Jo Boaler has written a lot about math education, but this book takes a broader view of learning generally that can be applied by math teachers or anyone else.

Her book is centered around neuroplasticity, the fact that our brains are always capable of making new connections and continuing to grow & learn. She introduces it as a “new” concept, but it seems new is relative.

And yet I really enjoyed her concrete examples, because it made me see some of my own biases and false assumptions I’ve made about my ability to learn or develop new skills, as well as best practices for supporting my kids in learning.

Some things that stood out:

-I really can learn new things, despite my age.
-Struggling with work leads to most the growth. Don’t swoop in and give away the answer.
-Attitude matters, but so does changing your approach.
-Speed isn’t as important as depth and flexibility. Worksheets & math facts stink. Don’t be discouraged when your kid understands that.
-Group work isn’t inherently evil. (But maybe has been structured wrong every time.)