ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

"Truly happy people seem to have an intuitive grasp of the fact that sustained happiness is not just about doing things that you like.  It also requires growth and adventuring beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone.  Happy people are, simply put, curious."

This observation was made by Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener in their Psychology Today (August 2013) article, "What Happy People Do Differently."  They explain...

"Curiosity, it seems, is largely about exploration — often at the price of momentary happiness.  Curious people generally accept the notion that while being uncomfortable and vulnerable is not an easy path, it is the most direct route to becoming stronger and wiser.  In fact... curious people invest in activities that cause them discomfort as a springboard to higher psychological peaks."

Educators must act with knowledge and purpose to make sure young children acquire the skills and understanding they need to succeed. Intentional teachers keep in mind the key goals for children’s learning and development in all domains by creating supportive environments, planning curriculum, and selecting from a variety of teaching strategies that best promote each child’s thinking and skills.

The Intentional Teacher considers how and when each type of learning (child-guided, adult-guided, or a combination) is most effective, and what teachers can do to support them.

"This is one of the best early childhood books that I have ever read, and I have read a lot of them. It takes on a difficult topic about which little direct research exists and does an outstanding job of framing the discussion in ways that not only will push the practice of current teachers, but will also provide a new theoretical framework for pushing a new generation of research in the field."
— Sue Bredekamp, Council for Professional Recognition

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