Multitasking–Another example of popular concepts that have no research support. This time, it’s the belief that kids can multitask and not lose out. Well, psychologist Dan Willingham says they can’t. An important read for parents and educators.

(multitasking not advised for teens)

Here’s some:

(Newton story about Fixing Special Education)

(Teaching on edge)

(Great blog by editor of Newton Tab)

The power of the web to connect ideas and people is truly amazing.

here’s a nice story. Enjoy!

(Story about Miriam’s book, Fixing Special Education in local paper)

(Mainstreamed student featured)

Here’s a story for reading pleasure of special education working well. Your thoughts?

Yesterday was the Maker Faire in San Mateo, California–inventors of all types were featured there. (human powered stage at Maker Faire).
One was my son’s human powered stage at (Rock The Bike), powered by people sitting on stationary bikes to harness energy to power up the music and lights for the singers and performers on that human-powered stage! Awesome…

So interesting to me was watching little children (age 8? 9? 10?) who clamored to get on those bikes and power them. All day long, one after another, these kids jumped on the bikes and volunteered! They checked out the pedal meter which told the audience if there was enough power at any moment. If there wasn’t, they had to pedal faster! Those kids watched that meter like hawks! They wanted to help. They wanted to be useful. They wanted to participate. They created the power. They mattered. They were important. No whining or complaining there. Just young children looking to be useful and having fun doing it (and getting lots of exercise pedaling)…

I often think that in our schools we do way too much for kids and expect them to contribute way too little. People want to be useful and to be needed. So do little people. We should learn from the pedal powered stage at Maker Faire!

And here’s today’s Boston Globe weighing in with the story we tracked last week. Let’s hope it get the traction it needs. College is not for everyone. There are better success paths for some students. We need to legitimize them and make them honorable. It’s time we educate all students in their areas of strengths, rather than forcing everyone into a one size fits all model. Trying to fit everyone into that model has created damaging distortions in the system and for young adults. Colllege is good for many. But not for all.

(College not for everyone, says The Boston Globe story)

(Plan B–Skip College).

I’ve written about this often. We need to acknowledge and support the multiple ways to be a success life. There are many many paths. Not everyone needs to go to college after high school. Finally, we have The New York Times on board! College is not for everyone. Perhaps later. Perhaps never. Perhaps whatever. Thank you NY Times for opening the discussion at last.

See also Joe Lamacchia’s website, (Alternate ways to be a success in life!)

HMM. What is a ‘producer’ in this era of double speak?

HMMM. I was walking around San Francisco and saw an insurance company conference for its top producers. I wondered. Are they the folks who make patients better? who improve services to clients? who reduce health care confusion and costs? who produce something? No, I was told, they are the sales people who sell the most insurance. HMMMMM.

In education, what are our top producers? Are they the teachers who document what they do the best? who fill out the most forms or attend the most meetings? who are the most caring and concerned? I wonder and rather doubt it. I believe we want top teachers to PRODUCE (along with efforts by parents and students–too often overlooked) the best learning for their students. A real goal. A real need.

With all the language about holding teachers responsible for student learning, what word will we use? How about top producers of a REAL good!

The issue of college for all has been off the table for too long. The assumption, or course was, that the answer what YES, everyone should go to college.

Well now, finally, that good question is up for grabs. There are LOTS of good reasons for success minded high school graduates NOT to go to college. Read on!
(Questioning the assumption that everyone should go to college)

We all talk about getting out of our silos–everyone doing his/her own thing in public schools. Instead, we talk about joining forces–among all the various professions and experts.

Well, here’s a hotel that did this literally. 36 silos were brought together and created a beautiful luxury hotel in Akron Ohio. I have not seen it yet, but hope to before too long.

(36 silos pulled together to form luxury hotel in Akron Ohio!)

Let’s join forces in public schools–teachers, administrators, parents, students, and others–to improve teaching and learning and create a luxury public education system!