Links
Do Schools Kill Creativity: Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it (during the TED conference). With ample anecdotes and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize-much less cultivate-the talents of many brilliant people. "We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson says. The universality of his message is evidenced by its rampant popularity online. A typical review: "If you have not yet seen Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk, please stop whatever you're doing and watch it now."
Daniel Goleman speaks about the importance of Social Emotional Learning.
Click on the purple button to watch Animal School, a look at today's typical school system, that encourages us to create our community of learners.
Collaborative Problem Solving - This conflict resolution model sets forth two major tenets. First, social, emotional, and behavioral challenges in kids are best understood as the byproduct of lagging cognitive skills in the domains of flexibility/adaptability, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving (rather than as attention-seeking, manipulative, limit-testing, or a sign of poor motivation). Second, these challenges are best addressed by collaboratively resolving the problems that are setting the stage for challenging behavior (rather than through reward and punishment programs and intensive imposition of adult will). See the videos linked above for how we work best with our students at Innovations.
Done Waiting is a national, bi-partisan education reform coalition focused on engaging hundreds of thousands of Americans in efforts to drive real reform. While we bring various perspectives to the table, we are unified in our quest to ensure that every child in America has access to great schools and great teachers. The Coalition will mobilize supporters to participate in the social action campaign at www.waitingforsuperman.com/action.
Edutopia publishes the stories of innovative teaching and learning. At this site, you'll find detailed articles, in-depth case studies, research summaries, short documentary segments, expert interviews, and links to hundreds of relevant resources. You'll also be able to participate as a member of an online community of people actively working to reinvent schools for the twenty-first century.
The Center for Nonviolent Communication is a global organization helping people connect compassionately with themselves and one another through Nonviolent Communication language, created by marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
International Mind, Brain and Education Society's mission is to facilitate cross-cultural collaboration in all fields that are relevant to connecting mind, brain, and education in research, theory, and/or practice.
The Buck Institute for Education is a non-profit, research and development organization dedicated to improving the practice of teaching and the process of learning.
Indigo Village is a community resource that invites us all to connect, learn, grow, and take care of ourselves through personal development and community involvement.
8 to Great is part of Innovation Academy's social emotional curriculum that teaches responsibility and restores hope.
Influential Authors:
- Maria Montessori - The Absorbent Mind
- Adele Faber - How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
- Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander - The Art of Possibility
- Jane M. Healy - Endangered Minds
- Drs. Brock Eide and Fernette Eide - The Mislabeled Child
- John Holt - How Children Fail
- John Taylor Gatto - Dumbing Us Down
- Alfie Kohn - The Homework Myth
- Steven Johnson - Everything Bad for You is Good
- Jack Stack - The Great Game of Business: Unlocking the Power and Profitability of Open Book Management
- Roger Schank - Coloring Outside the Lines
- Ron Berger – An Ethic of Excellence