This book examines four types of shortcuts in the history of American education—streamlined paths to vocational success, cultural sophistication, college credentials, and the efficient use of English. The chapters profile Norman Rockwell, the Harvard Classics, Cliff Notes, speed reading, a Doctor of Arts diploma for college teachers, and other riveting examples of time-savers that attracted millions of ambitious Americans since the late 19th century.

Are you ready to break out of the lesson-and-worksheet rut? Use The EduProtocol Field Guide to create engaging and effective instruction, build culture, and deliver content to K-12 students in a supportive, creative environment.

Astrophysicist and author Mario Livio investigates perhaps the most human of all our characteristics—curiosity—in this “lively, expert, and definitely not dumbed-down account” (Kirkus Reviews) as he explores our innate desire to know why. Experiments demonstrate that people are more distracted when they overhear a phone conversation—where they can know only one side of the dialogue—than when they overhear two people talking and know both sides. Why does half a conversation make us more curious than a whole conversation? “Have you ever wondered why we wonder why? Mario Livio has, and he takes you on a fascinating quest to understand the origin and mechanisms of our curiosity. I thoroughly recommend it.” (Adam Riess, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, 2011). Curiosity is not only at the heart of mystery and suspense novels, it is also essential to other creative endeavors, from painting to sculpture to music. It is the principal driver of basic scientific research. Even so, there is still no definitive scientific consensus about why we humans are so curious, or about the mechanisms in our brain that are responsible for curiosity. In the ever-fascinating Why? Livio interviewed scientists in several fields to explore the nature of curiosity. He examined the lives of two of history’s most curious geniuses, Leonardo da Vinci and Richard Feynman. He also talked to people with boundless curiosity: a superstar rock guitarist who is also an astrophysicist; an astronaut with degrees in computer science, biology, literature, and medicine. What drives these people to be curious about so many subjects? An astrophysicist who has written about mathematics, biology, and now psychology and neuroscience, Livio has firsthand knowledge of his subject which he explores in a lucid, entertaining way that will captivate anyone who is curious about curiosity.

WINNER OF THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD • “A delightful, compelling book that offers a dazzling array of practical, thoughtful exercises designed to spark creativity, help solve problems, foster connection, and make our lives better.”—Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author and host of the Happier podcast In an era of ambiguous, messy problems—as well as extraordinary opportunities for positive change—it’s vital to have both an inquisitive mind and the ability to act with intention. Creative Acts for Curious People is filled with ways to build those skills with resilience, care, and confidence. At Stanford University’s world-renowned Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, aka “the d.school,” students and faculty, experts and seekers bring together diverse perspectives to tackle ambitious projects; this book contains the experiences designed to help them do it. A provocative and highly visual companion, it’s a definitive resource for people who aim to draw on their curiosity and creativity in the face of uncertainty. Teeming with ideas about discovery, learning, and leading the way through unknown creative territory, Creative Acts for Curious People includes memorable stories and more than eighty innovative exercises. Curated by executive director Sarah Stein Greenberg, after being honed in the classrooms of the d.school, these exercises originated in some of the world’s most inventive and unconventional minds, including those of d.school and IDEO founder David M. Kelley, ReadyMade magazine founder Grace Hawthorne, innovative choreographer Aleta Hayes, Google chief innovation evangelist Frederik G. Pferdt, and many more. To bring fresh approaches to any challenge–world changing or close to home–you can draw on exercises such as Expert Eyes to hone observation skills, How to Talk to Strangers to foster understanding, and Designing Tools for Teams to build creative leadership. The activities are at once lighthearted, surprising, tough, and impactful–and reveal how the hidden dynamics of design can drive more vibrant ways of making, feeling, exploring, experimenting, and collaborating at work and in life. This book will help you develop the behaviors and deepen the mindsets that can turn your curiosity into ideas, and your ideas into action.

The EduProtocol Field Guide: Math Edition provides educators with a treasure trove of modular, innovative, and engaging activities that can be adapted to any grade level. Approachable and exciting, EduProtocols are gamified pedagogical interventions that flexibly work with a variety of learning styles so math teachers can meet students where they are, even as they inspire them towards subject mastery. Thoughtfully and comprehensively presented with step-by-step instructions for implementation, each EduProtocol is designed with Common Core standards and Four Cs practices in mind. Whether you are new to EduProtocols or an experienced teacher looking to add even more tools to your pedagogical toolkit, The EduProtocol Field Guide: Math Edition has something for everyone interested in customizable student-centered learning activities. No matter the age of the students you teach, Math EduProtocols should be your go-to tool. They are easy to implement, minimize teacher prep time, and help students focus on truly understanding why and how math works. -Nancy Minicozzi, M.Ed., instructional coach The thoughtful guidelines, tips, and multiple grade-level connections for each Eduprotocol bear witness to the experiences of two veteran educators and a passion to take learning to new levels. -Scott Ellingson, math educator/principal Lisa and Jeremiah bring their experience coaching teachers at a perfect time in education, as educators seek methods of increasing student motivation with deep learning experiences that can be applied to a physical, hybrid, or distance environment. A must-have for mathematics teachers and coaches that will be referenced again and again. -Katherine Goyette, educational technology and integrated studies consultant, Tulare County Office of Education

Incredible Paleo Meals Don’t Have to Be a Labor of Love Amanda Torres, author of Latin American Paleo Cooking and founder of The Curious Coconut, simplifies the Paleo diet with these quick and delicious gluten- and dairy-free recipes. This mouthwatering collection will help you conquer Paleo cooking any day of the week. Her recipes focus on what Paleo should be—a variety of colorful vegetables and fresh meats. No finicky or extravagant Paleo-ified replacement meals, no hard-to-find specialty ingredients, no special occasion treat recipes—just the backbone of a healthy, wholesome, nutrient-dense diet. This book teaches you how to cook a ton of commonly available vegetables in a way that you and your family will actually want to eat (and ask for seconds). Amanda’s cooking isn’t “good for being Paleo,” it’s good food, period. Helpful charts also pair side dishes with mains that have similar cooking times and preparation methods, so you can batch cook and make a whole meal, all at once, using only your stove—no other appliances needed. Making healthy, tasty meals just got a whole lot easier (and faster) thanks to this much-needed guide to simple and vibrant Paleo cooking.

This oversized paper-over-board concept book takes toddlers all over George’s world and theirs. Each page features a different concept: counting, shapes, opposites, emotions, family, jobs, homes, transportation and lots of new words! From morning to night, city to country, home to town and back again, little readers can follow George as they learn more about their own worlds. Just the right book for toddlers learning to talk to help build their vocabulary.