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The ‘How To’ Guide To Improving Education: From Anchor Standards To Grit To ADHD and Everything In Between

June 23, 2014

In the world of engineering, the best solution to a problem is the “simplest.” Why? Because the more complex a solution is, the more ways it can fail. The same is true in education. Time and time again, new (and often complicated) initiatives are introduced in education. But they fail because they are too complex…

Malcolm Gladwell’s Gift to Detroit: A Language for Success!

June 10, 2014

The Power of Language Two nights ago, my ten year-old son, Mark, was getting very upset over simple things. After the second meltdown, I knew something was up. Me: “Sit down. Tell me what’s really going on?” Mark: “I spilled my drink!” Me: “I know that’s upsetting. But you’re having a ‘ten-mile reaction’ to a ‘two-inch…

The City of Detroit Is Rapidly Improving; It’s Time for Education to Do the Same.

June 2, 2014

“We are ALL from the City of Detroit…” Well, you might not actually BE from Detroit, but if you work in the field of education, you can probably relate to many of the challenges that Detroit has faced. Good News (and you won’t find this covered by the press, because good news doesn’t sell newspapers)….…

The Mackinac Bridge Was Once Considered Impossible. Times Changed. So Can Education.

May 28, 2014

Today is the first day of one of the nation’s largest policy conferences, the Mackinac (pronounced “Mack-i-naw”) Conference. It’s the most important event of the year for the political, business, and non-profit organizations of Michigan. I’m writing this on the 5-hour road trip to Mackinac; where the Lower and Upper Peninsulas of Michigan almost meet.…

SOAR® Covers 100% Common Core Anchor Standards!

May 2, 2014

You can now get a free digital review copy of the 2nd Edition of SOAR®! SOAR® Study Skills-2nd edition is now SOAR® Soft Skills for College & Career Readiness. SOAR® now covers 100% of the Common Core Anchor Standards! This 2nd edition has all of the same great content you loved before plus three new…

The Plight of Teachers in 2014

April 14, 2014

Last fall, Microsoft asked me to share some thoughts about changes in education. Naturally, about technology. But, as I explained below, the cascading effect of technology on students will have an impact on teachers…. For the better! Like many educators, Susan Kruger was inspired to help students through her own school experience. Kruger struggled to…

The Matrix of Study Skills; What if Neo Chose the Blue One?

March 24, 2014

In the movie, The Matrix, there’s a famous scene where Morpheus offers Neo a choice… Red Pill or Blue Pill. If Neo takes the blue pill, it would allow him to remain in his made-up reality of the Matrix and continue living in ignorance. If Neo takes the red pill, he escapes the Matrix and…

Educators: “We Are All from Detroit”

March 16, 2014

I was born and raised in Detroit. I’ve long been used to the negative impressions about my hometown when I travel. But last summer, the reaction went visceral. Two weeks after Detroit filed for bankruptcy, I was at a conference on the East Coast. Naturally, I was asked the standard opening question, “Where are you…

Why Didn’t Someone Teach Me How to Learn Earlier!?

March 11, 2014

At the end of this week, the 2nd edition of SOAR® is going to press. As I did eight years ago with the original I’ve put my heart and soul into this new edition to save students from the struggles I did not need to face. The following letter to students is included in the…

Letter to My Younger Self

February 25, 2014

Today is a very special day for me. It’s my 10th anniversary as a parent! Yes, today is my son’s 10th birthday. In honor of my (er, uh… his) special day, I wanted to share a letter written to “my younger self,” just days before my son was born. Last October, I had the privilege…

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