Stevemiranda

LATEST ARTICLES ( 270 )

• Why Euphoria in School Can’t Last (from the Archives)

  I’ve written about the various stages that PSCS students tend to move through, with the first stage typically being “euphoria. Read more

  Posted on 17 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• Can You Imagine What School Would Be Like If It Were Run Like a Really Successfu...

  I just got clued in to a movie that came out a few years ago called Girls Rock. It’s about a rock-and-roll camp for girls age 8-16. Read more

  Posted on 16 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• (Don’t) Teach Your Baby to Read!

  I found the blog of neuropsychologist Marsha Lucas, who wrote that teaching your baby to read is missing the point of what it means to be a good parent. Read more

  Posted on 15 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• The Power of One Sentence (from the Archives)

  There was a great Po Bronson article recently in New York Magazine. Here’s my favorite passage:For the past ten years, psychologist Carol Dweck and her team at... Read more

  Posted on 14 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• “E Pluribus Unum,” Or What Do You Like About Being a White Guy?

  I attended a workshop on racism a while ago that almost made my head explode.The workshop consisted of a multicultural group of about 40 people. Read more

  Posted on 13 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• “both/and” Vs. “neither/nor”

  One of my greatest challenges in explaining PSCS to people is this: When I say that we have no required academic classes, a lot of folks translate that in... Read more

  Posted on 10 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• In School We Do a Lot of Things Backwards, but This is a Big One (from the...

  A long time ago, I was the furniture department manager at the Wal-Mart in my hometown in New Jersey. My most powerful memory of that job was counting down the... Read more

  Posted on 09 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• Wait, That’s It?

  I spent several summers teaching test prep classes for high school students who had not yet passed the WASL, the high-stakes exam required for graduation. Read more

  Posted on 08 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• How I Spent My Summer Vacation

  Many years ago, when I was the student newspaper advisor at a big urban high school, I told my students, “I’m introducing a new grading system next semester... Read more

  Posted on 07 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• What Do Progressive Schools Have in Common with Creative Business Leaders?

  Fast Company magazine ran a brilliant interview with David Kelley, the founder of IDEO and the world-famous design school at Stanford. Read more

  Posted on 06 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• The Last Bite of Ice Cream

  My friend John told me this story.His son is very clever. When he wants something, he waits until John is on the phone before asking. Read more

  Posted on 05 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• The Story of the Big Rocks (from the Archives)

  I once saw a high school science teacher (who also fancied himself a philosopher) demonstrate an important principle for a group of kids.He took out a large... Read more

  Posted on 04 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• Would You Like to Try Something Different?

  My friend Judy sent me a great TED talk by a guy named Tim Harford, who writes about economics. He talks about the dangers of embracing what he calls “The God... Read more

  Posted on 03 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING

• How Are Revolutions Born?

  There are several moments in time that, when I look back, ended up being pivotal for me in making the decision to leave my job as a classroom teacher. Read more

  Posted on 02 August 2011 DEBATE, SCHOOLING

• Is Pursuing Your Passion Always a Good Thing?

  PSCS’s tagline is “turning passion into achievement.” We talk about passion constantly with kids, with the goal of helping them figure out what they love to... Read more

  Posted on 01 August 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• Teacher U

  The most recent edition of the New York Times section “Education Life” contains a provocative article called “Pedagogical Puzzle: New models for teacher... Read more

  Posted on 31 July 2011 DEBATE, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• The Lucky Ones

  I love stories, and have dedicated myself to learning the nuances of their structure and arc. When I was a classroom teacher, I noticed a talent in one young... Read more

  Posted on 30 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• I Had an Awesome Week

  I’ve had an awesome week.On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, I invited former students—from my days as a classroom teacher in an urban public high school—to get... Read more

  Posted on 29 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• One of the Few Principles in Education That Can Be Applied Universally (from...

  I recently spent time with a friend, who had read my recent post, “Education is an intimate act, and that—by definition—is not scalable. Read more

  Posted on 28 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING, SOCIETY

• Why Playing Risk is an Educational Activity (from the Archives)

  At PSCS, we don’t believe in the traditional hierarchy of subjects. In schools around the world, math and science seem to be the subjects deemed most important. Read more

  Posted on 27 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, SCHOOLING