As many of you may already know, my 5-year-old son, Jules, attends a Waldorf-inspired school. Please click on the following link to read an article I wrote explaining the neuroscience behind why I chose Waldorf education.

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2010/10/discovering-waldorf-waldorf-from.html

With former chancellor Michelle Rhee’s announcement of StudentsFirst.org and its initiative, teachers may feel discouraged about the stability of their profession. There is a movement in education, supported by a swelling of parents, to let bad teachers go. What I hope can be the focus of such a movement is a thoughtful and productive examination of what makes teachers great. There are plenty of fantastic teachers working today. This I know because of the privilege I have had over the last 19 years to work with them. What makes teachers great is not just what you would think from a common sense point of view. Recent neuroscience makes clear how teachers can be most effective no matter how difficult the challenge. Read more