By Grace Rubenstein, CEI Intern Engaging, fun, hands-on experiences. Makerspaces serve as a balancing act against the stifling nature of a classroom learning environment. First, psychological research indicates that passive school education may inhibit a person’s internal drive to learn, whereas active learning can enhance that drive. Second, the vast variety of learning types means that few actually benefit from passive education. For instance, auditory learners may do well

By Christine Mason, CEI Executive Director If your school is like many others, you may be feeling that there is little chance that nothing beyond the ordinary can be accomplished. There are so many reasons to assume the status quo. . . the effort it takes to turnaround a failing school, to inject enthusiasm for learning into the lives of youth who are caught up in their own day-to-day ways of being, many of whom seem not to need, value, or appreciate school. So many rules and

Commenter Alleta Baltes stated: “With the new reauthorization of ESSA and current poverty research emphasizing controlling children’s stress in order to learn, this project is s full package. We need to consider the whole student and create environments that compensate for what students lack at home. Supportive, encouraging curriculum such as this is exactly what is needed in schools today. I have been in education since 1981 and this is the most exciting project I have seen

We are thrilled to be recognized as one of 122 Pioneers by Children’s Well Being and to be a part of this distinguished network! For that competition, CEI presented our vision for children’s well being by asking, “What if schools were havens for healing and prek-12 grade classes were intentionally designed to promote student voice, thriving, & success?” Our work with heart centered education and Early Childhood STEAM teacher workshops in DC were highlighted in our submission.

By Mahnaz Ahrary, CEI Intern, and Christine Mason, CEI Executive Director Next, Dr. Mason introduced the CEI approach to considering and encouraging exemplary schools. That approach relies on networking with a group of NAESP principals and national principal leaders to uncover how schools combine a high-tech, STEM/STEAM foundation with a high-touch approach to establishing supportive and nurturing school climates. The CEI approach considers the importance of the latest knowle

By Mahnaz Ahrary and Drew Altizer, CEI Interns Fight for Children: Joe Champs Summer Institute Conference June 22nd-23rd, 2016 ‘The future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind: designers, inventors, teachers, storytellers: creative and empathic ‘˜right-brain’ thinkers whose abilities mark the fault line between who gets ahead and who doesn’t.’ –Daniel Pink On June 22nd and 23rd, the Joe Champs Summer Institute of Fight for Children featured

By Drew Altizer, CEI Intern Finding Time. If you’re still worried about not having enough time, try working out before school. It sounds daunting considering how early students have to wake up these days for school anyway, but once you’re in the habit of doing it, it will become routine. For example, I’m by no means a morning person, but for the sake of sport, I would force myself to get up before school and participate in ‘breakfast club.’ This was held Monday, Wednesday, an

CEI is overjoyed to announce that our “Heart-Centered 21st Century Learning” project has been named a Pioneer in the Children’s Well-Being Initiative! We have been invited into the inner council of Ashoka and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, forging a better vision for the lives of children growing up in America. Children’s Wellbeing is hosting a Twitter Chat TOMORROW (Aug. 3) at 1-2pm EDT, and we are participating! You can join the conversation anytime by following the ha

By Amber Nicole Dilger, CEI Associate In Stephen Sondheim’s musical, Into the Woods, there’s a haunting song that warns us: Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see, and learn. Click to listen to my recording of ‘Children Will Listen.’ Our Feedback. In my work as a private singing teacher I have had many students come through my door the past 17 years. Each individual has their own goals and reasons that brought them to le