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

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.

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, 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!