We believe that a systemic understanding of what STEM can be and do in schools allows for a locally chosen disruptive innovation that can catapult education into a new learning design. Our definition of STEM is broader and different from others. It is an inclusive term that reaches beyond the four subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math. It…

Help Tweens Learn Better Social Skills

BY CHERYL MIZERNY · 01/24/2016

I'm always telling editors that if they want some quick copy, the easiest way is to send me a bunch of questions, I'll send back the answers, and the editors can edit any way they want. They control the whole thing. I think this is an irresistible offer. In fact, only a few people have taken me up on it. Recently Brad Nelson at Stubborn Things did.…

No matter from where the demands come, preparing students for college and career remains primarily in the hands of the educators. A global economy has impacted workplaces and technology is redefining required workforce skills. Educators must keep pace with the world outside our walls. Only with that growing understanding can we prepare students for their graduation into college or career. Teaching and learning, itself, must be alive and…

It is surprising that a shallow and slanted statement like this gets published.  Each  Teacher Union represents all the teachers in their district or region. Each teacher at a school is provided due process and representation by their Union for any disciplinary actions and for most policy decisions. Teachers who 'opt out' receive the benefits of these Union services.  It would be ridiculous for there to be two salary schedules: one for Union teachers and another for non-Union teachers. It is…

Conversations about mandated change are far easier than having conversations and leading non-mandated change.  It is familiar to attribute the problems associated with change (loss, resistance, reallocation of resources, relocations, etc)  to the source of the mandate, be it a legislature or a regulatory agency or a board. It is where the leader begins alone, this territory where he or she raises questions and initiates change that is not mandated.  'Let sleeping dogs lie' is a short…

Pensare Oltre is a group of Italian education reformers. They decided that their public schools have gone in the wrong direction, and they are trying to fix this mistake.

 The fascinating part of the story is that these are not the typical disgruntled intellectuals (such as myself) but in fact are upscale doctors, lawyers, business people, ballerinas, psychiatrists, sports figures, and everybody else who has figured out that the people in charge of education should be…

The impact of childhood adversity and trauma--such as physical and emotional abuse or neglect, or mental illness, addiction or incarceration of a parent or close family member--can last through adulthood. Research shows that children exposed to adversity are at higher risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, learning difficulties in school, contact with the justice system, as well as addiction and economic hardship. The crisis crosses socio-economic, racial and…

Praise is certainly not a bad thing, but knowing what to praise and when makes the difference. Carol Dweck's research teaches more than mindset. In her 1999 article entitled "Caution-Praise Can Be Dangerous!", Dweck argues that one sentence of praise can have "powerful and pervasive effects."  Students are extremely sensitive and, from the interactions and experiences they have with adults,…