April 2017 Bookshelf
Books 13 April 2017
Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools
Ron Ritchhart
As it stands, the traditional education system quickly disengages learners before they ever have the opportunity to fully explore what the world has to offer. As they grow up, their dispositions toward learning often take on negative qualities, and their true passions and interests all too frequently remain hidden from view. In Creating Cultures of Thinking, Ron Ritchhart invites educators to inject their learning environments with eight cultural forces that will reinvigorate the positive dispositions toward learning innate in every child. Discover why expectations, language, time, modeling, opportunities, routines, interactions, and environment—when addressed together—can create a transformed environment.
The Long Haul: An Autobiography
Myles Horton
Imagine being able to visit a single place and find yourself in the presence of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, and many other famous change agents. Now, imagine if you were the person who cultivated such a space. That is exactly what Myles Horton did in 1932 when he founded the Highlander Folk School (now known as the Highlander Research and Education Center). In The Long Haul, Horton transparently explores his more than five decades of work in social change and leadership development.
At Home in the Universe: The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity
Stuart A. Kauffman
One of the strangest, most paradoxical things we experience on a day-to-day basis is the coexistence of chaos and organization. With the systems that be, whether natural or man-made, there are often interdependent elements that can’t be changed without affecting other parts of the whole. So, how can we determine the long-term impact of our actions? Stuart A. Kauffman, author of At Home in the Universe, takes on the challenge of explaining these complex systems and providing insight on where the order lies within them.
Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators
Patrick Lencioni
When your team is in a state of dysfunction, it doesn’t take an insightful leader to say so. Every team member recognizes this reality. What makes a leader special is the ability to pivot, create a sense of rebirth, and guide the team into new possibilities of collaboration and productivity. As Patrick Lencioni describes in Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, this transformation begins with trust. Having the courage to plainly tell your team “I’ve made mistakes, let’s make changes together” will open up brand new doorways. Explore Lencioni’s strategies for overcoming the most common dysfunctions for any team in any industry—education included.
How Children Learn
John Holt
Twenty-two years ago, a classic in child development literature was published. John Holt, author of How Children Learn, invited educators and parents alike to gain a profound understanding of early childhood development and how they can use this knowledge to enhance the intellectual and personal growth of their children. His work is a great conversation starter for anyone interested in transforming the education system, which as it stands, recognizes all learners as one in the same. As you flip through the pages of How Children Learn, ask yourself, “What can I do to help transform my learning community?”
Power Play: How Video Games Can Save The World
Asi Burak and Laura Parker
Hot off the press as of January 31st, Power Play: How Video Games Can Save the World shifts the negative conversation about video games being harmful time-wasters to one that explores the possibility of what positive outcomes they could bring to the world. What if learners—young and old— could immerse themselves in a virtual environment that addresses some of the world’s biggest issues? What if it allows them to compete and collaborate to save the world? How might this change the lens through which we see the world? Explore Burak and Parker’s insights today!
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