Reaching Higher : The Power of Expectations in Schooling

Rating:
Summary: powerful study of the education system
Review: Rhona Weinstein's book, "Reaching Higher: The Power of Expectations in Schooling", should be a mandatory reading requirement for all teachers .I have just finished this book and my head is reeling from its implications.It is extremely thought provoking and, in a way, disturbing, because the complacency of the "infallible" structure of the whole system of education is shaken to its very core. I absolutely agree with Rhona Weistein's self fulfilling prophecies and expectancy theory; I just never had a name to put to it before.I have seen so few teachers who can actually foster that tremendous sense of excitement and capability and possibility in teaching every child to strive to fulfill his/her potential. It is an amazing gift to really see the uniqueness of every child, and to truly believe that every child is capable of doing all that he/she wants; he just has to try and learn and develop and he will succeed. It is a tragedy when teachers cannot see past children like Adam's inability to spell and write in conventional manner; that they can be so blinded by poor spelling that they cannot appreciate the brilliance and the creativity of the ideas underneath. Is the goal of our education system to memorize a certain curriculum in a specified period of time, or to foster a sense of excitement for knowledge, to learn the skills to take a child and create a lifelong learner? What an exciting challenge and opportunity if our education system would embrace Rhona Weistein's theories, and create a new and better model for learning in all our schools. I wish more educators could think like Rhona Weinstein. The world would be a better place if that were so.

Rating:
Summary: powerful study of the education system
Review: Rhona Weinstein's book, "Reaching Higher: The Power of Expectations in Schooling", should be a mandatory reading requirement for all teachers .I have just finished this book and my head is reeling from its implications.It is extremely thought provoking and, in a way, disturbing, because the complacency of the "infallible" structure of the whole system of education is shaken to its very core. I absolutely agree with Rhona Weistein's self fulfilling prophecies and expectancy theory; I just never had a name to put to it before.I have seen so few teachers who can actually foster that tremendous sense of excitement and capability and possibility in teaching every child to strive to fulfill his/her potential. It is an amazing gift to really see the uniqueness of every child, and to truly believe that every child is capable of doing all that he/she wants; he just has to try and learn and develop and he will succeed. It is a tragedy when teachers cannot see past children like Adam's inability to spell and write in conventional manner; that they can be so blinded by poor spelling that they cannot appreciate the brilliance and the creativity of the ideas underneath. Is the goal of our education system to memorize a certain curriculum in a specified period of time, or to foster a sense of excitement for knowledge, to learn the skills to take a child and create a lifelong learner? What an exciting challenge and opportunity if our education system would embrace Rhona Weistein's theories, and create a new and better model for learning in all our schools. I wish more educators could think like Rhona Weinstein. The world would be a better place if that were so.