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Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! This month's recommended book, "How Children Succeed", focuses on helping students develop noncognitive skills like grit and character. Also included is a response to "The Case Against Algebra II", the cover article in Harper magazine's September issue. Plus, Math homework tips and philosophies that will help parents. students and teachers get the school year off to a wonderful start!
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Recommended Reading
Most educational initatives emphasize academics but Paul Tough's book focuses on character. One example is Brooklyn's IS 218 that consistently beats private and elite public schools as Middle School Chess Champions.
How much grit do you have? Find out your Grit Score from UPenn researcher Angela Duckworth. Another success story is the KIPP Knowledge is Power Program that uses SLANT
Sit Up, Listen, Ask Questions, Nod and Track the Speaker to mold behavior and motivation resulting in better student outcomes.
Discussion Guide for How Children Succeed
Tough's NYT Mag Cover Article on Failure = Success
Washington Post Answer Sheet Interview with Paul Tough
New York Times OpEd Piece on Grit
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The Case FOR Algebra II
 This cover article promotes less Math. Baker does not like memorization -- he should come to my class! I invite Nicholson Baker to visit my Precalculus class which is Algebra II skills for success in Calculus plus an opportunity to learn how to study technical content. Math can be a vehicle to higher levels of critical thinking and problem-solving and offers a wider choice of college major and careers as well as life lessons like grit and persistence. "Life's prerequisites are courtesy and kindness, the times tables, fractions, percentages, ratios, reading, writing, some history - the rest is gravy, really." I might add that many people may not be comfortable with the middle school Math listed above.
NPR Radio Interview with Nicholson Baker
Popular Science supported less Math!!
What is the Usefulness of the rest of the HS curriculum?
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