September 2019 Bookshelf
Books 12 September 2019
The Art of Self-Directed Learning: 23 Tips for Giving Yourself an Unconventional Education
Blake Boles
The majority of us experienced a conventional educational experience growing up. So, when we dip our toes into learner-centered transformation waters, it can be overwhelming imagining what’s possible for young learners in our community. How will we know we’re providing learner-centered experiences ourselves if we did not experience it as children? Blake Boles’ The Art of Self-Directed Learning might help. Through a variety of entertaining stories, Boles provides an invitation for learners of any age to take on independent learning of their own and engage with mentors throughout the community to support their journey.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
Ibram X. Kendi
Discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion often feel heavy, uncomfortable, and lack closure. Ibram X. Kendi, a historian at American University, invites us to consider in his book, Stamped from the Beginning, “racist ideas…were created to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation’s racial inequities.” As you engage with Kendi’s work, consider how this knowledge can help you communicate with friends, family, and colleagues about the need to address inequity while transforming to a learner-centered system.
The Wisdom of the Native Americans
(edited by) Kent Nerburn
Whole-child, community-centered, culturally relevant. These are three of many phrases that have entered the spotlight in learner-centered and school-centered conversations alike. Yet, for Native Americans, it’s simply how they’ve always lived. There is a rich history to explore and great wisdom to be discovered throughout the many native communities in the United States. Kent Nerburn and Kaipo Schwab have captured much of this wisdom in their book, The Wisdom of the Native Americans, inviting us to find a deeper connection to where learner-centered transformation can lead us.
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
Simon Sinek
It’s Marine tradition for the most senior officers to eat after their subordinates. For them, it’s an intentional display of leadership—showing the health and wellbeing of the group comes before their own comfort. This concept isn’t knew within leadership literature, but Simon Sinek’s framing of it in Leaders Eat Last provides new evidence as to how it applies across any industry. As you thumb through the pages, you might find particular value in Sinek’s exploration of neurochemicals and how leading for the betterment of society (rather than one’s self) increases our mental wellbeing.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind
Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Children are like sponges—soaking up the knowledge and skills from the experiences they are exposed to on a daily basis. It’s fascinating and frightening at the same time. “What if the experiences I provide for my child negatively impact their development? How would I know?” Questions like this used to be shrugged aside by simply saying, “Let your kid be a kid and things will turn out alright.” Thanks to the advances made in science, we can start answering the question more substantially. The Whole-Brain Child provides such an opportunity. Siegel and Bryson invite readers to dive into the complexity of a child’s developing brain through clear and simple strategies to set them up for a rich and fulfilling life.
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