Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things
Are we truly tapping into each student’s fullest potential? We know that every single student has potential for growth and achievement, but it’s not always so clear how to unleash that potential in schools.
Adam Grant’s latest book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, has some great ideas for us.
Adam is an organizational psychologist but I chose to summarize this book because his research and ideas have important implications for us in education.
What does Grant suggest we do to bring out the best in students? He has a multi-level approach (and I love that each starts with an S!)
- SKILLS: Recognize student potential and help students accelerate their achievement by actively teaching them 3 character skills: determination, proactivity, and discipline.
- SCAFFOLDS: Create the types of scaffolds that help to boost student motivation and support students in overcoming obstacles.
- SYSTEMS: Build systems in our schools that support teachers in building relationships, supporting individual students, and developing a love of learning in students.
Oh, and by the way, all of the ideas also work to bring out the potential in our teachers and ourselves, too!
Here are my resources for this book:
Read to the bottom to see the 2 free workshops I'm co-leading that may be helpful to you, and I'll be back on April 15.
PS: To learn more or purchase the book, click here:
Penguin Random House
I Suggest A Coffee Hour With Families To Discuss Character Skills
I have another book for you that highlights character skills.
This one argues that kids are missing what they need most: the character strengths that help them feel purposeful, hopeful, and whole. The culture that surrounds them promised that if they strived for more (better grades, better performance, more accolades, more likes) then they would be happy, but that’s not what ended up happening.
Author, psychologist, and parenting expert Michele Borba, Ed.D. pulls back the curtain on why the current generation of kids is so anxious, depressed, and lonely in her book.
The good news is that Borba believes it’s never too late to teach kids the 7 character skills that actually get kids to thrive. And this teaching can happen in the home and at school.
Click for my 2-page overview, HANDOUT, and discussion questions to use with parents: Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine.
I suggest you hold a coffee hour and share the insights from this book with caregivers and educators alike so together you can help kids thrive while building parent engagement at the same time!
Chapter Chat on Trust & School Climate
Join Kim Marshall and me for a free, online, 1-hour Chapter Chat on our latest Best of Marshall Memo installment on TRUST & SCHOOL CLIMATE
Trust is the secret sauce that helps you build everything in your school. Learn how.
Because of the popularity of the topic, we will be offering it twice, April 11 or May 8. You can register here.
Did you miss last month's book summary? Click here for Support and Retain Educators of Color. I appreciate the concrete ideas leaders can implement now.
AWSP members, head to this page to access past book summaries.
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Jenn David-Lang |
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The Main Idea
Jenn has worked in the field of education for over 25 years. She has had a wide range of experiences in both teaching and administration. She founded and directed Providence Summerbridge, a nonprofit to raise the academic achievement of urban middle school students; she taught both math and English; she provided professional development for teachers; and she has helped to start a number of New York City schools. Jenn received her principal’s certification and Ed.M. from the Bank Street College of Education. Through all of these experiences, she has seen firsthand that principals just don’t have enough time to keep abreast of the latest ideas in education.
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