Rating: 
Summary: Think you've got an open mind?
Review: Think you really know what's best for your kids? Read this book. It certainly isn't the be-all and end-all of wisdom on how we should educate our children, but it's the best work on the subject I've seen yet. To read it, though, you have to put aside everything you ever automatically "knew" about school (for example, that it's a good thing) and really THINK about it. What is the purpose of teaching higher math to a child with no aptitude for it and no chance of using it in her career? Why do teachers always insist that children sit quietly and never speak out of turn? Why do parents assume that school will prepare their child for life in the real world?Roger Schank doesn't accuse teachers of trying to squelch children's interests or administrators of being bad people, but he does point out that the way the school system teaches is completely outdated and unintentionally destroys children's eagerness and passion for learning. To raise a truly intelligent child, Schank says, parents must take charge personally. They must work to undue the damage school does to a child, and to instill positive character traits in a child that will help him develop true intelligence: verbal ability, analytical ability, gumption, inquisitiveness, creativity, and ambition. There are simple (and not-so-simple) ways parents can do this, and Schank dedicates his book to telling us how we can help our children and also WHY we should take charge. He stresses that it isn't easy being a parent and it's even harder parenting a "smarter kid" -- but the goal is a child who knows who she is and finds herself as an adult in a happy and successful situation, doing something she loves and excells at. Isn't that a worthy ambition? Altogether, COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES is an eye-opening look at education in our country and the future of our kids -- well worth the time to read and put into practice.
Rating: 
Summary: A different look at what traits make a child smart
Review: This book gives insight on raising your child to be smart. His innovative ideas include characteristics such as gumption, creativity and ambition. He gives you concrete examples for you to use to encourage your child's development. The book would be appropriate for anyone with children ages infant through about middle school. He does bash the school system, and depending on your childs school sitiuation he could be right on the money with his critisism of the schools or not. Certianly his critisisms are worth hearing and considering if you have children in the public school system, and I imagine it is applicable to many private schools as well. I originally read a library copy of this book and decided I had to own it so that I could refer to it often. I also found the book to be an enjoyable read; the information is presented with plenty of anecdotes and examples. This book could be a good investment in your kids future if you follow his recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: A different look at what traits make a child smart
Review: This book gives insight on raising your child to be smart. His innovative ideas include characteristics such as gumption, creativity and ambition. He gives you concrete examples for you to use to encourage your child's development. The book would be appropriate for anyone with children ages infant through about middle school. He does bash the school system, and depending on your childs school sitiuation he could be right on the money with his critisism of the schools or not. Certianly his critisisms are worth hearing and considering if you have children in the public school system, and I imagine it is applicable to many private schools as well. I originally read a library copy of this book and decided I had to own it so that I could refer to it often. I also found the book to be an enjoyable read; the information is presented with plenty of anecdotes and examples. This book could be a good investment in your kids future if you follow his recommendations.
Rating: 
Summary: nuggets of ???????????????
Review: while i found the book generally interesting, it was quite apparent the author has a difficult time relating his ideas to the more common amongst us. while we would all love to take our children to paris, putting them on the metro to 'discover' is not something most can do...or would want to do.
the authors insight on the value and potential of creative intelliegnce is long overdue. that alone makes the book a good read
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