Hold Up! Please Read This!

Before you dive into distance learning, that is, the reason you bought this book, we would like to create the learning space with you. We believe that learning happens best when we are clear about our principles, the beliefs that guide our actions. Here are some guiding principles to consider as you engage in your own learning. (And by the way, they work really well with young people too!)

• ➔ Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.
• ➔ No one knows everything; together we know a lot.
• ➔ Creating space for participation and contribution makes everyone feel valued.
• ➔ Engaging curiosity, especially when we’re uncomfortable, is the key to learning.
• ➔ Seeking meaningful connection gives our lives purpose.
• ➔ Acknowledge that conflict is inevitable and collaboration is essential to resolution.
• ➔ Accepting feedback is invaluable to personal growth.
• ➔ Be easy on people, but hard on ideas. This allows people to make mistakes while applying rigorous analysis to our ideas and beliefs.
• ➔ Listening is being prepared to be changed by what you hear.
• ➔ Every child deserves a great teacher not by chance but by design.

These are the norms that we hope you will carry with you as you engage with the ideas in this book, support your child, and interact with teachers.