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Did you push yourself and your children to think divergently this week? I hope so. What did you do?

Next week:
It’s important for kids to think about their thinking. Next week, we’ll explore ways to get children to be more metacognitive in developmentally appropriate ways. Also, coming up will be what brain research is teaching us about learning.

Finishing up this week, I’ve found some funny and interesting articles to share with you. Enjoy.

National Animalgraphic (National Geographic meets Kids Books) from Telephone and Soup
Delightful and funny!

 ”Is Your House a Pig Sty? [shows Olivia cleaning] The link between messiness and imagination”

Stockholm’s School Without Classrooms from Architizer News
Can we order these for every school? Absolutely amazing!

“The principles of the Vittra School revolve around the breakdown of physical and metaphorical class divisions as a fundamental step to promoting intellectual curiosity, self-confidence, and communally responsible behavior. Therefore, in Vittra’s custom-built Stockholm location, spaces are only loosely defined by permeable borders and large, abstract landmarks.”

The Value of Teachers from The New York Times
Tell us something we don’t know, right!? We must make sure all students get high-quality teachers. There’s the rub.

And in not so serious news,  my new favorite t-shirts are on Red Bubble. Just reading through them made me laugh! (Geology Rocks!) Can I just show you a few favorites?

(Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.)

(Procrastination is        )

The Future Belongs to the Curious from Skillshare (video)
. . . which is why we need more divergent thinking in the classroom!!!

“The questions, you’ll find, are more important than the answers . . .”

6 Princess Books for Parents Who Really, Really Hate Princess Books from Building a Library
We also love Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman.

Crafts from Around the World from No Time for Flashcards
Don’t these look like fun?

Mysterious Case of Paper Sculptures in Edinburgh
A mysterious person leaves paper sculptures in libraries and schools. Does it matter who it is?

What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart? from The Wall Street Journal
Can it be replicated in the U.S. when Finnish schoolchildren are more homogeneous in language, income, and education? Hmmm. (Do you know what age children begin school in Finland?)

“While many U.S. parents worry about enrolling their toddlers in academically oriented preschools, the Finns don’t begin school until age 7, a year later than most U.S. first-graders.”

No Name-Calling Week (January 23 – 27) Multimedia Resources from School Library Journal
Some great ideas here for a range of ages.

And just one more shirt because I thinking laughing is essential to good health . . .

(Verbing words weirds language)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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You Might Also Like . . . 

Quiz Yourself – Examples of Divergent and Convergent Thinking Activities

The Case Against Skill and Drill Curriculum

Best Children’s Books of 2011 – picture books to YA