Author: svb802

I often wonder if what our kids are learning inside schools really makes a difference toward the outcomes we want for our world? Don’t get me wrong, being able to read, write, and problem-solve are important skills everyone needs to possess – especially in this day and age. But when it comes to learning how…

This month our son Sam started his first year of medical school. Sam attended traditional public school kindergarten until he graduated from high school. He was fortunate to be accepted to an elite Midwestern liberal arts college where he earned a degree in biochemistry. Sam always did well within our traditional system of education. He…

Georgia Teachers Fried After Reading Book on Gender to Fifth-Grade Class (The Washington Post) This past week The Washington Post reported that, “A decision to fire an elementary school teacher from Georgia has been upheld, after she read a children’s book on gender identity to her fifth-grade class earlier this year.” “The Cobb County School…

I used to work with Matt. We launched The Education Game together, a learning service designed to help parents figure out a better way to get their gets smarter and stronger when it came to reading, writing, problem-solving, and character development skills. Although The Education Game didn’t have the impact both Matt and I wanted,…

Wanted: Classroom teachers who are tired of working in a broken system, creative leaders who want to help young learners become smarter and stronger without the interference of state legislatures, state and local boards of education, and district curriculum departments, adult learning leaders who receive training in building personalized learning plans for their young learners.…

Tracking in public schools is supposed to happen when students are placed in certain classes because of their cognitive abilities. When I started teaching in 1984, my Texas middle school had five levels of instruction for every course taught – Pre-IB (International Baccalaureate), Honors, Regular, Basic, and Special Education. Back in the day, adults enjoyed…

It seems America’s public schools aren’t the only system struggling these days. According to an article in The New York Times back in July of this year, “Some years ago, a psychiatrist named Wendy Dean read an article about a physician who died by suicide. Such deaths were distressingly common, she discovered. The suicide rate…

It’s Friday. Time for the Roundup. Why 20 Missouri School Districts Are Seeking New ‘Innovation Waivers’ to Rethink the Way They Test Students (The 74) According to an article in The 74 online, “A network of 20 Missouri school districts is asking the state to implement a more responsive assessment system in order to personalize…

Back in the 1990’s, I attended a school principal’s conference in Denver, Colorado. It was your typical leadership meeting, complete with keynote speakers and breakout sessions. As I perused the conference agenda, I decided to walk into a 45-minute breakout led by Dennis Littky. Littky and his partner Elliot Washor had just launched The Met,…

A Learning Tale, in Celebration of Learning Everywhere (including traditional school) From her first day, Maggie had a learning plan. One of the first meetings after Maggie was born included Maggie’s mom, her pediatrician, and a coach from the local learning center. As part of her birthing classes, Maggie’s mom received training to ready herself…