On Our Bookshelf.

We're excited to share more about the blend of ideas that shape our guiding educational design philosophy. As we work to bring to life from page to play, we invite you along with recommended readings below. Dive in and join us as we translate these concepts into an engaging learning experience for students and families.

The Self-Driven Child

The Self-Driven Child by William Strixrud and Ned Johnson explores the science behind empowering children for motivation, resilience, and future success. It offers practical guidance for parents navigating the complexities of modern parenting, equipping them to become stronger supporters in their children's growth.

  • The Self-Driven Child delves into the impact of chronic stress on a child's developing brain and overall health. It provides practical strategies for parents and educators to equip children with effective stress management skills.

  • Stixrud and Johnson emphasizes the connection between fostering children's decision-making and their overall well-being. They explore the science behind autonomy's impact on mental health and motivation, and provide practical strategies for parents to strike a balance between guidance and empowering children to take charge of their own development.

  • Stixrud and Johnson explore the science of motivation, highlighting the power of intrinsic drives for long-term success. Their insights challenge traditional approaches and provide practical strategies for parents and educators to foster a love of learning in children, both in the classroom and beyond.

  • The Self-Driven Child unpacks the science behind fostering strong decision-making in children. This book highlights the crucial role of thoughtful decision-making in personal and professional success, and offers practical guidance for parents to equip their children with the skills needed for confident and independent thinking from a young age.

  • The Self-Driven Child advocates for a parenting style that values children's input and decision-making. This approach, supported by scientific evidence, fosters stronger parent-child relationships by reducing conflict and promoting open, trusting communication.

  • The Self-Driven Child challenges the growing trend of overscheduling and busyness, highlighting the science behind the importance of sleep and downtime, and offers practical strategies for parents and educators to prioritize these crucial elements for optimal cognitive and emotional development in children.

  • For parents of children who are facing academic or behavioral challenges, The Self-Driven Child explores the power of fostering a sense of control in children facing academic or behavioral challenges. This book provides parents with research-backed strategies to empower their children, striking a balance between support and micromanagement, to navigate these difficulties and achieve positive outcomes.

  • The recommendations and strategies in the book are grounded in neurological and psychological research, making it a credible resource for parents looking for evidence-based approaches to parenting.

What School Could Be

What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America by Ted Dintersmith examines the current state of education, navigating the dynamics of modern educational challenges and necessary innovations to support children more effectively. Dintersmith advocates for schooling that prepares students for a fulfilling and successful future.

  • Dintersmith provides numerous examples of teachers and schools across the United States that are breaking away from traditional education models to engage students in more meaningful, relevant learning experiences. By showcasing these examples, Dintersmith empowers parents to advocate for more meaningful learning environments.

  • What School Could Be emphasizes the development of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills, all essential for navigating the challenges of a rapidly evolving world. Parents can find valuable guidance on fostering these skills within and outside of school environments.

  • Dintersmith's call for educational reform, prioritizing student interests and real-world application over standardized testing and rote memorization, can serve as a powerful motivator for parental advocacy. By advocating for such reforms alongside educators and policymakers, parents become empowered to equip their children with the skills they need to thrive in the modern world.

  • What School Could Be champions the idea that every child holds the potential to excel when learning ignites their interests and capitalizes on their strengths, empowering parents to identify their children's hidden potential and seek or create learning environments that nurture their unique abilities and passions.

  • What School Could Be challenges the traditional focus on academic achievement, advocating for an education that equips children to flourish in life. The book showcases innovative schools that seamlessly integrate real-world problem-solving into their curriculum, fostering a more engaging and life-relevant learning experience for students.

  • Dintersmith advocates for personalized learning paths that respect individual student needs. Parents seeking a more tailored educational experience for their children will find compelling arguments and practical examples within this book to support their exploration of personalized learning options.

  • Showcasing innovative practices from diverse schools across the country, these stories paint a broad picture of progress in education. By highlighting successful approaches, they can ignite a spark of inspiration in parents who yearn for a more forward-thinking learning environment for their children.

  • Understanding the broader movements in education can help parents connect with like-minded individuals—other parents, teachers, and community leaders—who are interested in advancing progressive education reforms like The Compass School.

Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8

Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8: Teaching Kids to Succeed by Debbie Silver offers a wealth of knowledge and support for parents aiming to raise resilient and independent children with a positive, can-do attitude. It’s an encouraging read that highlights the power of perseverance and the importance of nurturing these qualities in the next generation.

  • One of the central themes of the book is the importance of teaching children how to deal with setbacks and failures. Silver explores how resilience is a key factor in long-term success and happiness, providing parents with strategies to help their children bounce back from challenges.

  • The book is filled with actionable advice and real-life examples of how to encourage children to take risks responsibly, handle failures gracefully, and persist in the face of difficulties. Packed with actionable strategies, this guide empowers parents to actively support their child's emotional and social development.

  • Drawing on Carol Dweck's growth mindset theory, Silver equips parents with strategies to nurture a belief in their children that intelligence and abilities can be developed through hard work. This approach fosters a love of learning and resilience, paving the way for future achievements.

  • Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 advocates for empowering children through decision-making and problem-solving. This approach builds self-confidence and hones valuable decision-making skills, crucial for a successful transition into adulthood.

  • Recognizing that children learn in unique ways, Silver equips parents with strategies to personalize support for each child's needs. Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8’s focus on inclusivity means the strategies are adaptable and can be applied to a broad range of children's learning styles and abilities.

  • Putting Silver's advice into action can help empower parents to build stronger relationships and improve communication with their children, fostering a more positive home environment.

  • Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 offers a reassuring message to parents. It recognizes the inherent difficulties of pare tingwhile affirming their efforts. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adaptation throughout the parenting journey, acknowledging that neither parents nor children are ever perfect.

  • Silver's stories are packed with inspiration, motivating parents and reminding them of the profound impact their guidance and support have on their children's ability to thrive.

Drive

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink delves into the science of motivation, offering fresh insights not just for business and educators, but also for parents. Pink explores Self-Determination Theory, which emphasizes intrinsic motivators like autonomy, mastery, and purpose. By understanding these, parents can nurture their children's natural desire to learn, explore, and achieve, preparing them to thrive in the ever-changing world. This makes "Drive" a valuable resource for any parent seeking to unlock their child's full potential.

  • Pink delves into the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. For parents, understanding these concepts can be crucial in fostering environments that encourage children to develop self-motivation rather than relying solely on external rewards like grades or praise.

  • Drive identifies three key elements to enhancing motivation: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Allowing children to have some control over their learning and activities, encouraging children to improve their skills in areas they are passionate, and helping children see the bigger picture and how their actions relate to larger goals can all help children become more engaged and fulfilled in their learning and activities.

  • Pink empowers parents to go beyond the classroom. His principles, like promoting project-based learning and connecting lessons to real-world applications, can guide interactions with educators or inspire home-based activities that spark a love of learning.

  • By fostering an environment that prioritizes intrinsic motivation, parents can encourage children to be lifelong learners. Drive can help parents understand why some traditional methods of motivation might actually stifle long-term engagement and learning.

  • Pink's discussion about motivation can also be highly relevant to parenting techniques, helping parents create strategies that cultivate internal satisfaction in their children’s achievements. Extensive use of rewards, for example in relation to chores, may have unintended consequences as children may become less likely to perform these tasks without the expectation of external incentives.

  • Drive delves into motivation in a way that can spark reflection for both parents and in relation to parenting. By exploring these concepts, adults may also b able to gain insights into their own personal development and career goals, while also modeling the power of intrinsic motivation and fulfillment for children.

  • Drive isn't just theory. It offers parents a toolbox of practical strategies, inspired by real-world success stories, to transform everyday routines and responsibilities into engaging experiences for their children.

The Gift of Failure

The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey offers a valuable perspective for parents interested in fostering resilience, independence, and long-term success in their children. Lahey’s book is an important read for parents who want to prepare their children for the realities of the world where dealing with setbacks effectively is just as important as celebrating successes. It shifts the focus from short-term academic achievements to long-term life skills, making it a deeply impactful resource for thoughtful parenting.

  • Lahey challenges the traditional approach to shielding children from failure. The Gift of Failure repositions failures as stepping stones that help children build valuable skills like problem-solving, emotional management, and perseverance.

  • Lahey promotes a parenting style that fosters autonomy in children. By encouraging them to navigate challenges and make their own decisions, parents can empower their children to develop essential life skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, and self-reliance.

  • Lahey addresses the pitfalls of overparenting—where parents are so involved that they prevent their children from facing challenges on their own. She provides insights and strategies for parents to avoid these traps, thereby enhancing their children’s ability to function independently.

  • The Gift of Failure equips parents with a roadmap for navigating their evolving parenting approach. The book offers specific strategies tailored to each developmental stage, from elementary school through high school, ensuring parents provide the right balance of support and autonomy as their children grow.

  • Echoing Carol Dweck's work on growth mindset, Lahey emphasizes the power of perseverance and learning from mistakes. The Gift of Failure equips parents with strategies to foster this mindset in their children, helping them view challenges as opportunities to grow and develop their abilities.

  • Letting children experience the full spectrum of outcomes - successes and failures - is key to fostering intrinsic motivation, according to Lahey. This approach fuels a child's natural desire to learn and fosters deeper engagement with the learning process.

  • The Gift of Failure challenges the fear of failure and encourages parents to embrace setbacks as a chance to connect with their children. Lahey offers strategies to build trust and open communication, leading to a supportive family environment where growth and learning are celebrated.