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Books

These books help educators approach school reform with vigor.  The shift in pedagogy requires energy and passion which is gained while reading these inspiring books and articles.
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Daniel Pink discusses the type of person need in the 21st century to meet the demands of the future.  The "right brained" thinker has not received the same level of respect as those that think in a linear manner with a background in math, engineering, law and other related fields.  Now is the time for the creative thinker to excel in the work force. Read his book and you will discover why this is our future.
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What does Flat World Education mean to you?  Read this book and you will learn how to improve schools based on research-based situations.  With one in ten low-income student graduating from college, school reform and closing the achievement gap is more important now than ever before.  Linda Darling-Hammond discusses why the educational system must change to meet the demands of the 21st century.
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Innovation is critical to America's future.  We must educate and students in school and the work place to become the innovators of our future.  This book takes a look at students that became innovators.  It determines the approach parents, educators and employers took to support these innovators.  It also examines the level of dedication, determination and satisfaction achieved when students experience the opportunity to create.  It                                 is an important book for teachers to read.
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This book explores behaviors, habits and attutudes needed for success both inside and outside the classroom.  It's similar in concept to "Habits of Mind" or "Mindset."  These though processes lead to an increased level of success.  Rote memorization is no longer the ticket to a successful career.  Instead, as Angela Maieri writes, imagination, curiosity, perseverance,self-awareness, courage and adaptability prepare us                                    for a career in the 21st century.
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This book empowers students to thrive in a changing world.  Education needs to be student driven at all grade levels with opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds to collaborate and enhance creative problem solving.  This books shows how this process can be implemented to support standards based curriculum.  This takes learning to new heights by allowing students to master core content while generating creative ideas and putting them into action.
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Leadership is a skill need in the 21st century, especially in an environment supporting innovation.  In a school environment, instilling leadership in students increases academic achievement, decreases behavior management through increased self-confidence and engagement.  Students display the traits requested by our business leaders, including accountability, adaptability, problem solving, self-initiative, cross-cultural skills, communication and                                  team work.
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Finland has taken a unique approach to education. They did not focus on competition, school choice and accountability measures.  The book addresses the role of teachers and how education policy serves to raise the level of prosperity and reduce the level of poverty. You will see how the Finnish approach differs from the global educational reform movement.  It also shows how they have built an effective and  lower                                cost educational system.

Articles

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With the Common Core Standards, we need support in understanding and implementing the standards.  This book helps interpret the meaning of the standards, recognize the guiding principles and the spiral throughout the K-12 implementation.  It will help you support students in developing a higher level of comprehension and writing skills while developing performance assessments that support continuous improvement.

Articles that support the importance of creativity, innovation, leadership and the arts in education and business.


Five business professional assess the importance of the arts and innovation.  Interesting point describes the need great storytellers as discussed in Daniel Pink's Book.
As we observe high profile schools, such as Stanford, adjust curriculum to support creativity as seen in the Graduate School of Design, we know that the trend in supporting the arts integrated with content is gaining momentum.
One way to foster skills in innovation may be through the arts.  They describe the importance of the "creative class" with skills supporting critical thinking, problem solving, communication, creativity, and collaboration.Highlighted is a book called Art for Art's Sake?  It discusses the impact of Art Education.
Professor David Slocum discusses creative approaches in marketing and business plans as he analyzes work in the airline industry.  He frames the innovators as being the hero in the industry.