Book description
This book shows how schools can--and
must
--develop expertise in "learning variation" (understanding how
different kinds of minds learn) and apply this knowledge to classroom
instruction in order to address the chronic learning challenges and
achievement gap faced by millions of students. Barringer shows how using
what we know about learning variation with a focus on discovering
learning strengths
, not just deficits, can help schools create plans for success for those
students who often find it elusive. The book specifically addresses how
school leaders can incorporate this knowledge into instructional
practice and school-level policy through various professional
development strategies.
Schools for All Kinds of Minds:
- Provides a readable synthesis of the latest research from
neuroscience, cognitive science, and child and adolescent
development as it relates to understanding learning and its many variations.
- Links this information to strategies for understanding
struggling learners and adapting school practices to accommodate a
wider array of learning differences in a classroom.
- Demonstrates how this understanding of learning variation can
change the way teachers and others help students succeed in
various academic and content areas and acquire necessary 21st
century skills.
- Includes discussion questions and facilitator guidelines for
staff developers and teacher education programs; downloadable
forms that accompany exercises from within the book; an action
plan for schools to implement the ideas found in the book; and
more.
Mary-Dean Barringer is CEO of All Kinds of Minds,
a nonprofit organization that translates the latest research from
neuroscience and other disciplines on how children learn into a
powerful framework for educators. She was a founding board member of
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and then served
as vice president of Outreach and Mobilization for that non-profit
education organization from 1990 to 2000.
Craig Pohlman, Ph. D., is the director of Mind Matters at
Southeast Psych, a learning assessment and consultation program in
Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the author of Revealing Minds
and How Can My Kid Succeed in School?, both from Jossey-Bass.
Michele Robinson has worked with All Kinds of Minds in various
capacities-developing program curricula, training facilitators,
supporting research, and translating the knowledge base. She has
personally taught thousands of educators the All Kinds of Minds
approach.
