From Chapter 10 “Optimism/Enthusiasm” in Ingredients of Outliers. I imagine that, at one time or another, you’ve read or heard various definitions comparing optimism and pessimism. Perhaps the oldest and most familiar one involves a glass of water (or other beverage), which the optimist describes as half-full, and the pessimist as half-empty.Well, I recently heard of a young boy who turned that comparison upside down. After drinking half of his glass of milk, he set it down and announced: “I’m an optimist. My glass is half-empty.” Told that his view was pessimistic, he replied: … [Read more...]
Bringing Creativity Back to Teaching
What does it take to be a good teacher and a creative one at that? Although a degree, experience, a great school, and a well-stocked classroom are always helpful, we find the teachers that set themselves apart are the ones who understand creativity the most. Teachers are constantly faced with the challenges of bringing an edge to education and creating a dynamic learning environment for their students amidst the standardized tests and tasks. We thought we would make your lives a bit easier by pulling together a few ways you can challenge yourself to remain passionate and creative … [Read more...]