It’s that exciting time of year again – the start of school. I like the feeling of bustle and optimism that a new school year brings. It’s a time for fresh starts, a burst of activity, and for many, an…
Dr. Adam Cox
Connecting people with ideas for learning and living well. Helping to build purposeful lives.
Blog Archives
Bored with Summer, Starting School
Posted in Childhood, Early Childhood, Education, Executive Functions, Parenting, Professional Development, Psychology of Youth, School, Sports, Teaching Tagged with: ADHD, boredom, Executive Dysfunction, homework, School, summer
School Research
The question of school research is always complex given limited time and resources. For me, the priority is to investigate issues of intense interest and consequence. This may be somewhat difficult within a large organization, where research ideas are prompted…
School Districts vs. Empty Political Promises
I’m assuming many are as exhausted by the political season as I am. One thing I am struck by is how easily we are ensnared in political promises, rather than paying attention to the practical advances which may be happening…
Posted in Education Tagged with: child psychology, Disability, Executive Functions, Preschool, Teaching
Playing Outdoors
It’s become a common theme for adults to grumble about kids not getting outside. And in many cases, it’s true. But rather than complaining, I thought I’d bring your attention to some good examples of school students, and teachers, who…
Posted in Childhood, Early Childhood, Education, Play, Teaching, Uncategorized Tagged with: Forest Schools, Nature, Naturskola, Outdoors, Play, Teaching
More Hands on Deck
Here’s an interesting blog I ran across, called “Wisdom of the Hands,” written by woodworker, teacher and author Doug Stowe. Here’s how he describes his topic: “This blog is dedicated to sharing the concept that our hands are essential to…
Posted in Boys, Child Psychology, Education, Girls, Parenting, Play, Psychology of Youth, School, Society & Culture, Teaching Tagged with: Brain, Browning School, Creativity, Doug Stowe, Handwork, John Botti, Landon School, Learning, Makers, Marcos Williams, Teaching, Woodworking
Executive Functions in Preschool and Kindergarten
This past week I had an opportunity to present a program at Brick Church School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The program was sponsored by the New York State Association of Independent Schools, and teachers from schools in…
Posted in Boys, Child Psychology, Early Childhood, Education, Executive Functions, Girls, Professional Development, Psychology of Youth, Social Communication, Teaching Tagged with: 8 pillars model, academic, Brick Church School, communication, Dr. Cox, Early Childhood, Education, Executive Functions, family, grades, Kindergarten, NYSAIS, Organization, Planning, Play, Preschool, Professional Development, River School, Schools, Teachers
More Level Playing Field
Really happy to see this article in the New York Times about the United States’ most selective universities – including all the Ivy’s – working together to provide guidance to 9th and 10th grade students about what it takes to…
Posted in Adolescence, College, Education, Parenting, Teaching Tagged with: College, College Admission, Competition, Education, Fairness, Ivy League, Parenting, Planning, Selective, Students, University
Important Meditation on Space
Readers of this blog know that they can expect perspectives of youth not found elsewhere. I’m really hoping to connect with kindred spirits about topics that can change the lives of kids for the better. Recently, I’ve discovered a book…
Posted in Boys, Child Psychology, Childhood, Early Childhood, Education, Girls, Parenting, Play, Psychology of Youth Tagged with: Amy Fusselman, Art, Book, Boys, child psychology, Creativity, Education, Exploration, Girls, Learning, Life Narratives, Parenting, Play, Preschool, School Architecture, Teaching, Youth
How to Reduce Drama, Improve Grades
There is only so much emotion to go around during the course of the school day. If all of it gets invested in grades, relatively less is available for the important stuff, like discussion, debate and sustained attention. So, how…
Posted in Adolescence, Communicating with Kids, Education, Executive Functions, Professional Development, School Tagged with: anxiety, Boys, Education, Executive Functions, Girls, grades, Humanities, Reading, Teachers, Teaching
Skill is Counterintuitive
For more than a decade new perspectives of skill have been the focus of books on achievement, education, sports, and the arts. Malcom Gladwell’s books are some of the best known examples. Another very useful contribution is Daniel Coyle’s, The…
Posted in Adolescence, Child Psychology, Education, Executive Functions, Parenting, Teaching Tagged with: Book, Brain, Competition, counterintuitive, Creativity, Daniel Coyle, Education, myelination, Skill, Sports, Talent
