Perhaps one of my favorite authors.........

Along with Jonathan Kozol, Alfie Kohn is one of my favorite educational writers. He is not afraid to challenge our current thinking and push to move education forward - all while keeping students first. In his book, The Schools Our Children Deserve, Kohn challenges current myths and practices of the educational system charging educators with creating classrooms where children flourish under the less traditional teaching practices.
If you have been reading this blog, it is no secret that I am a fan of Constructivism in the classroom. My dissertation journey and a former colleague lead me to this book. Kohn encourages teachers to think outside of the traditional box and think about children as more than receptacles of knowledge. He wants us to think about students in terms of what they know, but also what they don't know - and to provide them with instruction that brings them to understanding - not simply memorization. While controversial, this book is a tremendous read for anyone embarking on leaving the traditional classroom behind and working toward making it an holistic endeavor that meets the needs of children and challenges them simultaneously.