Author Archive

Off to Sweden – Time to Read Some Book Summaries

Friday, August 18th, 2023

Sweden
My mother’s parents arrived in the US from Sweden in 1902 and she was born in the US. When she stared school she could only speak Swedish. In a sense she was an ESl student. As you probably know, kids that age pick up a second language fast. They also don’t forget their first language. Growing up, my mom used some Swedish words and we went to a Swedish Lutheran church. She had a cousin is Sweden as a pen pal since 1930. After my father died in 1978 I told her that it was time to go visit her pen pal. In 1980 my wife and I took her to Sweden to meet her cousins. They treated us like royalty. My mother’s Swedish came back immediately, but it was an away game for my wife and I. We studied using Berlitz tapes so we knew some Swedish words. At the dinner table we used the words we know, learned some new words, and played charades. It was exhausting as we were immersed. That is the best way to learn a second language.

For the next two weeks I will be in Sweden visiting my 2nd cousin and his adult children. I will try to post and send pictures, but don’t count on the five posts a week. Rather, take some time to read some of my book summaries. They are all valuable for parents and educators, but they are not all education books. If you have already read the book, the summary will help you review and internalize the key concepts. If you don’t own the book, the summary might convince you to purchase it.

Be sure to try the bottom right translate button for your favorite language or one you are trying to learn. If you don’t see it, check your adblocking software

Jooble

Recent Book Summaries & My Podcasts


Influence
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini@RobertCialdini

Valedictorians at the Gate: Standing Out, Getting In, and Staying Sane While Applying to College by Becky Munsterer Sabky

Plays Well With Others: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Relationships Is (Mostly) Wrongby Eric Barker

How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting from Tots to Teens by Melinda Wenner Moyer

My Post-Pandemic Teaching and Learning Observations by Dr. Doug Green Times 10 Publications

The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Daniel Pink

Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead, and Live Without Barriers by Jo Boaler 

The Future of Smart: How Our Education System Needs to Change to Help All Young People Thrive by Ulcca Joshi Hansen

Cup of Joe
Listen to Dr. Doug on the “Cup of Joe” podcast. I recorded it last week. On it, I talk about the many good things I have seen in schools doing hybrid teaching. @PodcastCupOfJoe @DrDougGreen @BrainAwakes

Back to School COVID Myths – by Dr Doug Green @mssackstein

This is my podcast on the Jabbedu Network. Please consider listening and buying my book Teaching Isn’t Rocket Science, It’s Way More Complex. Here’s a free executive summary. @jabbedu @DrDougGreen

Boys and Sex: Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity by Peggy Orenstein

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves (the book can be found here.

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The Teachers: a Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession by Alexandra Robbins

Friday, June 9th, 2023

The Teachers
The Teachers: a Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession by Alexandra Robbins is a fine piece of qualitative research that uses three year-long case studies and hundreds of interviews as data. It details the many difficulties that teachers may face. Even though we don’t know the percentage of teachers facing each difficulty, we do know that they the are somewhat common. (Doug: I’ve seen them all.) This should gain more respect for the profession. I only wish every journalist, pundit, and parent could read it. Get your copy today.

Prologue

  • To gain the expertise necessary to write this book, Alexandra conducted case studies of three teachers over an entire school year. She conducted hundreds of interviews with other teachers. She also did some substitute teaching and a semester of long-term substitute work. Each chapter contains stories from the three teachers she studied for a year including aspects of their private lives. They all appear to be outstanding teachers. Penny teaches 4th Grade, Rebecca teaches 6th grade math, and Miguel is a middle school special education teacher. The final section of each chapter contains anecdotes and generalizations from the remainder of her research.

1. August: Introduction: “It Makes My Soul Happy”: What Teachers Endure and Why They Stay

  • Here we meet the three teachers Alexandra studies along with some of their issues. While many think that teachers have the summer off, they are often required to attend professional development sessions that vary widely in quality and effectiveness. Funding is often short for supplies so they often purchase what they need themselves. Leaders are often a source of frustration as they can’t reliably find the money for supplies or substitutes and require teachers to cover additional classes.
  • Teacher salaries seem to be the biggest problem today as they haven’t kept up with inflation. (Doug: My starting salary of $8,500 in 1971 would be over $63,000 today.) Nationally they make 23% less than the average professional with comparable training, and up to 30% less in some states. The real reason for teacher shortages is mostly poor compensation. By some estimates 70% of teachers work a second job during the school year and most get summer jobs. They are vital, but not generally highly respected.

2. September: “STOP TOUCHING MY CAR”: Parent Aggression and the Culture of Teacher Blaming

  • This book focuses on anecdotes that make for a great series of case studies, but do not feature much quantitative data to support generalizations. The main theme is that parents often blame the teacher for the shortcomings and misbehavior of their children. They often send emails when grades are an issue and expect teachers to change them. Administrators aren’t always supportive of their teachers. There are many anecdotes here that seem believable to me.
  • Another theme deals with how teachers have to contend with special ed students and gifted students in the same class. Special education students in general education classes often get sent back to the room of their special education teacher. Ironically, this may seem like a reward. There are good tips here for how to deal with situations where teachers overreact to student behavior.

3. October: “I Would Have Done It for Any Child”: Teachers Are Heroes – but They Shouldn’t Have to Be

  • Here we learn that Penny the 6th grade math teacher left an abusive husband and was mostly shunned by a teacher clique where she taught. (Doug: I’ve seen such cliques.) The middle school special education teacher Miguel suffers from bad administrators who want to mainstream all special ed students without planning, training, or support staff. Mismanagement has impacted his health.
  • Rebecca the fourth grade teacher teaches students about mindsets. (Doug: See my summary of Mindset by Carol Dweck.) She wishes that she could differentiate (individualize) learning more as a one-size-fits-all lesson plans only work well for the kids in the middle. Like many, the amount of paperwork leaves little time for her own life.
  • Alexandra finds that most teachers will do anything they can for students in need. She cites one teacher who adopted a student and another who donated a kidney. Most teachers (94%) spend their own money on supplies and personal times for students and families. While 44% leave by five years, districts with strong mentoring programs do much better. While cliques are an issue, teachers do a lot to support each other in their buildings and beyond via conferences and online resources (Doug: Like this blog for example.)
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Gaining Confidence After a Setback by Emily Graham

Tuesday, May 16th, 2023

Confidence
Image via Pexels

Gaining Confidence After a Setback

offers great advice for everyone who has experienced a setback of any kind. Even if you don’t feel like you have been setback by things like the pandemic, this also for you. Thanks, Emily.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard all around the world. You may have lost your job or been furloughed. Your kids’ schools likely closed, leaving you to juggle work and child care. Maybe you’ve even been sick with the virus yourself. All this can affect your mental health and leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and down. You can rebuild your confidence by taking small steps each day. Here are some tips from Dr. Doug Green to get you started!

Get Moving

Daily exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve your mood. Taking a brisk walk around the block or working out at home can help you feel better physically and mentally. When you look and feel good, your confidence will return.

Set Small Goals

After a setback, it’s essential to set small, achievable goals. Don’t do too much at once, or you’ll get overwhelmed. Start with something simple, such as trying a new recipe for dinner or reading one chapter of a book each day. As you accomplish your goals, you’ll feel better about yourself and your ability to handle anything that comes your way.

Take Control of Your Finances

The pandemic wreaked havoc on many people’s finances. If you’re still struggling to make ends meet now that things are slowly returning to normal, you can take steps to get back on track. Cutting back on spending and creating a budget can help you get your finances under control. Refinancing your home can save you money monthly on your mortgage payment or free up cash for necessary expenses.

Change Careers and Open a Business

If you’re not happy with your current career, now may be the time to make a change. Making a career change can be scary, but it can also be gratifying. If you’ve always wanted to start your own business, plenty of resources are available to help you get started.

Start with a business plan to know what steps you need to take to get your business off the ground. The plan should include your business goals, a description of your products or services, funding, and target market. You’ll also need to research the competition and find out what makes your business unique. This guide on how to start a company can help you get the ball rolling.

It’s also worth taking a moment to think about conflict resolution in the office, since many people could still be on edge after the emotional turmoil brought about by the pandemic. The last thing you want to do after spending all this time changing careers or starting your own business is see that hard work thwarted by petty grievances.

Going Back to School

Returning to school after a personal or professional setback can be a daunting prospect, but it can also be an empowering and transformative experience. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree, for example, can not only lead to increased job opportunities and earning potential but also provide a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment. With the availability of online education, going back to school has never been more accessible or convenient. Online learning provides flexibility for those juggling work, family, or personal commitments, allowing you to study at your own pace and from anywhere in the world. Plus, with a wide range of online courses and programs available, you can tailor your education to your specific needs and interests. Take the first step towards a brighter future and consider going back to school online for your bachelor’s degree.

Share on Social Media

Sharing your positive experiences and accomplishments on social media can help you regain confidence if you’re feeling down. You can also use social media to connect with others who are going through similar experiences. Seeing that others are interested in your actions can make you feel good about yourself.

Rebuild Your Life After the Pandemic

The pandemic was tough on everyone. If you’ve lost your confidence, you can get it back with the right plan. Begin a fitness routine, start your own business, brush up on your conflict resolution skills, and share your successes on social media to inspire others!

Emily Graham
Emily is the creator of MightyMoms.net. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. You can email her at emilygraham@mightymoms.net. She lives in Arizona.

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Malcolm Gladwell’s Four Best Sellers Summarized by Dr. Doug Green

Thursday, May 11th, 2023

David and Goliath
Since I started this blog in 2009, I have summarized over 200 books that offer great advice to the parents and educators who represent my audience. My goal is to promote sales of these fine books and help people who have read the books review the key concepts. Today I offer links to the four books by Malcolm Gladwell that I summarized. If you haven’t read them yet you are in for a treat. If you have, it’s time to review the main points. Have fun.

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants – Learn why David wasn’t really an underdog and lots of other cool stuff.

Outliers: The Story of Success – This looks at many notable situations where people or populations stand out from the crowd. He finds that circumstances and effort are more important than talent. There are many lessons here for educators and parents.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinkin – Learn why marriages break up and many other valuable insights. This summary and the next one date back to when I was using PowerPoint.

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference – This book will help you understand the emergence of trends and mysterious changes that mark everyday life.

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From Messy to Manageable: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing Your Teaching Life by Emily Graham

Tuesday, May 9th, 2023

Messy
From Messy to Manageable: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing Your Teaching Life by Emily Graham is chuck full of great advice for beginning and experienced teachers. Be sure to share with teachers you know.

Teaching is more than a profession — it’s a calling. It’s a job that requires passionate individuals who are willing to go above and beyond to ensure that their students receive the best possible education. But with ever-increasing responsibilities and workloads, teachers can often find themselves struggling to stay organized. In this article, Dr. Doug Green provides valuable advice and guidance that you can implement to get and stay organized.

Individualized Attention for Student

Each student has their strengths and areas of opportunity. Keeping detailed records of each student’s needs, progress, and goals is an excellent way to track progress and ensure that they’re receiving the individualized attention they require. Have a specific plan for each student, and prioritize your time with them based on their needs. Whether it’s extra help, behavior modification, or academic support, regular check-ins can go a long way in boosting student success.

Utilize Organizational Techniques

One of the most effective ways to stay organized is by implementing organizational strategies that work best for you. Some ideas include using a color-coded filing system, setting reminders on your calendar, and keeping everything in its designated place. Take some time to assess your current organization system, and identify areas where you can improve. Maybe it’s creating a to-do list for each day, week, or month, or utilizing a planner to track assignments and deadlines. Whatever strategy you choose, make sure it’s tailored to your specific needs and allows you to maintain focus and efficiency.

Online PDF Tools

Digitizing paper records is an excellent way to save space and stay organized; however, it can be time-consuming and frustrating to remove unnecessary pages. Using an online PDF page remover tool takes a fraction of the time and makes the process effortless — click for info. With just a few clicks, you can delete pages, merge, and rearrange documents, all within a matter of minutes.

Effective Lesson Plan Tracking

As teachers, we’re always looking for ways to improve and enhance our teaching strategies. Tracking which lesson plans work best is an effective way to pinpoint what strategies are the most effective and what needs improvement. Keep detailed notes on each lesson, including what worked well and what areas need improvement. This information will provide you with valuable feedback that you can use to refine your teaching strategies and help your students achieve their goals.

Make Your Classroom Interesting

A well-designed classroom creates a comfortable and welcoming environment that fosters learning and engagement. Choose colors, decor, posters, and other elements that align with your personality and teaching style. Display student work and educational posters that spark curiosity and interest. Provide students with easy access to necessary supplies such as pencils, paper, and calculators. A thoughtfully designed classroom creates an environment that promotes learning, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Implement Good Classroom Management

Effective classroom management is essential to promoting a positive and productive learning environment. Establish clear behavior expectations and follow through with appropriate consequences when necessary. Monitor student behavior and provide feedback and support to students who are struggling. Encourage open communication, active listening, and positive reinforcement to enhance student behavior and motivation. Effective classroom management sets the foundation for a successful and positive learning environment.

Make Efforts to Achieve Your SMART Goals

Setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) is a powerful way to stay organized and focused. Whether it’s personal or professional, set goals that align with your long-term aspirations and use them as a roadmap to success. Create a plan of action with specific details on how you’ll achieve your goals. Be sure to track your progress and adjust your goals as needed. Setting SMART goals will help you stay organized, focused, and motivated.

To achieve success as a teacher, being organized is not an option but a necessity. Implementing strategies such as tracking individual student needs, utilizing online tools to save time, and setting SMART goals can help in maintaining an efficient system. This way, teachers can achieve their objectives, help their students succeed, and enjoy a more fulfilling teaching experience.

Emily Graham
Emily is the creator of MightyMoms.net. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. You can email her at emilygraham@mightymoms.net. She lives in Arizona.

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