Synopsis
Future-proof learning for ALL kids! Empower learners to think disruptively in your classroom or school.
The world has and continues to change in ways that are difficult to predict. Regardless of the forces at hand educators play a pivotal role in preparing students for success now and in the future. Eric Sheninger makes the compelling case that the best way to do this is to create a disruptive thinking culture in the classroom and beyond.
Broken into four parts, this book combines stories, insight from thousands of school visits, practical strategies, research, and examples from classrooms to assist educators transform their practice. Each chapter ends with a “Disruptive Challenge” that encourages readers to actively apply concepts in their practice. Readers will develop and understanding that:
- Disruptive change is the new normal. As such, our mindset and practice must evolve to future-proof learning in ways that help students develop meaningful competencies critical for success in an unpredictable world.
- Comfort is the enemy of growth. We must critically evaluate if the way things have always been done in the classroom set learners up for success now and in the future. Improvement in all we do is a never-ended journey.
- Learning is a process, not an event. It requires educators to develop and utilize instructional practices and pedagogical techniques that meet the unique needs of all students.
- Outlier practices play a key role in the development of disruptive thinking. Some have increasing value while others do not. It is up to educators to find the right blend of these strategies to empower learners.
Packed with ready to use ideas and embedded resources including the latest digital tools, templates, and artifacts from real classrooms, readers will learn:
Why a mindset shift is essential in order to prepare learners for an unpredictable world.
How to implement strategies that focus on developing critical competencies.
How to ensure equity through personalization.
What to reflect on to improve and build powerful relationships.
#DisruptiveThink
From the Inside Flap
Eric Sheninger's new book Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms: Preparing Learners for Their Future is written to help educators reflect on their practices in order to assist students to think in meaningful ways. He provides practical approaches to enable this to happen in a variety of schools and classrooms.
Todd Whitaker, Ed.D, Professor of Educational Leadership University of Missouri
Eric Sheninger has written an engaging and multi-faceted book that ends up making the reader "love" disruption! Disruptive thinking turns out to be disruptive doing; it shows us that learning today in the right way is in fact preparing for tomorrow. Using stories, tools, frameworks, case examples, and more, Sheninger takes us through learning journeys and vignettes. The reader can take any of the eight chapters and treat them as intact learning forays into a rich domain. The lessons are rich and rewarding, and indeed "sticky" as one of the chapters is titled. Disruptive Thinking is a richly rewarding book that keeps on giving with its simple, practical action guidelines.
Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, Global Director, NPDL.
"In many cases, we teach the way we were taught and lead the way we were led," summarizes Eric Sheninger about the challenges we face today in education. In this book, Eric summarizes the essential shifts in teaching and learning and points out some principles that should continue. While I wish more schools knew the concepts in Chapter 5 on designing effective blended learning environments pre-pandemic, we cannot look back. As educators, we must firmly face future-forward and Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms is an excellent guidebook to help us do that. As a world-class principal himself, Eric Sheninger is uniquely qualified to write this book. Let's make classrooms better today!
Vicki Davis, @coolcatteacher and host, 10 Minute Teacher Podcast
A roadmap for a continuously changing world seems impossible, but somehow Eric Sheninger does it with this challenging and extremely helpful book.
Jim Knight, Senior Partner, Instructional Coaching Group
The COVID pandemic was a tipping point around which fundamental aspects of much of society shifted, from home, to the workplace, to schools. To prepare the learners of today for a rapidly evolving world, we need equally big changes to the fundamental structure of schools--from our classrooms to our boardrooms. How do we set out to do that? Eric Sheninger, a widely recognized leader in school reform, guides the way through the changes needed in Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms: Preparing Learners for Their Future. From shifting mindsets about what classrooms and schools should do to presenting research-based strategies that work, he provides a blueprint for the transformation to better prepare ALL students for their future and not our past.
Bill Daggett, Ed.D, Founder of the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) and Successful Practice Network
When disruption enters into our lives our first response is to try and find some level of control and normalcy before we move on. However, after a year of disruptions when it comes to race, technology, and politics, we know that we can't control it, but we do need to learn from it. Sheninger helps us understand not only how these disruptions can help us in the future, but also assist us during our complicated present.
Peter DeWitt, Ed.D., Leadership Coach/Author/Blogger
Sustainable change can only occur when we disrupt the status quo as well as our own thinking. Eric does a wonderful job using actual experiences and observations along with practical examples on how this can be done.
Ken Shelton, Speaker/Advisor/Consultant
Let's face it, change isn't easy. To future-proof learning for today's students, we must step outside our comfort zones to fundamentally shift traditional structures and pedagogies. In Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms, Eric Sheninger shares a blueprint for altering mindsets and developing a relevant, personalized culture, while simultaneously outlining practical strategies and supporting examples to make the needed changes happen--right now.
Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools
Eric is considered one of the leading experts in innovative teaching and learning. In this book, he provides practical strategies for educators to help students prepare for an ever-changing world. The stories he shares tug at your heart and the strategies move you to implement them right away in your classroom or school.
Dwight Carter, educator, speaker, author
Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms gives readers applicable strategies and resources to meet the needs of learners in 2021 and beyond. This book provides a wealth of ideas for educators to digest and make their own in order to promote the success of students in a remote, hybrid, or traditional setting. Sheninger reminds us once again that people, pedagogy, and technology can be an unstoppable force that moves students from on-task to engaged.
Brad Currie, NASSP National Assistant Principal of the Year (2017), Founder Partner, Evolving Educators LLC
Learning, during recent and uncertain times, has become responsive and fluid, which can be both exciting and overwhelming. Just when we, as educators, think we have a grasp on the "new normal", it changes again. Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms: Preparing Learners for Their Future, is exactly the book educators need to future-proof their practice. In this book, Eric Sheninger does a masterful job of providing the perfect blueprint and guide to lead education into the future.
Laura Fleming, Educator, Author, Founder of Worlds of Making LLC
There is no greater disruptive thinker in this world than Eric Sheninger! If we are to truly create cultures of learning and not just teaching in our schools, we must shift our current mindsets and focus on the individual needs of each and every student. In these challenging times, we need strong and passionate leaders who are ready to disrupt the status quo without any fear. In Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms, Eric has written the manual for leaders like me who want to be more equity-focused and connected in a powerful way to our teachers and students. Read this book twice!
Salome Thomas-EL, Ed.D, Award-winning principal, author,
and speaker
Disruption? It sounds unpleasant or bothersome. But disruptive thinking is what we need to do to ensure that our students are future-proof. Thankfully, there is a resource that helps us develop the skills necessary to engage in this disruptive thinking and make learning sticky. If you're ready to update your mindset about the future, this book is for you.
Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey, Professors of Educational Leadership, San Diego State University
Eric does a fantastic job of valuing where schools are, while also challenging them to move forward and become spaces where disrupting thinking is not reserved for pockets of the organization. The stories will make you think, but the challenges will move your practice forward. Packed with resources, Disruptive Thinking will help all schools take the next step in providing an environment where the leaders of the future can start leading today.
Joe Sanfelippo, PhD., Superintendent, Author
Eric Sheninger's thoughtful approach to ensuring we are preparing our kids for their future, not our present, is both compelling and needed. Every adult who interacts with children should read and re-read this book. The stories, proven practices, and challenges will push our hearts and minds to think beyond what is and create what is possible in education.
Deb Delisle, CEO, Alliance for Excellent Education and former Assistant Secretary, US Dept. of Education
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