Since "A Nation at Risk" in 1983, the "problem" of education in the United States has occupied a prominent space in the media, in the halls of government, and in the lives of those most involved in schools. Through experiences of parents, students, teachers and administrators who have sought to live out a spirituality of communion, Education's Highest Aim examines contemporary education in the light of a way of life rooted in love of neighbor, and presents the effects when such a value is lived out across a spectrum of educational milieus.
Two veterans of urban education provide a powerful model for urban school transformation based on a leadership approach consisting of affirmation, inspiration, and mediation (AIM). This practical guide includes examples of successful practices and activities to help your leadership team produce its own roadmap for change.
"In this book, school leaders from instructional coaches to central office staff will find: - A positive, strengths-based focus on learning gains, rather than learning loss - Long-term strategies for improving instruction and increasing achievement - A focus on literacy and numeracy to help all students improve - Short, easy-to-read approach to lasting improvement"--
Many urban educators live in fear: of their schools being labeled failures, of increasingly punitive sanctions, of loss of respect and livelihood. This fear pervades the entire school community, affecting the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of its members. The authors of this guide to transformation in urban schools are convinced that the key ingredient for school renewal is fearless leadership. Fearless leaders work in schools under-resourced and overburdened and serve disproportionately large numbers of children who live in poverty and face racism daily. They are ordinary educators committed to proving that demographics need not be destiny. This inspirational yet practical book will help you bridge the divide that separates urban students from their birthright of a high-quality education. You will learn how to * Adopt a leadership approach, consisting of affirmation, inspiration, and mediation (AIM), that will transform your school into a flourishing learning community. * Build a leadership team of important stakeholders--including students--that is committed to improvement. * Tap into the resources that already exist in your school and jettison institutional arrangements that prevent your school from becoming an enriching and creative community. * Create supports that enable teachers to nurture their students' potential to meet high standards and become self-actualized learners. Each chapter closes with reflections and activities that will help your leadership team produce its own roadmap for change. Succeeding in the tough landscape of urban schools requires more than just passion and a sense of urgency; it requires real skills. Aim High, Achieve More provides insights gleaned from real-world experiences that will enable you to create a successful, vibrant learning environment.
Few writers ask us to question our fundamental assumptions about education as provocatively as Alfie Kohn. Time magazine has called him'perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores.' And the Washington Post says he is 'the most energetic and charismatic figure standing in the way of a major federal effort to make standardized curriculums and tests a fact of life in every U.S. school.' In this new collection of essays, Kohn takes on some of the most important and controversial topics in education of the last few years. His central focus is on the real goals of education-a topic, he argues, that we systematically ignore while lavishing attention on misguided models of learning and counterproductive techniques of motivation. The shift to talking about goals yields radical conclusions and wonderfully pungent essays that only Alfie Kohn could have written. From the title essay's challenge to conventional, conservative definitions of a good education to essays on standards and testing and grades that tally the severe educational costs of overemphasizing a narrow conception of achievement, Kohn boldly builds on his earlier work and writes for a wide audience. Kohn's new book will be greeted with enthusiasm by his many readers and by any teacher or parent looking for a refreshing perspective on today's debates about schools.
TV fashion and lifestyle expert Sydney Sadick (TODAY, E!, Inside Edition, Good Morning America) offers an indispensable guide to finding your unique style—from the inside out. Fashion is full of highs and lows. We’ve become experts at blending the two together—a Gucci belt with a blazer from Zara, a Chanel bag with an old pair of Levi’s—but fashion is so much more than what you wear, how you look, or how much money you spend. In Aim High, style savant and fashion expert Sydney Sadick delivers an important message for women everywhere: what you wear on the outside can influence who you are and how you feel, and help you live a more meaningful life. At just 26, Sydney has experienced enough fashion highs (and lows) to last a lifetime. Combined with her experience interviewing some of the world’s most coveted celebrities, designers, and stylists, she uses her insider knowledge and candid voice to break down fashion like you’ve never read before. Sydney goes behind her scenes, from the blog that started it all (created at 1 a.m. from her college dorm), to the first time she interviewed a celebrity (Rihanna, who else?), to every wardrobe malfunction and challenge in between. You’ll learn: · How personal style and what you wear can influence your mood · How to live a fulfilled life you love—even when your weight fluctuates · How to pack like a fashion expert · The remedy for the “I have nothing to wear” syndrome · How to dress for your Bumble profile or Zoom date (you’re welcome) Aim High is a relatable, heart-filled, and inspiring blend of unfiltered stories and expert advice to help you live fearlessly, dress effortlessly, and find your style from within.
