Challenge yourself with these 10 thoughts... (94)

Keep this in mind...

Recognize how important and powerful you are...

Never be afraid of answering this question...

Be sure you don't do this...

This should be one of our main goals...

The differences may be subtle but they're extremely important...

Our words really do matter...

We don't have standardized kids nor are we preparing them for a standardized world...

Significant difference between the two...

Something to blow your mind...

Experts do these 13 things every day... (93)

'Fires in the Mind,' a book by Kathleen Cushman, discusses what kids can teach educators when it comes to motivation and mastery. Though the book covers plenty of topics, the part most intriguing was Cushman's point on "the habits of experts." As educators, we are constantly learning and growing, and when considering the term 'expert,' we all probably have a pretty confident definition of what we believe an expert is. The part we tend to not think much about is what someone does to become an expert and what they do once they've reached a certain level of expertise.

ex·pert/ˈekspərt/

Noun:	A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
Adjective:	Having or involving such knowledge or skill.
Synonyms:	noun.  specialist - connoisseur - adept - judge - master adjective.  skilled - skilful - skillful - proficient - adept

The 13 habits of experts:

1) - Experts ask good questions...

2) - Experts break problems into parts...

3) - Experts rely on evidence...

4) - Experts look for patterns...

5) - Experts consider other perspectives...

6) - Experts follow hunches...

7) - Experts use familiar ideas in new ways...

8) - Experts collaborate...

9) - Experts welcome critique...

10) - Experts revise repeatedly...

11) - Experts persist...

12) - Experts seek out new challenges...

13) - Experts know their own best work styles...

After looking at and reflecting on this list of habits, Cushman describes expertise not in the traditional way many of us are accustom to. Cushman doesn't focus on what you know or the skills that you might have. Instead, she is more concerned with how we use information and approach a particular situation or issue. She focuses on the "growth" mindset rather than the "fixed" mindset.

How would the culture in your building or in our district evolve if we all exhibited the habits that Cushman feels characterize 'expertise...?'

Self-reflection is the key to sharpening the saw... (92)

What educators should know about the human brain... (91)

Here is your lifelong learner 'brain' hit list for the week:

1). 9 things educators need to know about the brain

2). Boys' and Girls' brain processing differs

3). Girl brain and boy brains: What educators need to know

4). The impact of writing on our brain

5). Left vs. right brain in which side are teachers?

1). A lack of sleep has a significant impact on one's ability to do many of what we would consider to be simple but yet essential tasks.

2). There are two brains and each is quite different from the other.

3). The girl brain and the boy brain have some significant differences that affect learning and affect brain development.

4). There are different stages and different compartments for memory.

5). The stressed student will perform significantly worse when compared to the student who is not stressed... especially over the long term.

6). Physical activity has a significant impact on overall brain activity and brain performance in the short term.

7). Different parts of the brain are engaged depending on the activity and the information that is being accessed in the brain.

8). Exercise affects the brain in a positive manner and impacts several of the most vital features of the brain.