Kids Deserve It! Pushing Boundaries and Challenging Conventional Thinking - Hardcover

Nesloney, Todd; Welcome, Adam

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0996989641 ISBN 13: 9780996989640

Publisher: Dave Burgess Consulting, 2016

Synopsis

What if learning was exciting? What if students felt important and empowered every time they walked into the building? What if parents looked forward to calls from their children's teachers and principals, instead of cringing when the school's number popped up on their phones? To Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome, those aren't far-fetched what ifs; they can (and should) be a reality for every teacher, school, parent, and student. In Kids Deserve It!, Todd and Adam encourage you to think big and make learning fun and meaningful for students. While you're at it, you just might rediscover why you became an educator in the first place. Learn why you should be calling parents to praise your students (and employees). Discover ways to promote family interaction and improve relationships for kids at school and at home. Be inspired to take risks, shake up the status quo, and be a champion for your students. #KidsDeserveIt

About this title

Review

"There is so much good happening in classrooms right now, and Todd and Adam are right in the middle of it. This is a book for anyone who needs a shot of purpose to remind them why they do what they do. Kids deserve it! Here's hoping more and more people fall in love with that mantra. What a brighter world that would be.

"I'm inspired and encouraged by their dedication to sharing these stories of goodness. I'm certain that in doing so, these guys are going to inspire even more goodness. For anyone working with young people and in need of a pep talk--this is the book for you."
Brad Montague, @thebradmontague, writer and director, creator of Kid President
"An authentic story of creating impact in the lives of our youth, Kids Deserve It! provides real-life takeaways for anyone involved in making the world a better place for our kids."
Steve Mesler, @SteveMesler, Olympic Gold Medalist, co-founder and CEO of Classroom Champions

"Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome will warm your heart, tickle your funny bone, and help you light up your relationships with your students. If you want to make your classroom and school a better place, buy this book! While kids deserve it, I believe every teacher deserves to know that each day he or she is making a difference. Learning should be a joy for all of us. We all deserve it! That is what these ideas are: difference-making ideas. Life-changing ideas. Joy-inspiring ideas. The kinds of ideas that aren't too hard to do, but make all the difference in the world. Let's do this."
Vicki Davis, @coolcatteacher, author of the Cool Cat Teacher blog and host of Every Classroom Matters

"Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome are extraordinary educators who go above and beyond to uplift, motivate, support, and educate every student. Just imagine how all children would thrive if we all would remember to do the same. With Todd and Adam, kids always come first! Kids Deserve It! is a must read."
Kim Bearden, @KimBearden, educator, speaker, co-founder of The Ron Clark Academy and author of Crash Course: The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me


"Kids Deserve It! is a brilliant--and much needed--invitation to educators to dare to innovate. Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome have crafted an inspirational and practical guide for revving up our collective creative engines to serve children better. The dynamic duo of Nesloney and Welcome dish up front-line brilliance that will encourage educators to dish up their own brilliance to serve every child. Parents and caregivers of children will also be well served to readKids Deserve It!"
 Peter H. Reynolds, @PeterHReynolds author of The Dot

"In Kids Deserve It!, Todd and Adam offer clear and powerful strategies for educators and leaders to become innovative and creative. We can no longer afford to be tiny sparks for our children. We all must come out of our comfort zones and move into the learning zone. We must connect to other innovators. After reading this book, you will be crazy about all kids. They deserve it!"
Salome Thomas-EL, @Principal_EL, award-winning principal and author of The Immortality of Influence

"In Kids Deserve It!, Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome challenge educators to remember why they got into this business in the first place, and to harness the passion that first drove them to want to make a difference in the lives of young people. He further challenges us and to be brave in the face of people and policies that sometimes make it difficult to put kids first. Through countless personal stories and practical professional tips, Nesloney and Welcome not only share how they've worked to make teaching and learning better on their own campuses, they've also created a professional resource that reminds us why being a champion for our students, each and every day, is our most important job: because, above all else, #kidsdeserveit."Jennifer LaGarde, @JenniferLaGarde, lead school library media coordinator/digital teaching and learning specialist for New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, NC

"Kids Deserve It! is an inspired, concise book filled with actionable takeaways to fuel educators at every level. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or administrator, this powerful little collection of ideas and stories will nurture your spirit and refresh your memory about why you chose to work with kids in the first place. Sit back and let Adam and Todd take you on a journey to remind you of the heroism of what you do. I am inspired by the impact they have made in amplifying their message to scale through social media. Their connection to kids, their insight, and their enthusiasm continue to inspire. And without question, #kidsdeserveit."
Erik Wahl, @ErikWahl, artist, author, ambassador for kids
"This is more than a book. Reading Kids Deserve It! felt more like I was having coffee with two great friends; we laughed together...we even cried a couple of times...and when the book was over, I felt inspired to change the world for kids.  
Adam Welcome and Todd Nesloney have shown me what it feels like to hold inspiration in my hands. That inspiration is their new book,Kids Deserve It! I dare you to read it and NOT feel empowered to do something awesome for kids."
Brad Gustafson, @GustafsonBrad, Minnesota's 2016 National Distinguished Principal, and author of Renegade Leadership

"Reading Kids Deserve It! brought tears to my eyes. It's exactly the book that students and parents wish their teachers would read and implement in school. After each chapter (e.g., 'Don't live on an Island' and 'Choices and Decisions') there are challenging questions to help the reader reflect more deeply as well as real, hands-on ideas to spark creativity and support connecting and caring. 

"Especially useful are suggestions on how to find 'your people' online and tap into the power of living in the connected world.This empowers the reader to reach out and learn new professional skills and become part of a creative community of educators. A community focused less on 'getting by' and taking the easy way, and more on #imaginingwhatyoucando to change lives and to help kids--and those who love them--become part of the global community of learning."
Jack Andraka, @JackAndraka, inventor, student, Jefferson Award winner, National Geographic explorer

"In Kids Deserve It!, Todd and Adam weave a series of evocative, real-life stories through a tapestry of well-thought-out and heartfelt advice. The result is a thoughtful formula for putting students at the center of our education universe. Be bold, be brave, model, innovate, connect, embrace uncertainty and discomfort, and continually learn and evolve. It's an outstanding read for educators at any level."
Angela Maiers, @AngelaMaiers, educator, author, speaker, founder of Choose2Matter
"Slam Dunk!  Nesloney and Welcome have written a book that truly shifts mindsets.  For too long, school has been about compliance. Nesloney and Welcome shatter this belief and take dead aim at changing the world! They believe in kids first, and as you read Kids Deserve It!, you'll quickly find practical, sensible ways to begin shifting your school, classroom, and--most importantly--mindset.  My absolute favorite part is in chapter seven: Showcasing ways to do 'The Little Things' is often overlooked by adults. I love the practical methods of shifting to a student-centric culture!
Hands-Down...Kids Deserve It! will lift you up and empower you to be the change our students need."
Ben Gilpin, @BenjaminGilpin, principal at Warner Elementary and co-author of Redesigning Learning Spaces with Corwin

"Kids Deserve It! It's a simple thought that all of our students deserve the best education possible. Who can argue with that? Through their very thoughtful, practical, and common-sense approach, Adam Welcome and Todd Nesloney show not only that kids deserve it, but give readers the necessary steps to get it done."
Peter DeWitt, @PeterMDewitt, Ed.D., author/consultant, Finding Common Ground blog (Education Week)

"Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome provide, through powerful stories, a compelling narrative that articulates how we must go above and beyond for all students. Their passion and creativity in the examples they provide will help to develop a can-do mindset for needed changes now."
Eric Sheninger, @E_Sheninger, Senior Fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education

"While we all believe in kids, Adam and Todd provide inspiration and practical suggestions for how you can be a hero to kids. This books helps us to remember what we love about teaching and how to lift kids up.
My best day is when students have an awesome day. Adam and Todd provide fun and inspirational stories along with practical tips for how you can contribute to a student's best day."
Alice Keeler, @AliceKeeler, author, educational technology specialist, coach/consultant, adjunct faculty

"Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome not only recognize the importance of keeping children at the center of educational practice, but also provide practical tips and points of reflection that are bound to lead any school leader to personal and professional growth."
Gail Connelly, Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals

"Todd and Adam have written something that should become mandatory reading for all aspiring and veteran educators. It truly reinforces what all great educators know: That teaching is so much more about inspiring and encouraging than informing and examining. That the messenger is more important than the message, and that students can and will achieve amazing things when they know that someone believes they can. This book provides that affirmation that so many educators need, especially when they are losing hope in the system and questioning the importance of our profession."
Nicholas Ferroni, @NicholasFerroni, educator, writer, civil rights activist, and People Magazine's Sexiest Teacher of the Year

"Kids Deserve It! is an awesome testimony to the IMPACT of educators who are willing to not only take chances in their classrooms, but also venture outside of their comfort zones to stay relevant to their students! Todd and Adam beautifully illustrate how the rewards of 'going out on a limb' definitely outweigh the risks. MUST READ for all educators!"
Daisy Dyer Duerr, @DaisyDyerDuerr, NASSP Digital Principal, Redesigning Rural Education founder, education speaker & consultant

"Kids Deserve It! cuts through the clutter and gets to the heart of what matters most in education: relationships. Todd and Adam provide real, actionable stories about struggles they've faced in their combined two decades of educating kids from an array of socioeconomic backgrounds. This book comes as the role of technology is reaching increasing importance within the world of education. It's a reminder that it's not just the technology that will help kids thrive, but the people behind it."
Brett Kopf, @BrettKopf, co-founder and CEO of Remind

"Kids Deserve It! is a book for teachers who need inspiration to step out of their comfort zones to reach the kind of exciting learning that should take place in schools. Why? Our students do deserve that we show them learning is meaningful, and this book provides the motivation, stories, and steps to transform our classrooms."
Shelly Sanchez Terrell, @ShellTerrell, teacher trainer and author of The 30 Goals Challenge for Teachers

"Education is a field where we must innovate to survive, where we have to push boundaries and do something different, where relationships are key. Todd and Adam take those ideas and put them into one place. Kids Deserve It is that place. Good is no longer good enough; our kids deserve more."
Todd Whitaker, @ToddWhitaker, speaker and author of What Great Educators Do Differently

Edition details

• Publisher: Dave Burgess Consulting
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0996989641
• ISBN 13: 9780996989640
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 208