This book is a place to start creating the classroom of your dreams. A classroom that is research based, child centered, and in step with the world today. A classroom that exemplifies the collaboration, flexibility, agency, and problem-solving that people need to be successful in the coming decades. A classroom where critical thinking, thoughtful reflection, and curious inquiry sit side by side with reading, writing, and math, But here’s a caveat: we’re not going to promise that you’ll ever achieve classroom nirvana—we know there’s no such thing as perfection. And we are the first to admit that this is hard, messy work. There will be missteps and mishaps, but just like your students, you will learn from your mistakes and grow. Know that there is a community out there ready to celebrate and commiserate and think and question with you every step of the way. This book is just a first step, a launching pad to what is possible. To help you along the way, we’ve included lots of our favorite books, people to follow on Twitter, interviews with experts, and videos of the two of us teaching.
Are you looking to infuse or reclaim a spirit of joy and possibility into your teaching? Do you wish your students were happier and more playful? Start in Section 1.
Looking to create a beautiful classroom space that fosters collaboration, independence, and curiosity? Are you curious about the intersection between environment and behavior? Start in Section 2.
Do you want to create a classroom community free of rewards and threats? Do you see a need for your children to learn social skills but aren’t sure how to go about it? Start in Section 3.
Do you find that you use the same teaching structures (guided reading for example) again and again and again? Are you interested in finding ways to engage students in learning that isn’t always teacher driven? Are you curious about how to make your teaching more responsive, even if the curriculum is set? Start in Section 4.
Do you love stuff? Let’s be honest, we all do. The goodies are in the back. Start in the appendixes.
— Introduction
