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Join the Read Along: What if Everybody Understood Child Development?

January 1, 2016 by notjustcute Filed Under: Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 17 Comments

When I first read Rae Pica’s piece, What if Everybody Understood Child Development?, as it was shared in the Huffington Post a few years ago, I wanted to hold up a printed copy and shout from my rooftop:  “THIS!  THIS is what needs to change!”

And now, there is a printed copy.  Along with 28 similar essays.  And so, here I am on my social media rooftop, sharing it with all of you.

Read Along

This book sprang out of the passionate response to that first piece in the Huffington Post.  Parents, teachers, and advocates all reacted as I did, sharing and discussing the piece with comments like, “Yes.  A million times YES!” and “Amen!”.  The original piece received more than 2,500 Facebook shares and more than 23,000 Facebook likes.  Rae realized that the message wasn’t just one she personally needed to get off her chest, but one that many were yearning to hear and share.

So she wrote this book, compiled of 29 essays addressing the current challenges and misunderstandings in the areas of education and child development, and particularly, the intersection of those two.

I can’t wait to explore each one with you!

Below is the reading schedule for our read along of What If Everybody Understood Child Development?: Straight Talk About Bettering Education and Children’s Lives* by Rae Pica. (*affiliate link)  The sections are very concise, so covering three in the two week period should give plenty of time.  In fact, I’ve had a harder time NOT reading more than three in a sitting.  So this is a perfect book for busy parents and professionals who are short on time, but still want a substantial book to read.  It would also make a fantastic guide for professional development discussions as part of regular staff meetings.  As each section is addressed, that post will be linked to the corresponding row of the schedule.  I hope that you will read along and share your thoughts and experiences, even if they differ from what is shared in the book. As the author wrote herself: “It’s unlikely you’ll agree with all of the opinions expressed here.  But whether or not you agree, it’s my hope that the straight talk in What if Everybody Understood Child Development? will inspire and motivate you to generate change — so children can begin to have the lives and education they deserve.”

I hope we can start that kind of conversation here, and let it extend into your own settings as teachers and parents.

Date Sections Pages Essay Titles
 January 20th  1-3  6-19  All Children Are Not the Same

The Earlier the Better?

The Power of Joy

 February 3rd  4-6  20-32  Bubble Wrapping Not Required

When Did a Hug Become a Bad Thing?

Teaching Girls They’re More Than a Pretty Face

February 17th  7-9  33-47  Doing Away With the “Baby Stuff”

But Competition Is Human Nature”

Terrorist Tots?

 March 2nd  10-12  48-59  The Myth of the Brain/Body Dichotomy

Why Does Sitting Still Equal Learning?

In Defense of Active Learning

 March 16th  13-16  60-81  Play is Not a Four-Letter Word

The Body Matters, Too

Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic…and Recess

Why Kids Need “Gym”

 March 30th  17-19  82-94  In Defense of Authentic Learning

Who Should Lead the Learning?

The Trouble With Testing

 April 13th  20-22  95-106  Failure Is an Option

Should We Teach Handwriting in the Digital  Age?

Just Say “No” to Keyboarding in Kindergarten

 April 27th  23-25  107-121  iPads or Play-Doh?

The Homework Debate

In Defense of the Arts

 May 11th  26-29  122-137  No More “Good Job!”

Bribes and Threats Work, But…

Time to Give Time-Out a Time-Out

“You’re Outta Here!”

 May 25th  Wrap Up –

Interview with    Rae Pica

   Be sure to share your thoughts and questions  along the way so that we can incorporate those  into the culminating interview with the author,  Rae Pica.


About the Author:
Rae Pica

Rae Pica, has more than 35 years in the field of education and is the cofounder of the world’s largest online educational radio network, BAM Radio Network, where she has also served as the host of several shows, including Studencentricity.  She has written 19 books and shares her expertise with groups like  the Sesame Street Research Department, the Head Start Bureau, Centers for Disease Control, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues, Gymboree, Nike, and state health departments throughout the country.  She’s a lively speaker and workshop leader and an avid advocate for children and childhood.

Pick up your copy from this affiliate affiliate link, tag me in Twitter with your thoughts as you read (@NotJustCute), or comment on the posts as they come, starting January 20th!

So let’s get reading — and advocating for children and childhood!

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Related

Comments

  1. Rae Pica says

    January 2, 2016 at 11:41 am

    Amanda, I’m so excited about this! Your enthusiasm for the book is much appreciated, as is the read-along. Thank you!

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      January 2, 2016 at 10:00 pm

      I’m so grateful to have you be a part of it, Rae! Thank you for launching this gem of a book into the world! It’s so needed!

      Reply
  2. Yvette Hwee says

    January 2, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    Absolutely excited to join this read along and discussion! Going to make this book my first purchase of 2016! Thanks for getting the conversation going. #Excited!

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      January 2, 2016 at 10:00 pm

      So glad to have you join in, Yvette! #Excitedtoo!

      Reply
  3. Dawn says

    January 2, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    Hello! This is a fantastic book for a read-along. I just did one this fall on it 😉 I’d love to invite your readers over to my old blog for inside access “Beyond the Pages.” Guest content experts from the field of ECE weighed in on each chapter, gave perspective, shared resources, and lead the conversation as participants shared their thoughts and ideas.
    http://blogs.dctc.edu/dawnbraa/2015/08/05/new-feature-beyond-the-pages-a-blog-book-study/
    *Please note that my new blog address (where future book studies will be hosted) is http://enhancingyoungminds.com/
    Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EarlyChildhoodIdeasResources and Twitter at https://twitter.com/dawnbraa

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      January 3, 2016 at 8:53 am

      Isn’t it such a great book? A wonderful resource for professionals and parents alike!

      Reply
  4. Beth Wolff says

    January 4, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    Excited for this!

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      January 5, 2016 at 2:50 pm

      Me too! So glad to have you with us!

      Reply
  5. Krista Call says

    January 22, 2016 at 9:32 pm

    Do I need to do anything special to follow the read along? I have bought the book and I am finding the same problem, it’s hard to put down. It has also inspiring me to let children enjoy life more, snow, fresh air and movement. Thank you for that Rita.

    Reply
    • notjustcute says

      January 25, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      Such a great book, right? To join in the read along, just read the book (at the pace we cover or at your own pace) and then join in on those dates posted on the schedule where we’ll talk about the section. Section one is up now and the next will be up next week. Just join in by sharing your thoughts and impressions from that section in the comments or on social media. I’d love to hear what you have to say!

      Reply
  6. Fiona says

    January 17, 2017 at 8:46 pm

    Thank you for the read along opportunity. I’ll be starting at the beginning today and will join you all for the February discussion!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. A Tale of Two Studies: What We Know About Children and What We Do | Not Just Cute says:
    January 13, 2016 at 1:42 am

    […] all the read-along details here and join us as we discuss these essays, asking together, “What if everyone understood child […]

    Reply
  2. Trouble Sitting Still: Read Along Section 4 — What If Everybody Understood Child Development? | Not Just Cute says:
    March 3, 2016 at 3:45 am

    […] Just getting started?  Check out the read along schedule here! […]

    Reply
  3. Wait! What Happened to Recess? : Read Along Section 5 – What If Everybody Understood Child Development? | Not Just Cute says:
    March 17, 2016 at 11:09 am

    […] Just getting started?  Check out the read along schedule here! […]

    Reply
  4. An Assessment of the Testing Culture: Read Along Section 6 – What If Everybody Understood Child Development? | Not Just Cute says:
    April 2, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    […] Just getting started?  Check out the read along schedule here! […]

    Reply
  5. Now What? Simple Steps for Advocacy from Rae Pica | Not Just Cute says:
    May 25, 2016 at 2:40 am

    […]  Just joining in on this conversation?  Check out the full series here! […]

    Reply
  6. We'll Link to That: Summer 2016 - Jbrary says:
    July 13, 2016 at 11:15 am

    […] child development. Let’s just say this blog delivers on the name and then some. Drop into her Read Along which is packed with current research about early to middle school children or browse her posts […]

    Reply

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

Content Copyrighted (2008-2025), Amanda Morgan, All Rights Reserved

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