I am just finishing the final edits on the New Habitudes book (coming very very very soon!) My editor asked me to post some reflections on the chapter of Courage; as it is one of the hardest "Habitudes" to articulate and teach. I am sharing these with you in hopes that you will add to my pepective and understanding. What gives you "your courage to learn and teach?" Here’s how I see it: My Reflections on Courage The heart of education is an education of the heart. The root of the word "courage" is the Latin word "cor," meaning "heart." The English word "core" comes from the same Latin root. So at its core, teaching is about developing courage. Unfortunately, much of our teaching is devoted not to the heart but to the mind and the hand. We develop the intellect to solve a differential equation, to analyze and evaluate literature, and to classify differences between rocks and minerals. The lessons in this chapter serve not only to compliment these intellectual objectives; but to remind us of the need to educate the heart, developing in students the courage to propose a new explanations, the courage to ask a new question, and the courage to share their contributions with the world. The heart of teaching is the teaching of the heart. In order to teach, we need courage to overcome our fears. Consider and reflect on the following statements of courage. I have the courage to… ask brave and genius questions learn new, complex things and relish in the journey of the unknown and yet to be discovered yield trust and control to students by listening, honoring, and recognizing their unique contributions. engage in discussions that challenge our deepest convictions and ignite our hidden passions play with purpose and passion know YOU MATTER! What say you? Related articles TODAY’S LEADERSHIP MANTRA: Courage. (martingysler.com) Find Time to Build Your Brave Muscles With a Daily Courage Workout (solo-e.com) Courage (onemealeachday.wordpress.com) Courage is Being Courageous (catangeliscommunications.com) "Men Don’t Follow Titles, They Follow Courage" (leadershipdad.com) Courage to be ‘enough’ (emotionaleducation.wordpress.com)

One of the most inspiring stories of the year from an unexpected place! Congratulations to all of the Q’engo children! You are ours stars today! Preface: The Global Grade 3s of Calgary, Canada have been blogging for almost two months now. Their blog focuses on connecting globally to share their learning experiences and what it means to be eight  and nine year old Change Makers. The journey they share revolves around their Global Citizenship initiative: reconstructing a school library and putting books on the shelves in the forgotten rural village of Q’enqo, Peru. What follows are highlights of this story through their eyes! It is a privilege and honour for all of us to be sharing our global adventure with Angela Maiers and her readers! Q’enqo children outside their future library! Background: Last year’s 2010-2011 Grade 3s connected via Skype with a fellow teacher and his children who were travelling in Peru. The conversation sparked a call to action in our students. They became driven to make a difference in the lives of the Q’enqo students. "Kids helping kids! Now that is what personalized learning is all about." To support our students’ fundraising plans we partnered with Mosqoy, "a Canadian charitable organization working to bridge cross-cultural gaps between North American and Peru". Originally our students intended to raise money for sports equipment for the Q’enqo school but they soon discovered school had far greater needs. Our students decided the people of Q’enqo and the organizations that support them should decide where to direct the funds. In May 2011 our students learned their fundraising efforts would support the creation of a school library in Q’enqo. The project had be abandoned years prior, but the involvement of these passionate Grade 3s meant a building could be renovated, shelves built, materials transported, and books purchased. The 2011-2012 group of Grade 3s embraced the project from where it left off in June and they have dedicated this year to nurturing and expanding the partnership with Q’enqo. Future Q’enqo student standing outside the soon-to-be transformed library. "We are two of the Grade Three Bloggers, and our class is helping to build a library in Q’enqo, Peru!  So, we decided to make a BLOG about the library project!  Do you know our teachers BEGGED for a blog … and … they GOT it!  Oh, and did you know it is the FIRST … the very FIRST classroom blog in the whole CBE, (Calgary Board of Education)?!?  And, we found out in the middle of January. When we found out our teachers had to peel us off the CEILING!!!  On a blog, people all over the world can comment and read our writing!  It seems boring, but it isn’t!  (It is LOTS of writing … but what is COOL is that it is a REAL audience and we get to connect with REAL people all OVER the world!  It is SO exciting!)  Someone special commented on our blog … and that someone was ANGELA Maiers!  We learn from the commenters … and another one is Ross Mannell!  He lives in Australia!"  ~Larissa & Sophie G. "Our class has a blog! It’s special because we are the only class blog in all of the Calgary Board of Education!!!  Some of our posts talk about the future library in Q’enqo, Peru. Q’enqo is a little village in the mountain region of Peru. The Q’enqo library was started years ago, but they ran out of money. The fund-raising in our school started last year, with the Grade 3s that are now in Grade Four. They did a fund-raiser called "Caps for Q’enqo" and people were allowed to bring a loonie, (one dollar) to wear a hat INSIDE the school, unlike other days where it is against the rules!  This year’s fund-raiser was called True Colours.  But, that’s not the ONLY fund-raiser … there was also Pajama Day!  That was FUN!" ~Ava Q’enqo children watching the construction inside the library! "Hi! We are some of the Grade Three Bloggers and we are here to tell you about our AWESOME journey with the Library Project in Q’enqo, Peru! We do lots of Skyping with Ashli and Geneva (they are with Mosqoy and helping us with the library project). Ashli told us that when she was with her crew in Q’enqo, and she was working, the kids were watching as the library was being cleaned, repaired, painted and reconstructed. They were amazed at what the adults were doing. Some of the kids even helped! Geneva told us, the other day when we Skyped with her, that they painted the inside of the building with a gray ceiling, the inside walls purple, the outside walls light purple and dark blue, and the doors dark blue! One of the Mosqoy students is an artist and he painted a beautiful hummingbird on the outside of the future library.  For lunch, they ate bread and potato soup that the lovely mothers of Q’enqo cooked for them to show their gratitude. We feel so proud because we helped build the community of Q’enqo a library!" ~Mya & Kaylee Enjoying potato soup and bread for lunch made with love and gratitude. "Can you believe that eight and nine year olds can help build a library across the GLOBE?  If you haven’t heard about this … now you have, because we ARE! We’ve been fund-raising and we have raised a TON of money for the library project. When we had our fund-raiser, the whole SCHOOL came together to help us raise over $1 200! We even had a little fund-raiser of our own where everyone brought in 25 cents. Some people even snuck in some more.  Like me … I put twenty dollars in because I really, REALLY want them to have books to read!"  ~Martin Signing Spanish books to donate to Q’enqo Library’s Grand Opening! "I learned so many Peruvian facts that I’ve never even HEARD of by writing the blog!  It made me want to HELP Q’enqo, Peru build the beautiful library, (which, in case you’re wondering, is not quite finished - we will be writing ANOTHER post SOON to share all about the Grand Opening!  Make sure you CHECK back!) One time, in Battalion Park School, we had a Spirit Day where we got to wear our TRUE COLOURS! I felt REALLY excited about this superb, fantastic news about the library in Peru! We also wanted to add some books to the library when it’s finished, so Mrs. Renton went out and got some that were in SPANISH, (ESPANOL)!  Also, we had a TON of Peruvian guest speakers, (Mary Carmen, Tim Kitchen with Ben and Ella, etc.)"  ~Galen The inside of the library before the transformation. Some TLC and elbow grease will make a big difference! "The other day the Grade 3s had a fundraiser called "Show Your True Colours for Q’enqo". We asked the whole school to wear their Hawk colours. We also asked them to donate a toonie ($2.00) or more because we are helping Mosqoy to build a library in Q’enqo, Peru. It makes me feel proud that we are doing this because everyone should have books. Books are important because they help us to read and to be better learners." ~Rijul "I learned that if we all work together our blog can teach a lot of people around the world about how to be Change Makers like us! Our teachers had so many tears in their eyes!!!  We raised this money because we know that people in Q’enqo, Peru are SO grateful for what we did for them to help their kids.  They had to put in windows and fix a hole in the floor to help fix the building that would be the library.  How amazing!"  ~Alexia Kids eagerly watch the building clean-up (Limpieza)! "You asked us to tell you more interesting details about our journey…so I am going to tell you about our Skypes! The first Skype we ever had (in a class) was with our fellow friend Ashli. In that Skype Ashli told us about what they needed to finish the library project, the different colours they will paint the library and who could forget … her helping business … Mosqoy. She also told us a lot about the economy. Things are a lot cheaper in Peru compared to Canada. Can you believe a class of 23 students are building a library in a country across the world? You know what? I think being a change maker is fun! Do you think it’s fun as well?" ~Natasha "Plooms" (we came up with that term!) Supplies are hard to find and expensive so the Peruvian women use plant brooms! "We feel we have made a difference in the world. We donated money because Peru does not get a lot of attention. The money we raised is going towards: repairs, paint, new windows, tables, chairs, shelves and books. We can’t wait to see the smiles on children’s faces!" ~Tormod & Zack "After lunch they painted the library purple with bright blue doors. Soon they will add the furniture and don’t forget, lots of books! Geneva told us that last weekend, they were putting in the furniture and shelving.  She found some books in a market in Cusco, and they will put those on the shelves in the new library as well.  March 5th was the first day of school for the kids in Q’enqo. In the afternoon, they held a Grand Opening to celebrate the new library that Battalion Park Grade 3s have helped to build.  We are excited to Skype with Geneva on Wednesday, March 7th, to hear all about how the library opening went!" ~Jesse  & Eric Work begins on the inside after hours of sanding and plastering. "When we first saw the building that was going to be the library in Q’enqo we felt sad because it was muddy, broken and old. The walls were banged up and there were no lights. Now because of our help and their work we are really happy! It looks extremely magnificent. The library has colours, lights, new windows and smooth walls. A student from Mosqoy offered to paint a mural on the outside of the library. He chose a hummingbird, "Qente" in Quechua (the language spoken in Q’enqo). We learned that hummingbirds fly from Victoria, Canada to Peru when they migrate. It shows the connection between Canada and Peru. We were amazed when we saw his beautiful surprise artwork." ~Julia & Zahra The finished mural. A hummingbird is a PERFECT symbol for our Library Project! "Did you know that you don’t have to be a BIG change maker?  You can just be a small change maker. You can even be generous to other people like helping others without being told to.  Also, you can share with other people. For example, if someone forgot their lunch kit, you can always share your food, or you can help your Moms do their chores!"  ~Thalia "One way to be a change maker is to help people and that is what the Grade 3s in our school are doing.  Another way to be a change maker is by making the world a better place.  I feel VERY proud when I see what the library looks like because I helped build it!"  ~Damian and Brenden "I am going to teach you how to make yourself into a GREAT change maker! Step One: Add belief and make a promise to yourself that you will NOT give UP! Step Two: Connect to the world and try to set a goal for yourself!"  ~Sophie H. Thank you, Angela, for giving us this amazing opportunity to share the inspiring journey of our Grade Three students making a difference across the globe!   The blog has been an amazing way for them to share their learning, but, through the interactions with a global audience, and writing for an authentic audience, the learning has gone far beyond anything we could have ever imagined!   Thanks so much for helping us to reinforce to our students the reality, the spirit, the importance, and the power of #youmatter! Related articles The Finish (librarianswithattitude.wordpress.com) Mayland Heights School principal helps fashion turnaround in grades (calgaryherald.com) Building a Library with Joan and Friends at BridgePointe (maestrasasha.com)

Guest post by Lisa Cooley We adults are so afraid of what will happen if we let students leadthemselves! If they are given the chance to follow their passions, maybe they will all make dirty bombs or numb their minds with constant World of Warcraft playing. Or listen to violent music and go shoot up a McDonalds! Who knows what awful things will result from letting kids go? Seriously, why would the giving of respect to young people end up with them wanting to reject everything adults want for them? And we do want a lot for them. We anxiously watch over our kids and hope they will be happy and self-sufficient. We worry about the times we live in and the world they will be entering as adults. Why would continuing to disempower  them help them be able to follow their dreams, make an impact on the world or just live happily in their corner of it? It’s lack of respect that creates rebellion, and in that case, it’s rebellion that is appropriate, rebellion that we created as the folks in authority. Respect children for who they are. What’s inside them, where they want to go. Respect them before they ever get a sense that who they are is not wanted or valued: that means kindergarten. Ask kids what they want, ask kids how they want to get it, ask kids who they want to help them, ask kids what they will achieve. And then listen. And then act on it. Provide them with resources: time, space, technology, teachers, mentors. Ship them to the places most appropriate for them to learn what they need to know, because it probably isn’t in the school building. What will you have as a result? Exactly what you want. Kids who are literate, knowledgeable, self-motivated, self-respecting, productive, helpful, active. You want the world for your students? Let them grab it for themselves. Without passion, any kind of school change is just the same o’ same ol’. This post was original publish on Minds of Kids

This is a guest post by Suzanne Barton, Woodward Academy After reading Angela’s book Habitudes last winter, I decided that I would begin this school year by introducing the habitude of imagination. In each of my three fifth grade English classes, I wrote the word imagination inside a circle on the white board. Each class was unique in its responses (as you can see from the diagrams that a student from each class did afterwards). I was impressed by the ideas my students expressed so easily, and one idea quickly led to another. The activity had them fully engaged! After introducing the idea of imagination and talking about it among ourselves, the next day I asked my students to close their eyes and think about all of the ways they have used their imaginations throughout their childhood. Then each student brainstormed different imaginary experiences they have enjoyed, writing them down in a simple list. After they had written their lists, I asked them to choose one imaginary experience and write about it. Their paragraphs were rich in descriptions of their imaginary play: several secret agents, a world-traveling sailor, an energetic gymnast, a toy doctor obsessed with Band-aids, a Power Ranger, an air-kicking ninja, a librarian who reads to little kids, a brilliant inventor, a robotic vacuum cleaner engineer, an invisible fairy, a beautiful fairy, a construction dude, an amazing stuntman, a one-room schoolhouse teacher, a disappearing magician, several fabulous chefs, an owner of exotic pets, Spider Man, President Obama debating Hilary Clinton, the world’s greatest actor, a best-selling author, a gifted fashion designer, a charming tea-party hostess, a spell-casting wizard, Captain America, and a fighter of evil aliens. After completing their final copies in the computer lab, the students searched the net (Go to pics4learning.com for pictures that require no attribution.) for pictures to illustrate their imaginary experiences. The printed, illustrated paragraphs were proudly displayed on our bulletin boards for all to enjoy! (See pictures of bulletin boards below) Much of what my students learned from this writing experience is obvious. They were engaged writers because they were writing about something that was important to them, and they were writing for an audience of their peers. Beyond that, however, was the potential for much more. As a result of our conversations and writings about imagination, I hope that my students were able to visualize that if they can imagine such creative, exciting ideas as children, certainly they can do the same as they grow into adulthood. As one of my students exclaimed during our discussion, "The world is but a canvas to our imagination." (He had discovered the Thoreau quotation on his iPad during our discussion.) I hope that as a result of this experience, my students will see themselves as people who can envision something exceptional in their futures, something that has never been imagined before, and perhaps they will be the ones to accomplish great feats that have not yet been achieved. They are our future, and what they eventually do (or do not do) with their imaginations will influence not only the microcosms of their own lives but also the world we all inhabit.

"We Are Smarter Together" is not simply a mantra for my blog, it is a manifesto of my life. Outward circumstances or conditions do not determine what our lives become nearly as much as the thoughts that dominate our minds and the people we surround ourselves with. I have an opportunity everyday to fill our proverbial room with the best and the brightest in the world making the ability to be "smart" exponential.  One of those individuals I am honored to be in the room with is Ben Wilkoff, fellow educator and passionate evangelist for bringing the the power of network to students and schools. Ben is hoping to be in a postion to do that at scale, when/if he is accepted as the Blended Learning Specialist for Denver Public Schools. When he reached out for advice and support, I was lucky enough to be in the "physical room" with another member of our network, Dr. Scott McLeod. Here’s what we shared with Ben: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdFb_sMcqlI A few minutes ago, Ben responded. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzVYJiRJGUQ Take five minutes to listen and then…. Ask yourself these questions:  Are you ensuring that you invite to the table individuals who can/will influence your thinking, challenge your ideas, and demonstrate the behaviors and attitudes you seek to emulate?  Are you developing a Dream Team of carefully selected mentors, molders, guides and heroes as you journey towards your mission?  Are you doing your best to ensure that every person you are privileged to know and learn from understands how valuable they are and how much they matter to you? So, I ask you again: Who is On Your Invite List?    

 During a 2011 TedxDesMoines Talk titled "You Matter," I spoke of how these two words can change lives and change our world, if we understand them and we leverage them in the right way. Students everywhere reacted powerfully to this call to action, completing jaw-dropping quests to address problems in our world. These range from: Building a library in a rural village in Ghana; Raising money to build wells for communities without water; Starting and scaling non-profit organizations to support issues in education, environment and other social causes; and Creating innovative support mechanisms to help others in crisis. Choose2Matter was created in response to this breathtaking reaction. It invites the world to make "mattering" a new way of life. This is not mere talk. This is the new standard where apathy and complacency are not tolerated and inaction is NOT an option. I stand in amazement at the depth and breadth of our young people. They have a way of looking at the world that gives me hope and excitement.  It is a way of seeing the world that can make the pivotal difference in OUR future. Thus, the first embodiment of Choose2Matter is the Quest2Matter, a five-week, student-focused initiative. The Quest2Matter is much more than a "school project." Many innovative businesses have embraced the opportunity to help us show students that they matter, building our platforms, helping to create the content for them and spreading awareness, and providing mentors to students participating in the Quest2Matter. This is an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the potential of students to think entrepreneurially and innovatively and use modern tools to solve problems that break their heart. HOW YOU CAN HELP KIDS CHANGE OUR WORLD: 1. Help Us Raise Money Please consider a donation to our fundraising page and encourage others to do so. To promote the Quest worldwide and manage it, we’re seeking contributions from people around the world who believe in our mission. Several hundred student leaders are working long hours to help us launch, accelerate and manage the Quest2Matter. Donated funds will be used to offset the students’ expenses, and to hire additional editorial, marketing and administrative personnel to oversee the students’ efforts.  Help Us Increase Participation Encourage your teachers and students to join the Quest Student Team. Encourage your teachers and students to participate in the Quest2Matter. Help Us Spread the Word Through Social Media LIKE our Facebook page and ask Facebook friends to do the same. Like or Comment on Choose2Matter Facebook posts to increase their visibility. Post several Facebook status updates; see examples at the bottom of this post. Follow us on Twitter and encourage your Twitter followers to do the same. Send several Tweets; see examples at the bottom of this post. ReTweet @Choose2Matter tweets. Publish a blog post about the Quest2Matter. I am so grateful for your support. Let’s Change Our World. Angela http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEu3znKbBVs Sample Tweets: I made a donation to help Quest2Matter unlock the potential of students to change the world. http://bit.ly/ZxTNOS Please make a donation to help Quest2Matter unlock the potential of students to change the world. http://bit.ly/ZxTNOS The Quest2Matter will facilitate students’ learning from mentors to solve our world’s problems. http://bit.ly/16JtWTj The Quest to Matter will inspire students to pursue a quest to change our world. http://bit.ly/16JtWTj Innovative companies embrace the Quest2Matter as an opportunity to reach & inspire students. http://bit.ly/16JtWTj *** Sample Facebook Status Updates: I made a donation to help Quest2Matter unlock the potential of students to change the world. Please consider doing the same. http://bit.ly/ZxTNOS Please make a donation to help Quest2Matter unlock the potential of students to change the world.http://bit.ly/ZxTNOS The Quest2Matter is an exciting initiative that will facilitate students’ learning from mentors to solve our world’s problems. Teachers, tell your students about it! http://bit.ly/16JtWTj The Quest to Matter will inspire students to pursue a quest to change our world. This is an initiative that all educators should support.http://bit.ly/16JtWTj Innovative companies are embracing the Quest2Matter as an opportunity to reach & inspire the next generation of world leaders. http://bit.ly/16JtWTj  

On Saturday May 11 on Classroom 2.0, we discussed the Quest2Matter. Click here to access the archive of the recorded session or that chat archive. Today’s young people form the most compassionate generation this world has known. They have a way of looking at the world that gives me hope and excitement.  It is a way of seeing the world that can make the pivotal difference in OUR future. Ask your students: What matters to you? What about it breaks your heart? Let’s act to change that. Let’s change OUR world. The Quest2Matter offers platforms for students to share, with the web and the world, the actions they have taken, or ideas they have, to change our world. This is a way to take hallway displays, badges and ribbons and magnify them dramatically. This is an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the potential of students to think entrepreneurially to solve problems that break their heart.  Join me this coming Saturday May 11th and learn how we are challenging students to change our world! Learn all about the Quest2Matter and ways you can get involved!  To support the Quest2Matter, we’re seeking contributions from people who believe in our mission.  CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Our Quest to leave no genius behind is coming to fruition! We have had an extraordinary flow of good news this week and will be announced many terrific partnerships and ventures in the next few weeks. On Friday, May 17, Choose2Matter was featured on a segment of "Tech Game Changers" on HuffPost Live. CLICK HERE for a link to the recorded session. I was joined by our partners Saul Kaplan of Business Innovation Factory, several of the "troublemakers" who help form BIF, and Brian Cuban, also a noted troublemaker, First Amendment lawyer and TV talk show host. Prior to the segment, Saul and I had a chance to sit down and discuss the game changing elements of our partnership. We also explained in a joint blog post today on Huffington Post about the incredible rewards to be gained from breaking down generational barriers when it comes to innovation.  

This is NOT the face of a student who aced a unit exam or earned a perfect score on the SAT. This is Jack Andraka, upon learning that he won the Intel Science Prize. This is the face of a student who has just been recognized for pursuing his passion - not for his proficiency. Thankfully for the world, Jack’s aspirations and standards for his own learning went far beyond his school’s standard of "college and career" ready. I caught up with my Jack recently at the TopCoder Innovation Summit. I asked him to share with us what it takes to be "Citizen Ready," and, more importantly, "Change the World" Ready. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzrwqrL-8Zk Let’s hope the young people in our world and in our classrooms continue to have bigger aspirations that we do for them, and let’s hope that listening to them raises the bar in the way we support, encourage and enable them. Thank you to our youth for not letting our limitations define yours.

photo credit: Pensiero via photopin cc The following is the inspiring debut post by new blogger Shannon Denton.  Please stay tuned to her blog, Denton’s Digest, to keep up with Shannon and her fifth grade class! ***** Last year, after Sandy Hook I knew I had to do something in my own classroom for my students to see that there is more beauty in the world than there is darkness.  At the same time I saw so many adults having a hard time finding the beauty, the kindness because of their own heartbreak.  I realized  it was time to continue using Peter H. Reynolds, Angela Maiers and Amy Krouse Rosenthal as my mentor authors in my classroom so we could create more beauty in the world.  We needed to go back and reread their words and listen to them speak.  We decided to begin to "Beckon the Lovely," Amy K.R.’s call to action!  This year,  it is my mission to make sure my students know they MATTER and its our job to change the world! This year we are going to read Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds.  I am going to give my students, and hopefully my staff a bag of seeds, with a mission. Here it is: This bag of seeds is just like a person filled with many different qualities.  We must plant the seeds, water and feed them, make sure the seeds have the right amount of sunshine.  We, the people who surround the seeds and each other, are the wind in the air.  When we are kind and gentle, the seeds can grow, create more seeds and spread across the land.  When we are harsh and cold, the seeds might not grow or the plants will wither just like the insides of a person get damaged.  Our  job is to either continue to nurture the seeds/people around us or to try to fix the damage that was done.  We need to reflect on our actions and how we can make change. ·      What do I need to do to create success around me? ·      What do I need to do for myself? ·      How can I affect the world in powerful ways? ·      How can I create a gentle breeze to carry seeds and beauty to the world? ·      How can I change the harsh wind I created into a gentle, nurturing breeze? We need to blow the harshness away, change its course, and create the calm after the storm that allows for new beginnings! You are POWERFUL, you MATTER and it is the CHOICES we make that can change the world! Here is our mission:  Lets make those choices kind and world changing!  Let start by beckoning the lovely! Lets change the world one kind word at a time and make our mark! Here is the google presentation I will also be using in the classroom before reading Plant a Kiss to see and hear Amy K. R. and see how we can make a difference!