeply grateful for the questioning, thinking and learning I have had the opportunity to do together with parents and educators. Thank you! https://artofeducation.net/blog/preschool-search-starts-now-with-you monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615537831675-2UV4OI3VQW4FIECJJMJ5/6a00d834200ef553ef01676470edc6970b.jpg Blog | - Preschool search starts now, with you! - October through January is the busiest time of year for parents seeking admission at all grade levels from preschool through college at independent and public schools. In those hectic months, parents try to identify schools, visit them, apply and get interviewed. That’s a lot of ground to cover in four months and it misses one crucial beginning step. A good part of choosing the right school relies on knowing what matters to your child and your family. https://artofeducation.net/blog/how-do-people-find-what-they-love monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615537944493-7U7UP8J6GDN1YMA1R03A/6a00d834200ef553ef0168e6f5636f970c.jpg Blog | - How do people find what they love? - How do people find what they love? How do people find their purpose? What gives them the courage to pursue their purpose, in the face of the greatest odds? I watched Moneyball this weekend. In the movie, Brad Pitt who plays Bill Beaney goes against the grain of how "baseball" puts together a team, what "baseball" thinks about what makes a good team. He questions the norms and puts together a winning team on a shoestring budget (well, shoestring in baseball terms). His team goes on to win the same number of games as the Yankees except the Yankees have three times the amount of money. Bill, a man who is still the manager for the Oakland Athletics, used sabermetrics — baseball statistics — to put together his team. He was the first to do it and since many teams have followed his lead. Sabermetrics is now changing the nature of baseball. But when Bill did it, he was scoffed at, questioned, punished, blamed for it. But he still did it. Why? https://artofeducation.net/blog/a-private-school-does-not-guarantee-a-better-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538043348-CJWTTX87GTMBIVIRFI5G/6a00d834200ef553ef016761059ea0970b.jpg Blog | - A private school does not guarantee a “better” education - A first, longstanding question for parents in the search for the right school is: Public or Private. The answers to this question are not straightforward. A private school does not automatically ensure a "better" education. There are good reasons for choosing both types of schools. In a previous article I wrote, I outline the reasons for choosing both public and private schools. In a recent interview on Seattle's NPR channel, KUOW, I spoke with callers, Sarah Goering, a philosophy professor at the University of Washington and with the host of The Conversation David Hyde on the differences between public and private schools. One of the central questions we discussed was whether private schools automatically ensure a "better" education. https://artofeducation.net/blog/emfs7r80plax584jau9s11o6s3f5sv monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538145112-QMI19UI2MYR4C0JEEVAB/6a00d834200ef553ef016760b82f4e970b.jpg Blog | - Teaching Teachers - "Lifelong learning", is stated by most parents as one of their greatest hopes for their child, due to education. Lifelong learning cannot be reserved for children alone. It is universal. In fact, children cannot grow into lifelong learners if they are not surrounded by lifelong learners. The best teachers grow not only due to their educational backgrounds but more importantly because of their on-going development. It is no wonder that teachers, like doctors are required to engage in on-going professional development to keep their teaching certificates live. Taken seriously professional development happens on-the-ground, all-round, week-in-week out, day-in-day out. On-going professional development that helps teachers in their day-to-day curriculum development, responsiveness to student needs, in building and nurturing relationships is powerful. It hones teaching as it is happening. Few schools invest in their teachers in this manner. And when a school does, it shows it cares madly about its students — madly enough to invest so deeply in the adults that touch them on a daily basis. https://artofeducation.net/blog/significance-of-play monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/play-or-math-why-not-both monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538464087-Z0XEY91QJBJQFEKG1RLB/6a00d834200ef553ef0168e4fc34b9970c.jpg Blog | - Play or Math? Why not both? - There is a hot debate on amongst educators and policy-makers about the kind of learning that is essential in early childhood. A spate of articles discuss that early childhood education has a significant impact on success in high school and even later in life. This is not news. I have read about proficient 8th grade readers emerging from preschools not focused on didactic literacy instruction, math in early years being the greatest predictor of success later in life and the abundant evidence for the significance of play. https://artofeducation.net/blog/time-to-look-for-a-preschool monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538613706-SEOAXH9V8VZ78TTTCW9N/6a00d834200ef553ef0168e4edeb71970c.jpg Blog | - Time to look for a preschool https://artofeducation.net/blog/with-new-eyes monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538690063-2WIBGBMU3IKGTPBCWXN4/6a00d834200ef553ef0168e4d4a66a970c.jpg Blog | - With new eyes - Happy New Year! A whole new year lies ahead. I feel like I've been handed a brand new clean slate upon which to sketch, to give shape, to color and imagine this new year. More than the strokes of my chalk on this new slate, I am tempted to linger with this feeling of newness. It is a a chance to look with fresh eyes, to let bygones be bygones, to leap forward with the wisdom of past experiences and the excitement of new moments that lie ahead. It is with this sense of newness, of freshness, the excitement of the unknow and unseen, I hold in my heart these intentions. This year, and every year hence, I hope to glance, to behold, to inspect, to witness, to beam and to wink at my young boy and other children in these ways … https://artofeducation.net/blog/we-parent-who-we-are monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538786438-6ATA83Y0OW3CIDENHRVP/6a00d834200ef553ef01675ec4b837970b.jpg Blog | - We parent who we are - Have you ever heard the saying that when two people live together for a long time, they begin to look like each other? Or that dog owners look like their dogs after many years? I think its the same way with children. When I head to a school to observe a child, I have most often never met her or him. I have only met the child's parent(s) who have requested I observe the child to get to know her or him, especially as a learner. This information helps parents choose the right school for the child. When I first arrive into the child's classroom, I ask the teacher not to tell me who the child is. I try to identify him or her based on the parent's descriptions. Most often my first guess is right only because I see a facial resemblance with the parents. In my hour long observation though, as I watch the child, I come away with an understanding of what she or he does and I also find myself seeing the parent in the child. A child will sometimes speak like a parent or smile like one of them. Sometimes she or he walks like a parent. When this happened again this week, it made me pause and ask – what do our children really learn from us? The question lingered with me into the early hours of this morning. As my boy settled down for breakfast, I worked at the kitchen counter. I glanced at him periodically to make sure he was still chowing down his oatmeal. In one glance, I caught him intently watching my every move. He was still, tranced by my routine at the kitchen counter. It was in that moment that I realized that more than my words, my son is learning from my actions. Now, this is not news. What is more interesting I think is that he is not even really learning that much from my actions. What he is really learning is who I am. https://artofeducation.net/blog/so-you-found-a-school-you-like monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538908721-LPYZRLEICZBZ1H0KPHUO/6a00d834200ef553ef0153944150c2970b.jpg Blog | - So you found a school you like - This time of year, for some parents seeking admission next fall, the best gift they can receive is a guarantee of enrollment at their top choice school. Some parents, and many by this time in the year, have seen the shining star, the light at the end of the tunner: They have found the one school they so badly want their child to go to. This is a great place to be in. Celebrate the moment, I say! Remember back in fall, when you started out you had no clue which school it would be or whether you would even fall in love with a school. You've found it now. Congratulations! A dear friend of mine, an astute parent who went through the process a few years ago, said to me, "Having an admissions professional in your life at this time, makes parents do strange things." Yes, indeed. I have seen parents get bent out of shape. They see what they want to so badly and lose perspective. I get it. It is hard not to be so focused. After all, this school could shape your darling in a significant way for all of her life. How can you not get attached? If we take a step back, we all know that getting attached is exactly what will keep us from having a good chance at getting into the prized school. So, what is one to do? https://artofeducation.net/blog/evidence-for-collective-genius monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615538997114-Z6ZBK06TKT2YFQ90M9VY/6a00d834200ef553ef0162fd90aa52970d.jpg Blog | - Evidence for “Collective Genius” - When I taught at PSCS one of my favorite weekly events was the Staff meeting. I looked forward to it. When I stopped working at PSCS, I asked if I could continue attending the staff meeting. I attended it for a whole year after I was done teaching formally as a full-time staff member. I loved PSCS staff meetings (I still do). I loved them for the "high" they gave me. We used a term to describe the experience we had together each week. We would walk into the meeting with many students on our minds, simple and complex questions, all without an answer. We trusted that our collective thinking would lead to contemplations, learning and solutions. We called our collective intelligence "the hive mind". A few years later in conducting research on 21st century education, I came to crystallize an idea for myself, one that many have talked about. My crystallization: That we no longer live in the era of individual achievement. We are ever more increasingly headed into the era of the Collective Genius. While my original blog post draws evidence from the world of online networking and collaboration, the idea applies to any setting. https://artofeducation.net/blog/intellectual-or-academic-development monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615539107113-23AWGEMXCHZG8FTB6H79/6a00d834200ef553ef015394203802970b.jpg Blog | - Intellectual or Academic Development? - My grandmother, now 85 years old, is a holistic educator. She works even today, tirelessly, and touches the lives of teachers and their students. She has been a grand influence in my growth as an educator. In a recent conversation with her, we landed on the topic of intellectual development and how it is different from academic development. Both intellectual and academic development are focused on growing the mind. The mind is but one part of a child. But one is more complete in terms of how it addresses the growth of the mind than the other. Intellectual development is grounded in inquiry. It is fueled by intrinsic motivation and curiosity. Intellectual development touches is the growth of the many intelligences nascent and dominant in every learner. It is about critical thinking, problem solving, the ability to make connections between disparate ideas as it is about creativity through imagination, expression of emotions, building and growing relationships, self-expression through writing, art, music, drama, poetry and learning from the natural world. Intellectual development is personal. It is about nurturing the fundamental ways of being intelligent that make us human. In that regard, it is about self-awareness or as John Holt stated, it is about nurturing the intelligence that tells us not "how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do." (Holt, 1964) https://artofeducation.net/blog/run-before-walk-if-not-then-why-test-preschoolers monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615539190993-XNY4NQ6GT59IUZHXCCRF/6a00d834200ef553ef01539413fd13970b.jpg Blog | - Run before walk? If not, then why test preschoolers? - A fetus in-utero develops in sequence. Heart beat before eyes, neural structure before hearing and so on. What if the development skipped a step or two? What if the brain began to develop before the spinal column was in place? Nobody would wish that. Now, take a preschooler. Playing, exploring relationships. Pause the play, skip a step ahead. Introduce phonics-based reading, invite Math worksheets in the classroom. Reduce outside play in favor of tests. Why would we want that? If we won't wish for the fetus to skip any steps in its development, why would we wish that for a preschooler? A child has her work cut out at every stage of development. Every child moves through her developmental stages at her own pace, carving her own path through each stage. Her work at every stage is just as important as that at a later stage. If we won't ask our children to run before they can walk, why do we ask them to engage academic work and testing before they are ready for it? https://artofeducation.net/blog/giddens-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615539336517-LZSMFZM88C563LOIJ0EO/6a00d834200ef553ef015393d12ec0970b.jpg Blog | - Giddens School https://artofeducation.net/blog/writing-school-applications-make-it-real monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615540336815-MV6QRW8TEJF9ERIGJDPE/6a00d834200ef553ef0162fd2680ba970d.jpg Blog | - Writing school applications: Make it real - It is the season, it is indeed. As most people turn towards holiday shopping after Thanksgiving, parents of prospective elementary and middle school children seeking independent school admission turn their heads towards writing out school applications. Independent school applications include four to five questions that require crisp, descriptive short essay-style responses to questions like — Describe your child's strengths and areas of challenge?, What kind of learning environment do you think is best for your child?, Why are you drawn to [name of school]? or Why do you think [name of school] is a fit for your child?, How do you expect to be involved as a family and so on. Answering these questions can be nerve-wracking for some parents. For the most prolific writers, these questions still demand some pause, reflection and effort. In helping parents write their applications, I have identified these tips: https://artofeducation.net/blog/balance-says-sir-ken-robinson monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615540423416-FPJQ8BQ67LBQ5R5CIG0T/6a00d834200ef553ef0154378b2538970c.jpg Blog | - “Balance”, says Sir Ken Robinson - Another unique opportunity presented itself during my visit down to the Bay Area this month. This post has more to do with my excitement and experience of this opportunity and a little to do with one pearl of wisdom I picked up along the way. Sir Ken Robinson gave a public talk in Palo Alto. Needless to say, I went but it was no ordinary feat getting to hear the man to speak. I find my work in education energized and fueled by my work as the parent of a young child. My greatest energy comes from speaking to parents of young children — wide-eyed parents like myself who are hopeful, dying to do everything they can, open and tentative still in their explorations, curious and willing to learn. I choraled together two of my close friends (shown in the picture), both parents of young children to go to the talk. We had been talking about education, school choice and more during my visit with them. I wanted the company of my friends, my tribe as I went for what I knew would be a once-in-a-lifetime event. https://artofeducation.net/blog/an-extraordinarily-bold-creation monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615540508754-XY8MJGXAVTWTZLTLNRY1/6a00d834200ef553ef015436e59c2d970c.jpg Blog | - An Extraordinarily Bold Creation - My work in education has often been inspired by bold thinkers, people who take risks, turn the bell curve inside-out and turn it around. Of the many bold innovators in the field, I have been inspired by Gever Tulley. I first came across Gever Tulley a few years ago when my son first showed a keen interest in tinkering. Researching resources for him, I came across the Tinkering School. From this, I went on to watch every TED talk given by Gever Tulley. In the last year, I have even reached out to some local Seattle folks to start a Tinkering school. Imagine my surprise then when I learned that Gever Tulley was going to offer less Tinkering School sessions this summer, the first year that my son could have attended the school. Instead, he was onto something bigger: start a whole school based on the idea of fostering creativity through hands-on work. The Brightworks school launched this fall. True to its hands-on style, I figured there was no better way to get to know it than to visit it in person. I had just the right opportunity during a family vacation these past two weeks. https://artofeducation.net/blog/crisis-in-kindergarten monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615540625834-IOGPJS5H4HM54M3Y5D13/6a00d834200ef553ef015392b90df5970b.jpg Blog | - Crisis in Kindergarten - Kindergarten classrooms across the United States are in a state of crisis. What's most scary about this crisis is that it is not apparent! It is the crisis of the loss of play: the hallmark of developmentally responsive education in Kindergarten. A recent report from the Alliance on Childhood titled Crisis in the Kindergarten lays out the most comprehensive information on the changed nature of the American Kindergarten and research that demands a change. Research studies, old and new, revised, updated and verified all show that play is significant for the healthy, complete growth of children, especially in early years (less than 8 years of age). I claim it is essential for children of all ages, upto and beyond age 99. Increasingly, Kindergarten classrooms are focused on ensuring literacy and numeracy development, teaching to standards and often even preparation for standardized testing. The Crisis in the Kindergarten report states that, "Such practices are contributing to high levels of frustration, stress, and anger in kindergartners, sometimes resulting in extreme behavior problems. At the same time that we have increased academic pressure in children’s lives through inappropriate standards, we have managed to undermine their primary tool for dealing with stress— freely chosen, child-directed, intrinsically motivated play." https://artofeducation.net/blog/tread-softly-we-cannot-create-our-childrens-future monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615540750461-YV6A3OR7G2MA4O64QULG/6a00d834200ef553ef0162fbd13514970d.jpg Blog | - Tread softly: We cannot create our children’s future - The past month has been a whirlwind. Its been a fantastic month of work for the Art of Education. Between TV interviews, talks, workshops, school visits and many consultations, I have connected with over 200 parents this month, visited 10 schools and spent countless hours reading, summarizing key ideas for thirsty parents. Needless to say, I have had little time to pause. That said, I have tried to check-in with myself, reflect and breathe, sometimes while driving in the car, in the shower, while sipping my morning coffee, I have checked my gut and I have received only one message: The life we so wish for our children is their's to live. School choice is often situated in the larger landscape of laying out a future for the child. Parents cannot but help cast their eye forward with hope. It is so hard not to wish for a happy, successful, fulfilling future. Deep down in the gut there is a longing, a vision of an outcome, a look and feel for a life that is right in some way. And while we parents cannot but help cast an eye to the future, I have come to realize that, really we cannot ever control that future. Like Steve Jobs said, "you cannot connect the dots forward, you can only connect them backwards." https://artofeducation.net/blog/seeing-the-right-school-its-about-the-gut-not-just-your-eyes monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615540915312-672SD35N1XICFD1J5G3W/6a00d834200ef553ef015392764de5970b.jpg Blog | - SEEing the right school: Its about the gut, not just your eyes - "Trust your gut", I tell parents when they decide which schools they want to consider for their child. I believe that a caring, well-meaning parent's instincts are more powerful than the best advice from experts. While the phrase sounds catchy and reassuring, I know that parents want a little more than that when choosing the right school. What does trusting your gut feel like? It comes down to being able to just SEE your child in the school. Look not just with your eyes. Look with your gut. What are you SEEing? https://artofeducation.net/blog/teaching-what-you-dont-know monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/social-and-emotional-development-in-action monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615541001119-OMB08YBB149TODJUC101/6a00d834200ef553ef015392259eb2970b.jpg Blog | - Social and Emotional Development in Action - I am back in classrooms. Among my visits this week, were two in preschools. I was in Pre-K classrooms observing young learners. I was watching a specific learner in each of the classrooms. This is part of my work with their parents in choosing the right school. My observations help me identify learning inclinations, needs and areas of challenge for each child as part of identifying what kind of school would suit the child best going forward. My observations rarely remain focused on just the one child. As I took in the classroom climate and culture, I couldn’t but help but realize the significance of social and emotional development. Over and over, I see that well-grounded, powerful social and emotional development has some of these characterisitics: Children speak, teachers listen. Teachers sit down, look the child in the eye and listen. They listen to all the words, the facial expressions, the body language, all that is and is not being said clearly in words. Teachers make lots of room for listening when there are big feelings. They let the big feelings flow. Sometimes they let the child sit and be with the feelings, not necessarily working to resolve the feelings right away. They provide clear options for how the child can engage a process of moving ahead from the feelings but they don’t rush the child.Teachers don’t assign meaning to children’s words and feelings. Their words are treated as windows to the emotions that lie behind them. Emotions are real for the child having them. The windows are not shut out. The child is not shut out for having the emotions. She is not told what she should feel. Instead, she is heard for what she does feel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615541180775-696JBV51P9PH187MIPHS/6a00d834200ef553ef01539225a150970b.jpg Blog | - Social and Emotional Development in Action - Play is serious work. Sensory development, dramatic play, collaborative play are all encouraged, valued and honored as are other forms of play. Play is seen as a child’s work. It is seen as serious work. Just as important as literacy and math skills. Children have ample (at least more than an hour at a time) open play time. Spaces are created for children to play by themselves and together. They are invited to get dirty, messy. They feel supported in working with other children, to get into fights and disagreements and to work through their disagreements. The classroom is bustling with the voices of children, less so with the voice and instructions from a teacher. Instead, teachers are down on the ground, watching the children at play, not intervening. They are careful, steady, intense observers and researchers of children and their play. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615541067771-G8N5RK4VDSQMCMGPCIV8/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8c199c60970d.jpg Blog | - Social and Emotional Development in Action - Hard questions, tough topics. Children feel safe enough to ask about and openly engage tough questions like skin color, gender roles, family structures, how babies are made, people with disabilities, economic means. Children as young as 6 months of age begin to discern and develop a preference for people of a skin color similar to them. Between the ages of three and four, their observations of the world and their desire to make sense of how it works prompts them to ask hard questions — “Why is her hair golden?” “Is golden hair better?” “How was I born? How was I made?” “What kind of chair is that man sitting in? Can I sit in it? Why not?” “Only boys can play with that. Not girls.” And so on. Powerful, affirming social and emotional development implies making room for these questions, exploring them, not always providing a prompt answer but providing clear guidelines as needed for acting based on the questions. It also means that adult responses are not superficial, patronizing to the child or dismissive of their ability to engage the questions. https://artofeducation.net/blog/math-nature-skype-a-math-class-i-am-teaching monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615564604484-DE2MRT68F186OW3YW5T1/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8c1285e7970d.png Blog | - Math, Nature, Skype: A math class I am teaching https://artofeducation.net/blog/savoring-an-interest-helping-your-child-get-a-taste-of-passion monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615564692213-OVBSI3CJWLO1A4YMDUKY/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8bfe47b6970d.jpg Blog | - Savoring an interest: Helping your child get a taste of passion - Which classes should I sign my kid up for? Which camp? Ballet, Piano, Soccer, Karate, Chess, Clay animation? How many is too many? I believe every child, every person is meant to find what she truly loves and have the opportunity to pursue it. Taking many classes does not lead to a passion. A passion is irresistible, it is something you cannot but help do. While some young children are insatiably curious, almost "obsessed" about a type of play or are prodigious in an undeniable way, many flit from one thing to another. Well-meaning parents want to expose their children to a plethora of opportunities so the child might find a calling in one. It is not uncommon for a child to end up over-scheduled, with so much on her plate that she doesn't know what to taste, let alone stay with one thing long enough to savor it. https://artofeducation.net/blog/upcoming-workshops-amp-events monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615564802519-YNVLMHTQH0OUO6J0KBQW/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8be84131970d.png Blog | - Upcoming Workshops & Events - Fall 2012 Workshops Choosing the Right School Workshops cover these topics: Understanding Your Child and Family How to Understand a School Factors to Consider in Establishing School Fit Public or Private Information on Local School Districts Changing Nature of Education in the 21st Century Registration is now open for these Fall 2012 Workshops: Oct 17: Choosing an Elementary School, Bellevue Oct 24: Choosing an Elementary School, Seattle Nov 7: Is My Child Gifted?, Seattle Nov 28: Choosing an Elementary School, Seattle TBD: Parent Panel Discussion on Area Schools, Seattle 6-8 pm $25/individual, $35/couple Seattle: Wallingford Bellevue: Next to Microsoft campus Limited spots | Register today! | To register send email to register@artofeducation.net . In response you will receive a registration form and event location details. https://artofeducation.net/blog/trust-children monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615564899286-6YR3T059AI5UVK7QYNNX/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8be7dc5e970d.jpg Blog | - Trust children - My son, a 4 year-old, ended up in an unpleasant predicament last week. I reached his classroom to pick him up. He, ready to leave, walked to the door. One of his friends decided to block the door with his arms. My son, upset at this insisted on leaning his body into his friends arms. His friend didn't let go. My boy pushed in even further. They two exchanged heated words while leaning into each other's bodies. Then before we knew it, right before three adults, they pushed each other and my son landed on the floor, his head hitting a bench and then the floor. The teacher ran to my son. I ran to the other boy. My son was in tears. The other boy was shocked by what he had done. In those first few moments, it felt like the other boys "fault". As my son settled we left. The teacher spent time talking to the other boy. My son was upset and swore never "to be friends with him". We processed his feelings. Really what I focused on was how my son could have spoken to the boy instead of using his body to push through the doorway. https://artofeducation.net/blog/world-peace-game monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/what-happened-at-school-nothing monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615565096730-P0IGJD1VRHC91GWN3J4E/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8bd587c2970d.jpg Blog | - “What happened at school?” “Nothing.” - If you are a parent, you’ve heard those words at least once. Increasing research (and common sense!) shows that parent involvement is critical to a child’s school experience. Yet, when you ask what happened, if you get a “Nothing”, you feel discouraged and the conversation reaches a stalemate. I am the parent of a pre-schooler and even I get this response though not with an eye-roll and headphones in ears. So, I embarked on what I could do different about my question. Here are some ideas I have played with that have changed our conversation: https://artofeducation.net/blog/public-vs-private monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615565305973-4SISBRTOQB7MG0VJXCH6/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8bc6aefe970d.jpg Blog | - Public v/s Private - What does a private school offer? Private schools charge a higher tuition and that tuition goes towards teacher salaries, professional development and facilities. Private schools also depend on fundraising for their costs. Parents rally to support private schools above and beyond stated tuition. The higher tuition gets parents a smaller class size, more teachers for a smaller pool of students. Greater teacher attention in early years especially up to 3rd/5th grade can help a child develop fundamental skills and work habits. Private schools use their funds to provide greater specialist subjects like Drama, Music, Technology within the school day. This is attractive to parents who want their children to have a well-rounded learning experience. At the high school level, elite sports, travel abroad programs, state and national contests distinguish one private school for another. As college bound students look to build up their "resume", these distinct offerings are enticing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615565214752-9KS6SUT9F4IJK7E969YY/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8bc6ae8f970d.jpg Blog | - Public v/s Private - What does a public school offer? A public school offers education at a lower cost than private schools. Tuition is free at neighborhood public schools. This does not make the entire education free. Parents still need to pay fees for after-school care, extra classes and sometimes for specialist support. As public school funding undergoes serious cuts in all states, more parents are stepping forward to fundraise for their local public school to sustain critical programs in the arts, sports, enrichment activities, science camps and such. In some districts, parents are even raising funds to pay teacher salaries. Public school education is not free but it can be substantially less expensive than private school education. In my estimation, parents can expect to spend up to $5000-8000/year to support the school, pay for classes, towards fundraising and after-school care. This number could be quite a bit lower if after-school care and fundraising don't need to be funded. Public schools draw children from a variety of socio-economic, cultural and racial backgrounds. A public school is representative, in the ideal world, of the democractic society children will grow to inhabit. This means children can learn to work and play with people of diverse backgrounds from the get go. Being able to understanding, interact and ultimately collaborate with people from different backgrounds is a critical skills in our growing globalized world. Of course, to take full advantage of such a richly diverse population, a school needs to highlight and take advantage of the represented differences and similarities. It is not enough that children are bathed in diversity, they need to be supported in processing the differences they perceive and given language and means to respond to conflict that can arise from diversity. Of course, having the diverse population is the starting point for this. https://artofeducation.net/blog/universities-of-the-future monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615565411463-ZA16K1ALT1KFORL7BS4F/6a00d834200ef553ef015435a5f74d970c.jpg Blog | - Universities of the future - The future is here. This is a follow up to the article "Going to College" May Become Obsolete. Here are two universities, amongst a myriad that are leading the way towards the future of higher education. Stanford University Standford University announced its online Introduction to Artifical Intelligence course this fall. This is not new news perse. Stanford, Harvard, MIT have for the last several years shared their courses online. The online courses have included videos of lectures, syllabi, textbooks and assignments. Over 80% of colleges and universities in the United States now offer online courses, many offer complete online degrees. None of of this news. https://artofeducation.net/blog/educating-for-character monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/once-upon-a-time-in-the-21st-century monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615567656173-5BC8XOUQX3B38N7EHDC9/6a00d834200ef553ef01543577a5a3970c.jpg Blog | - Once Upon a Time in the 21st Century - I recently gave a talk on Education in the 21st Century. As I collated my research, experience and understanding, I have come to identify the following key characteristics of meaningful eduation that matters and is significant to life in the 21st century. Education in the 21st century is: AUTHENTIC: Education starts first and foremost with the person being educated, in the life circumstance they are in. It is not about technology, the digital age, social media, the climate or economic crisis above being about the person and her life circumstance. Just like knowing the kings and queens of England is begininng to feel arcane when you can Google them, so does learning about the economic or environmental crisis if first you don't touch the heart, soul and life of the child learner. We cannot teach about the economic crisis to a boy in Brazil who is struggling to survive. He needs education as much as the girl in St. Louis who loves to dance or the boy in Africa who needs to harness wind power to bring electricity to his village. Each needs, no yearns to learn what is most relevant to her life, to her heart and mind. The boy in Brazil cannot but wait to learn how he can make some money quick. The St. Louis girl wants to learn to dance and then learn something else. The boy in Africa, he needs, no he will pull and push to learn about wind power and windmills whether or not you teach him. Sure there is a place to broaden and stretch the realms a child might explore but even wh https://artofeducation.net/blog/to-redshirt-or-not-1 monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615567848765-EJWL00XU0RZUMHHOZCR5/6a00d834200ef553ef01630010bc19970d.jpg Blog | - To Redshirt or Not? - Public or Private A first, longstanding question for parents in the search for the right school is: Public or Private. The answers to this question are not straightforward. A private school does not automatically ensure a “better” education. There are good reasons for choosing both types of schools. In a previous article I wrote, I outline the reasons for choosing both public and private schools. https://artofeducation.net/blog/essential-questions-on-choosing-a-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615568034246-KCUS53Q1YZZ8PPUGVZJV/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8b897b15970d.jpg Blog | - Essential Questions on Choosing a School - In preparing for my interview with Margaret Larson on King 5's New Day Northwest show, I considered a series of essential questions parents have about choosing a school. Answers to these questions are available on the Essential Questions on Choosing a School page. "What’s wrong with just sending my child to the local neighborhood school? When did school become a choice?" “What matters most for a child, in a school?” What are some essential things parents should do to choose the right school? "I'm overwhelmed! How do I keep some perspective? Manage the information I gather? Weigh my choices?" "What if I get it wrong?" "What’s wrong with just sending my child to the local neighborhood school? When did school become a choice?" There is nothing wrong with sending your child to the neighbodhood public school. In fact, neighborhood schools give children a sense of belonging. Public schools draw children from diverse backgrounds. Thus, children learn how to work and get along with different people from a young age. Public schools have struggled in recent years to provide effective Math and Reading instruction. Parents are also questioning the need and impact of high-stakes tests on teaching and learning. This is why parents are looking more closely at schools. https://artofeducation.net/blog/essential-topics-on-choosing-a-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615568154342-DOCDZ8I78IYI1OZ9HPJT/6a00d834200ef553ef015391e1f1ca970b.jpg Blog | - Essential Topics on choosing a School - This page captures the essentials topics on Choosing the Right School including Child, Family and Parent Involvement, Understanding Schools, Making a decision. https://artofeducation.net/blog/school-choice-consultation monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615568331536-9G2HELV9CGHCA8ZE5KSJ/6a00d834200ef553ef0154356939df970c.png Blog | - School Choice Consultation - Anoo works with families to bring them clarity on what they most want for their child, who the child is and then leverage that knowledge to guide the identification of a school or home learning environment. This consultation is useful to all families; those considering public schools, private schools or home-schooling. Anoo helps families move from the inside out in the educational choices for their children by focusing on the child, her needs and the family’s needs. She also provides detailed guidance on specific schools and overall practical considerations. This partnership based approach leads to a framework parents use not only to choose a school but to also navigate their child’s experience in school. ONE-TIME CONSULTATION Families can choose to engage in one-time or other shorter timeframe consultations to answer essential questions and make decisions for specific situations. CONSULTATION FOR GIFTED LEARNERS Over the last five years, Anoo has developed an expertise in working with gifted learners and their families. The School Choice Consultation process is personalized to understand and make recommendations for gifted learners with varying needs. https://artofeducation.net/blog/philosophical-basis-and-values monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/school-options monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615568446038-ZDASDB5AII4SRN735SLN/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8b7a2951970d.jpg Blog | - School options - If you find yourself trying to understand schools and feel like the neighborhood public school or the big-name private school are the only options for your child, you might want to investigate your options further. Within both the public education system and amongst private schools, parents have several school options. This Primer on School Options covers essential information on the types of Public and Private schools as well as the idea of Homeschooling. https://artofeducation.net/blog/a-primer-on-school-options monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615568521533-6PD0V6GQY6ESGX026PM4/6a00d834200ef553ef015391869394970b.jpg Blog | - A Primer on School Options - If you find yourself trying to understand schools and feel like the neighborhood public school or the big-name private school are the only options for your child, you might want to investigate your options further. Within both the public education system and amongst private schools, parents have several school options. The following information provides a useful overview of school options around the country. It is based on the framework of school options in Seattle city and the Eastside neighborhoods of Seattle and is thus most accurate in its details for that geographic area: https://artofeducation.net/blog/how-to-install-facetime-for-android-ios monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/going-to-college-may-become-obsolete monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615568949524-5WHO2XO2JYZ8G3RAZLCQ/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8b5f3c63970d.jpg Blog | - “Going to college” may become obsolete - I am giving a talk next week on Education in the 21st Century. When parents think about their child's education, K-12, it is often focused on the goal of getting to a good if not excellent college. In updating my research for this talk, I dug deep into the future of American higher education and came upon some gait-stopping ideas. American higher education, considered some of the best in the world has faced looming challenges in recent years. The cost of going to college is unreasonably high. This makes college education less accessible, affordable and appealing to high school graduates. It is also true that less and less students (especially male) who go to college actually finish college. Job hirers claim that those college graduates that do finish college don't always have the skills needed to perform on jobs. They question the kind and quality of American higher education. https://artofeducation.net/blog/on-this-teachers-day monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569052484-TJ72233IUJMX0UC4ZOKO/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8b4d97c0970d.jpg Blog | - On this Teachers’ day - It is Teachers’ Day in India today. On this sacred day, Teachers are celebrated, appreciated and honored in India. As a teacher myself now, I am humbled by the realization that I don’t teach topics or content. I teach who I am. This realization is not my own. It has come to me through experience and the teaching of another teacher. I owe this one to Parker Palmer. https://artofeducation.net/blog/how-children-learn-what-parents-can-do-about-it monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569408933-YKZLNRBFCMHWE1Z60NGL/6a00d834200ef553ef0154350c88fd970c.jpg Blog | - How children learn: What parents can do about it - How do children learn? Really, how do they? This question and its answers lie at the heart of how teachers, schools and a whole society decides to teach children. The answers to this question have evolved since the early days of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. New research and findings have vetted out age-old beliefs. In a publication by The International Academy of Education, I was pleased to find a set of conclusions that are easy to understand and implement. These principles resonate with those stated by many recent researchers and practicing teachers. While the publication itself focused on the implications for teaching in the classroom, I think the they apply equally well to how parents can be meaningfully engaged in their child’s education, furthering learning in simple and connected ways. Of the 12 principles, I want to focus on these 6 as they relate to parents: https://artofeducation.net/blog/learning-all-the-time monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569522448-UXWPOS9642O7BWLQ983N/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8af24b3c970d.png Blog | - Learning all the time - It is good to be back online after a long and restful summer break. I am looking forward to this Fall season. This Fall, I will focus on helping families find the right schools for their children and also speak on the topic. Amongst my speaking engagements is a talk for the Emerald City Rotary Club on the topic of Education in the 21st Century. I have been asked to focus my talk on the ‘need’ for higher education. It is predicted that higher education will undergo a dramatic change in coming years. As I updated my research this week, I was struck by a more fundamental question. Statistics and common sense tell us that most people head to college for one primary reason – a better job. While college graduates do make 53% more money than diploma holders, I did not come across research on how much college graduates use what they learned in their jobs. https://artofeducation.net/blog/hard-to-sitcomisize monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569657749-9OM8X1AS6S35CMFZURNK/6a00d834200ef553ef0147e3c9dfb8970b.jpg Blog | - Hard to “sitcomisize” - I am now mentoring home-schoolers in California over Skype. We talk twice a week and explore various topics. Many of the learners attend Grounded by Nature, an outdoor learning program focused on nurturing a deep, integrated understanding and relationship with the larger natural world. Many of my explorations with the learners are inspired by their work on the ground. Through our explorations we cover most if not all grade-level academic skills. This week, the group at Grounded by Nature is starting to conceptualize and build a wetland habitat. This got us wondering about habitats and the complex relationships that are integral to them. Inspired by this, I invited the learners to explore the relationship of humans to their habitat. To get us grounded in this discussion, we have now turned our attetion to early human habitats. After watching a PBS documentary on early humans, I asked the learners what surprised them the most. Their independent responses were the exact same. They were most surprised by how one archaeologist took 7 years to take the sandstone off a single fossil. The learners were in awe of the patience, endurance and persistence of the archaeologist. We lingered on this idea of patience and perseverence. Together, we pondered what it means to stay with one idea, one exploration, one pursuit for so long. I shared with the learners Gladwell's revelation of 10,000 hours of practice — how it takes those many hours to master any skill. https://artofeducation.net/blog/making-education-meaningful monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569752393-KJWWNV29T7VTKFJX0D71/6a00d834200ef553ef01539195f762970b.png Blog | - Making Education Meaningful - Art of Education gives parents the power By understanding each child as a learner and choosing the school environment that fits well, we can open the door to more meaningful learning. https://artofeducation.net/blog/21-things-that-will-be-obsolete-by-2020-what-will-you-do monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569881028-5CUZ2WVPZX2ZHIL8AEBQ/6a00d834200ef553ef014e5fe86a30970c.jpg Blog | - 21 Things That Will Be Obsolete by 2020: What will you do? - In a provocative article on the future of education, Shelly Blake-Plock, shares 21 predictions. Amongst predictions about learning foreign languages on cell phones, the obsolescence of desks and the proliferation of mobile computing in the classroom, Blake-Plock calls out these others that are noteworthy: https://artofeducation.net/blog/its-never-to-early-never-too-late-the-time-is-now monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615570180765-PKMKM61NX57XZOGG8H1G/6a00d834200ef553ef014e5fc61042970c.jpg Blog | - It’s never to early, never too late, the time is now - I often get asked, “When should I start thinking about Kindergarten for my child?” Or, “I don’t think my child is thriving at her current school. Should I think about a different school?” Or, “We are thinking about a different middle school or high school? When should we start looking?” I don’t think it’s ever too early or ever too late to turn a curious eye towards your child whether you are considering a transition or not. Any time is a great time for a parent to be a keen, caring observer so she might nourish her child with just the right environment, at school and at home. Children are learning all the time and everywhere so really anytime you find yourself asking questions about your child’s education is a great time to engage in a process that helps you craft and create the right educational experience for them. https://artofeducation.net/blog/next-workshop monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/education-talks-webcasts monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615570320154-VCOUZGF5WGW6YM1KT0UB/6a00d834200ef553ef014e8be84131970d.png Blog | - Education Talks + Webcasts - Parents talks are a quick and easy way to access valuable information to help make the right education decisions for your child. Topics and dates are listed below. https://artofeducation.net/blog/learning-in-daily-moments monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615570441326-75RSY9GIUYMXA1MV2PC4/6a00d834200ef553ef0147e2c0c3c5970b.jpg Blog | - Learning in daily moments - Children, especially young ones are learning all the time. Sponges! Tape-recorders! Video recorders! They are picking everything up. They are learning all the time. While I could say much about the demerits of focusing your child's premium years on learning the ABC or 1-2-3, I won't bother. Instead, I want to explore the notion of learning in daily moments. https://artofeducation.net/blog/respond-with-the-response-you-want monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615570681835-530UPHX8DZYEBEB0O8EQ/6a00d834200ef553ef014e5f42d5fb970c.jpg Blog | - Respond with the response you want - I was driving to the grocery store two days ago talking in my head about something that displeased me. As my eyes drifted away and I drove on mechanically, I paused the chatter in my head and asked myself, "why am I so displeased? Where is my response coming from?" I stayed with the question a little longer and realized (once again) the root, the deep root of most of my responses in the world. This root is the story I carry deep within my heart. Over many years now, I have come to see it as the very basic fear that drives most all my responses. https://artofeducation.net/blog/listen-to-your-heart monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615570814470-BDYSX6H06IRHILDKYZTF/6a00d834200ef553ef0148c757c015970c.jpg Blog | - Listen to your heart - As the new year rolls itself out, many families in Seattle and in other cities around the country are scurrying about, rising from the leisure of holidays to complete school applications. This can be a nerve-wracking and stressful time for families as they cram in the last few schools tours and open houses in the hope of picking out a handful of schools to apply to. It can also be a very confusing time. If you are in this situation, you know exactly what I mean. Between what schools have to say about themselves, the talk on the street, advice from friends and what your own heart tells you, there is much to listen to, sort through and filter out to arrive a decision you feel comfortable with. As I have worked with several families through this admission cycle, I have often returned to and urged them to return to their own heart in deciding which school to apply to. That does sound simplistic but it can also be quite sophisticated. It is simple in that it returns you to what you know best. It is sophisticated because it doesn't need to be all hand-wavy. Even more, listening to your heart is something that applies beyond just choosing a school for your child — it applies to choosing anything for them. https://artofeducation.net/blog/getting-back-online monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/schooling-the-world monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615570944177-MRTMFOT2W9N65HFBCQ6V/6a00d834200ef553ef01348803096d970c.png Blog | - Schooling the world - Schooling the world is a film that tells the story of how modern, western education has changed the ancient culture of Ladhak. Ladhak is located in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Its people have cultivated a way of living, a culture over centuries. Life in Ladhak is interdependent, people connecting with each other, people connecting with the land, animals, soil, the air, weather, the stones, food, rivers, mountains, snow, they are all connected into the tightly woven fabric of life. https://artofeducation.net/blog/hooray-for-parents monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615571523056-5NF1LZO9CX773K45SG5S/6a00d834200ef553ef013487fd2785970c.jpg Blog | - Hooray for parents! - It is hard to find a whole group of people that work tirelessly for the well-being of other people — their children. Parents are passionate about their children — they dream about them, work for them, care for them, create special experiences, hold space in their hearts and outside for their tears, joy, shame, pain and more. Get around to talking to one of them and you can feel their passion. They are willing to do anything for their children. Their passion is contagious. https://artofeducation.net/blog/word-on-the-street monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/1hi513h4imzifjie0qrywwezju2l8z monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615571708362-774H3AWP3OJW20T0NROQ/6a00d834200ef553ef013487f70e62970c.jpg Blog | - A pirate store tutoring center! - David Eggers won the TED Prize in 2008 and in his talk he tells a riveting and inspiring story from the land of education. In 2000, Eggers lived in Brooklyn and was working on his first book. He wrote in the night and walked around in a daze during the day. He was surrounded by many such writers, people who had flexible hours and expertise in a field of work they loved. He was also surrounded by teachers and heard of their dedicated work and their challenges. He heard teachers asking for more time, more people with expertise and more one-on-one attention for their students. When Eggers moved to San Francisco he got an office building to house writers and editors, people working on the McSweeney magazine and other published works. And then he had an idea! Why not also make the place into a tutoring center so writers/editors would work on their own stuff all day and then at 2:30 pm when schools got out, they would share their time and expertise with students, offering them free one-on-one tutoring in writing. They got the 826 Valencia building cleaned up. As they were getting ready to remodel, the landlord reminded them that publishing and tutoring were all good but they had to retail something because the building was meant to house retail stores. Retail? What? Eggers talks about a moment of ephiphany when someone suggested that the space looked like the inside of the hull of ship. So, why not sell pirate supplies? And, that's what they did. Sound ridiculous doesn't it? But its one of the big reasons the place has worked out. They brought together all kinds of supplies — crazy, funnny stuff like pastel eye-patches and mop heads that fall on your head, replacement eyes, a vat full of treasures for children to pick through, peg legs and more. https://artofeducation.net/blog/questions-to-ask-school-administrators monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615571814537-N6KNAVQ1X48CC7987MO4/6a00d834200ef553ef015391e1ea04970b.jpg Blog | - Questions to Ask School Administrators - As parents go through the school admission process, they get a limited amount of face-time with administrators so its important to make the most use of each point of contact. Given that school websites and brochures cover a large amount of information, I have identified a set of questions that will help parents get to the heart of a school in a short conversation. https://artofeducation.net/blog/nurturing-creativity monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615571911045-VVXT7BNKADX6SAH897CN/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f4b583ec970b.png Blog | - Nurturing creativity - Today's post is in celebration of the creativity of children. It is prompted by this picture from a friend. His son stopped in the middle of eating his sandwich to declare, "chopper!". Children do this all the time. They see things that grown-ups don't. They make connections that blow our minds away. https://artofeducation.net/blog/to-see-the-gift-in-every-child monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615572027519-XH25DVW9L2VUOCRZSOO1/6a00d834200ef553ef013487cd2dac970c.jpg Blog | - To see the gift in every child - Every child has a gift, a gift for something. The right "education: brings this forth", because to educate means to bring forth that which lies within. The story of Gillian Lynne, choreographer of Cats and Phantom of the Opera illustrates this. It is one of the stories that inspired me in the creation of The Art of Education. Finding the right school is the first step in creating an education that fits a child but it is only the first step. Family support shapes the rest of the steps in creating personalized education. Art of Education was created to help families do exactly that so every child might find her/his own dance. https://artofeducation.net/blog/when-the-school-fits-the-child monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615572109674-VB2NOOBMIB975CY2Y2WG/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f4a4f2f5970b.jpg Blog | - When the school fits the child - In considering the efficacy of The Art of Education, I have come to identify the subtle clues that tell us that a school fits a child. Really, these apply to anyone in any learning (read working) situation ..how do you know when something is working? In a recent conversation I was asked about the efficacy of The Art of Education. How do I know that I found the right school for a child? This is a very interesting question. In many ways, it is easy to tell when a child is not in the right school and harder to notice the subtle clues that tell us they are in the right place. Put awkwardly, its almost as though you need to see what a poor fit looks like to know you have a good fit. https://artofeducation.net/blog/super-powers-that-motivate monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615572197085-3NRGD9GBAGWPZD3H5GEU/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f4762aca970b.jpg Blog | - Super powers that motivate - In this heartwarming video, Wonder Capes help 6 year-old cancer patients find the courage to heal. It makes me wonder what "wonder capes" will help American students find their own super powers to do anything they set their minds to. Karmatube's video of the week, titled Wonder Capes, tells the story of Amy Pankrantz who makes superhero capes for children. Amy's Wonder Capes are for children who my mind are already superheros. They have cancer and the number of rounds of chemotherapy they have gone through exceeds their own age. The Wonder Capes make the children feel like superheroes, able to take on anything. They wear them and feel bold or safe, like they are ready to take on the next round of treatment. Its quite unbelievable, what these youngsters are able to do because they believe in their own powers. https://artofeducation.net/blog/school-options-amp-reviews monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/open-window-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/the-heart-of-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615703433746-EWGGI1OT5H2EAQTT71KZ/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f46dd55f970b.jpg Blog | - The he(art) of education - The magic and heart of education is found in any place, any situation in which people connect. Its the magic that happens everyday in classrooms all around the world when a teacher looks into the eyes of a child and pauses to hold space for the feelings brimming in the child. https://artofeducation.net/blog/offerings monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/collective-genius monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615703569477-GCAA1CH97QOBAJPVTD5B/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f45359bc970b.jpg Blog | - Collective genius - I think we are headed into an era of collective genius. While we might still see plenty of acts of individual genius — inventions, concepts, perspectives that come from individuals doing the hard lonely work; I think the future belongs to those who can collaborate, not just to solve problems but to rise to unprecedented levels of excellence, addressing the most pressing problems of the future. https://artofeducation.net/blog/the-creativity-crisis monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615703654308-ZQ3MWUW5IV7OA45FZ8FC/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f4356789970b.jpg Blog | - The “Creativity Crisis” - There is a "creativity crisis" underfoot in the U.S. and education reformers are attempting to address the crisis by using the very same methods that created it in the first place. I contend, we need to be truly "creative" to address this "creativity crisis." Its official, there is a "Creativity Crisis" in the U.S., reports Newsweek in an article by the same name. Sir Ken Robinson was among the first to provide (popularly understood) articulate arguments on how schools kill creativity. Now, there is a measure based on a test developed by Dr. Paul Torrance, not recently but way back in 1958. Systematic testing is showing that the "Creativity Quotient" of students in the U.S. is on the decline. Those most affected by this Kindergarten-Grade 6 kids. Why is creativity on a decline? Likely because children watch too much TV or play video games but also because schools do little to foster creativity. https://artofeducation.net/blog/education-is-not-a-preparation-for-life- monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615703751445-3M7ACB4AYHDN715C7SV8/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f42e2e25970b.jpg Blog | - “Education is not a preparation for life …” - The Art of Education, the idea and the research that defines the process of defining education that fits every child, came from my graduate studies in education. Other than the research that led to The Art of Education, I also worked towards teacher certification in my graduate studies. The coursework completed a long time ago, I dreaded taking the actual certification examinations. From the idea of taking a test to prove competence in a field that is all about immeasuable competencies, to the actual preparation and the taking of the test; I dreaded it all. I did not however realize the depth of my dread until I finished taking the tests 2 days ago. As I walked away from a 5-hour exam, I was bathed in the same sense of relief that overcame me after a spelling bee in 4th grade and after finishing entrance exams in grade 12. Preparing for and taking examinations has always put all of my life on hold — everything stops until I am done with the examination. It almost feels like I stop living when I am getting ready to take an exam. That is why I dread them – its like I am dead while preparing for them. At a deeper level much of education feels like I felt while preparing for these tests. Even when I designed my own graduate coursework and loved all the research I did, I dreaded the actual academic pieces of the work – writing papers so they were academically right, annotated correctly, with a complete bibliography and more. All the juice I got out of conducting research and coming to life-changing conclusions were shrounded with academic protocols. Why was that so? Why does it feel like education stands in the way of living life, of being with life, as a preparation for life instead of being life itself; like Dewey said? https://artofeducation.net/blog/variations-on-i-spy-and-such monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/magic-is-magical-because-it-cannot-be-defined monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/there-are-no-prodigies monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/art-with-nature-not-materials monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/my-one-and-only-bumper-sticker monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/not-going-to-one-college-but-many-at-the-same-time monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/education-for-the-rough-road monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/making-education-relevant monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/multi-generation-learning monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/sweat-the-small-stuff monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615704192863-F7S8XEI4VDF8ORK06P80/6a00d834200ef553ef0134846dd8fb970c.jpg Blog | - Sweat the small stuff - I am a TED Talk junkie! Its my daily fix. No coffee for this Seattle-ite, just TED – strong, well-brewed innovative thinking for life in today's world. A couple of days ago, I watched Rory Sutherland espouse the value of 'sweating the small stuff'. Sutherland argues that big organizations, especially the government and even smaller groups of people working together believe that big problems deserve big, glamorous solutions and big budgets. Instead, he refocuses attention on the small stuff that goes a long way. While the talk is grounded in Sutherland's advertising background it makes a point for all avenues of life. https://artofeducation.net/blog/waiting-for-superman monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615704271633-0V5IE3YYJZ0MPIRFZI6M/6a00d834200ef553ef0133f08a4577970b.jpg Blog | - Waiting for Superman - In the last five years, there has been a spate of popular Indian films on the failing nature of public education in the country. Taare zameen par tells the story of a dyslexic child lost in the system until a single teacher takes note of him and revolutionizes his school experience. Last year, 3 Idiots was released to house-full shows. Students, parents, educators and even administrators gave the movie a big nod. It called attention to the industrial, mechanical nature of higher education. One line from the movie sticks out for me even today — "if you chase excellence and not success, success will automatically chase you" (translated from Hindi). As I watched 3 Idiots again a few weeks ago, I began to wonder if it wasn't time we saw a cinematic statement on the nature of public education in the United States. Public education in the U.S. faces numerous problems — the achievement gap, standardized tests, soaring high school drop-out rates and more. Having visited a number of public schools in the last couple of years, I have been touched by the hard work done by teachers in individual classrooms. My heart has melted upon witnessing truly magical moments between students and teachers. As a system though, and if I may add, one that is about as economically focused and politically driven as any can be, public education in the U.S. has has more problems than accolades to rest upon in recent years. This is true of many education systems around the world — India for sure. Waiting for Superman that is being released this Fall holds the promise of delivering a message that might be heard more clearly than has been before. I got a chance to see its trailer last night. It seems promising as it provides factual evidence for the failing nature of the public education system. I look forward to seeing the film and wonder about the local action groups that might arise because of it. https://artofeducation.net/blog/godin-other-blogs-of-note monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615704362903-Q5M9Q5N6H7MITO6ASTTZ/6a00d834200ef553ef0134839088bd970c.gif Blog | - Godin, other blogs of note - I am getting some seriously sweet juice out of Seth Godin's blog these days. I think anyone who cares to think creatively will get something out of his blog. A complete out-of-the-box thinker, Godin provides real, creative suggestions to common business situations and daily occurrences. Take for example his recent post on suggestions to the Amazon Kindle team in face of the fact that Apple is selling an iPad every 3 minutes. He suggests a paperback Kindle and a book of the month as ways for Amazon to reconsider its marketing of the Kindle. I first learned about Godin through my friend Steve Miranda, a school administrator who writes compelling stories about the out-of-the-box education offered at PSCS. https://artofeducation.net/blog/sir-ken-robinsons-new-ted-talk monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/shoeshine-boy-aces-iit-entrance monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/perkins-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/personalize-your-childs-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/like-worthy monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/meet-anoo-padte monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615704689620-XCDNFZN312SX1WPLHQUR/6a00d834200ef553ef0147e3c98b7f970b.jpg Blog | - Meet Anoo Padte - Qualifications Certified Teacher 10 years of teaching experience: Upper elementary-High school students Visited and studied over 200 schools in the United States, Australia, India and England Consulted and worked with over 500 parents Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science Program Manager at Microsoft for 6 years I grew up in Mumbai, India in a rich and complex culture that led me to my most deeply-held conviction: that education is meant to stir each person’s innermost being. Such stirring can lead a person to participate in the lifelong process of growing into her most authentic self. https://artofeducation.net/blog/kapka monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/spruce-street-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/bertschi-school monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/contact monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/21st-century-skills monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/school-choice monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615705002565-KILSJ76IACO61S2DK5MR/6a00d834200ef553ef0153919605b0970b.png Blog | - School Choice - School Choice Offerings: Workshops and Webcasts Individual Consultation Support for Gifted Learners School Choice Consultation https://artofeducation.net/blog/rules-and-structure-in-holistic-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/creating-a-middle-school-seminar monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/on-success monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/reading-specialists monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/using-the-web-for-science monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/meaningful-hands-on-science monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/math-jam-and-candy-math monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/greenlake-toddler-program monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615705407298-N07686S560BWK6ZXIIUH/6a00d834200ef553ef01116901d291970c.png Blog | - 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Personal journaling for Education for the Future course - he Education for the Future course is helping me inculcate a habit I have wanted to for a long time now. I am finding myself reflecting on my time with the rest of nature. I tend to engage in at least 3 activities everyday that help me find my place amongst the other species — — I spend time in our front yard. It is a vegetable, fruit, flower garden of all things that we can grow in our climate. I tend to spend some time by myself everyday and at other times with my 13 month old as he observes what I am doing and finds his unique ways to participate. https://artofeducation.net/blog/education-for-the-future-course-compilation monthly 0.5 2021-04-01 https://artofeducation.net/blog/curriculum-theory-and-curriculum-application-course-compilations monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/learning-theories-course-compilation monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/foundations-of-education-course-compilation monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/research-paper-learning-is-an-act-of-creativity monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/research-paper-my-philosophy-of-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/bibliography monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/bibliography-1 monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/interviews-on-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/graduation monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/real-stories monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/the-more-you-manage-the-more-you-have-to monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/test-anxiety monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/warmth-and-kindness-results-in-better-learning monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/what-is-really-best-for-a-student monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/contrasting-values-in-american-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/questions-across-coursework monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/bringing-math-to-life monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/field-experience-for-cia-learning-theories monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/how-community-happens monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/keeping-it-real monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/192168l254-ip-login-default-username-and-password monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/learning-happens-together monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/do-schools-kill-creativity monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/reactions-or-responses monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-tutuapp-apk-for-android monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/field-journal-impersonal-vs-personal-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/field-experience-for-foundations-of-education monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/an-introduction monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/blog/how-to-log-into-your-linksys-router monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://artofeducation.net/home daily 1.0 2022-01-09 https://artofeducation.net/contact-us daily 0.75 2021-03-08 https://artofeducation.net/gifted-learners daily 0.75 2021-12-23 https://artofeducation.net/about-anoo daily 0.75 2023-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/ee127c0f-bca4-4931-b59a-2293a9dfd354/Anoo_portrait+5.jpg About Anoo https://artofeducation.net/middle-and-high-school-choice daily 0.75 2021-12-23 https://artofeducation.net/elementary-school-choice daily 0.75 2021-12-23 https://artofeducation.net/supporting-your-child-1 daily 0.75 2021-12-23 https://artofeducation.net/vision-and-values daily 0.75 2021-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/1615569752393-KJWWNV29T7VTKFJX0D71/6a00d834200ef553ef01539195f762970b.png Vision and Values https://artofeducation.net/testimonials daily 0.75 2021-03-30 https://artofeducation.net/project daily 0.75 2022-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6044e4b2bc6cd338c6a14305/de5fa46e-9145-453e-a942-4e544da25a0a/student-driven+learning.jpg Current: An equitable youth-led education | https://artofeducation.net/school-choice daily 0.75 2021-12-23 https://artofeducation.net/donate daily 0.75 2025-05-09