Listens
Educated by Tara Westover: Holy Cow. I finally go on board with the Educated train and found myself mesmerized by Dr. Westover’s brutiful story of her life. I purchased the hardback but am so glad that I listened instead as the voice of the narrator created this almost unreal world of her family trauma and her rebirth. I found myself having visceral reactions to certain scenes and left the book with more questions than answers. It is a must-read for all grown humans.
Atomic Habits by James Clear: I’ll be going back through the hard copy of this one, too. Primarily to access the graphics and tools that were difficult to discern via the audiobook. I did enjoy this one and its simple approach to considering gentle formational change via small habits rather than unattainable transformations. It echos to Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit in its articulation of the habit/feedback loop. Almost two months into a new year with new resolutions, consideration of a new set of changes can’t hurt!
Work/Life podcast with Adam Grant (season 2): I’m so so so excited that Season 2 is about to start dropping. @AdamMGrant posted today that it was Season 2 was coming out and I was bummed it was only a teaser! If anyone wants to join me in a listening-discussion group, I’d be game.
Reads
A few gems from the NYTimes recently:
Students Learn from People They Love by David Brooks: I think this is a no-brainer for those of us who believe that relationships are the most important element of our classrooms and schools. Who can’t name their most beloved teacher and their impact? (Mrs. Berko, Mr. Bruce, Mrs. Eimerbrink, Mrs. Sobel, Mr. Brekhus, MMe. Stauffer, Mr. Miller, Dr. Weymuth, Dr. Schultz, Dr. Howard, Dr. Covington McBride.)
Why Girls Beat Boys at School and Lose to Them at the Office by Lisa Damour: Based on her newest book, Under Pressure, this article looks at the childhood roots of self-imposed and societal perfectionism instilled in girls that helps them achieve in our school systems but bogs them and breaks them in the professional world. The roots of gender bias in the office begin in the classroom.
The Bad News about Helicopter Parenting: It Works by Pamela Druckerman: I’m tempted to leave this without comment but I just can’t. I understand the premise of this article but I still wish to push against the tide of do-for and me-me culture. I can’t see it helping us as a society in the long-run.
Teach2Connect 