think:lab

Is Payment for Good Grades Legitimate Motivation in This Day and Age?

Playful tone aside, curious what you might say about the recent conversation between Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert and NYC Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein re: NYC's plan to pay kids who do well in schools grade-wise. 

View part 1:

View part 2:

Intriguing that in the same veritable breath Klein says...

"Leaving Microsoft to Change the World" Now In Paperback

While the heart of my work over the last few years centered on the 'design' of schools, I was often invited to cross paths with leaders and change agents that went far beyond the literal architectural conversation.

Getting a chance to connect with John Wood, the founder and CEO of Room to Read, easily lands at the top of my list (and this includes having the opportunity to meet Sir Ken Robinson, being in conversation with Dan Pink, camping with Robert Scoble, working on a project with Stephen Heppell, and coming to know so many others I've long respected over time, too).

You'll may recall having heard about the ex-Microsoft executive who has been building libraries and schools in developing nations around the world.  Room to Read is about ready to open its 5,000th library in the near future (all done in less than a decade, too!).  5,000!

If you haven't already heard of John Wood, you can...

Utterly Captivated in a "10 For 2" Video Sort of Way

Any summer camp folks out there?  [Anyone just want to follow a few delightful breadcrumbs?]

In addition to countless summers as a camper kiddo, I had the good fortune of working 15+ summers as a camp counselor in a wide array of settings.  Little in life matches these "10 for 2" memories, no matter how much I try. And in some small way, part of my path back into the classroom points my compass back towards June/July nights, standing quietly under multi-story high pine trees, listening to my camper kids sleep in a cabin only feet away, flashlight in hand, breathing in the midnight air while letting the real world fade while the technicolor moments woven together in summer camp settings bloom end over end, barefoot, tracing stories in the pine needle paths below. 

Tonight all of this came rushing back...

Anyone Want Cake?

While papa is letting the return to the classroom gently reclaim his life/waking hours (and blogging sensibilities) these opening weeks of school, his wee prince decided to turn the "big uno" today.  Yet another landmark!

And he's feeling pretty sugary-happy-high tonight thanks to his mama who gave him unprecedented access to a birthday cake bigger than his entire body, too!  Thank goodness he doesn't have to 'pay attention' in school tomorrow.  That wouldn't be such a pretty sight for anyone in close academic range!