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“What is worse than not being able to solve a problem is solving the wrong problem” – Tom Hoerr on prepareing students for success as adults.

Thomas R. Hoerr, Ph.D., is a world renowned educator, and director of the New City School in St. Louis, MO. Which just so happens to be the elementary school I attended many years ago! Since 1988 the educational system at New City has been based around Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences (MI). New City has become a model for school worldwide seeking to implement the principles of MI.

In this episode, we talk about joyful, lifelong learning, how schools can set up their students for success as adults, fostering grit, the US education system, how to find teachers and mentors as an adult, and basically everything you ever wanted to know about education. Education and learning is a topic of personal importance to me, and it is such a great honor to have a global thought leader in education as a guest. Enjoy!

What you will learn in this episode:

-How fostering grit can enable anyone to achieve more

-How to implement the theory of Multiple Intelligences in the learning process

-How to continue learning and growing throughout your life (and take time to reflect)

-How to form a personal advisory board (and how learning can be a two way street)

-What questions to ask in order to help you better engage with your mentor

-Parents: what to look for when selecting a school (“the schoolhouse at midnight”)

-How writing can help clarify your thoughts (“How will I know what I think until I see what I say” – E.M. Forster)

-How good teachers are the key to individualized education, and how to get parents more involved

Mentioned in this show:

New City School

Tom’s favorite quotes to illustrate grit:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan

“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.”
Mia Hamm

Tom’s books:

The Art of School Leadership

Fostering Grit: How do I prepare my students for the real world? (ASCD Arias)

Becoming A Multiple Intelligences School

Articles Tom has shared for listener of this podcast:

“Authority In An Age of Distrust” (Educational Leadership, October 2014, 72, 2)

“Good Failures”

Recommended reading:

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Tom Hoerr’s email address: trhoerr@newcityschool.org

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