Mind-Shame Archives - Learning Stewards

Exploring Differing Assumptions in Reading Science – Emotions and Reading

November 29, 2025July 10, 2023 by Learning-Activist

Dr. Andrew Johnson is a Reading Specialist and a Distinguished Faculty Scholar and Professor of Literacy at Minnesota State University. I, David Boulton, am a Learning Activist with Learning Stewards. Dr. Johnson and I have very different views about reading and the process of learning to read. We agreed to learn together and respectfully challenge … Read more

Majority of US Population Less than Proficient in Reading

May 30, 2023May 14, 2023 by Learning-Activist

NAEP (K-12) scores aren’t perfectly accurate measures of grade-level reading proficiency. NAAL (17-year-old and up) scores aren’t perfectly accurate measures of adult literacy. The fact that they are separate assessment systems used to report on very different populations and yet come pretty close to predicting each other suggests they are both in the ballpark and … Read more

Bill Maher: Get Kids Reading!

November 5, 2023April 30, 2023 by Learning-Activist

Bill Maher is known for pushing boundaries, criticizing and provoking both political wings, and for hosting conversations on a wide variety of important topics. During his April 21 2023 “Real Time” HBO show, Mr. Maher seemed startled as he read the headlines from a recent newspaper piece: “One in three children in America can … Read more

The Most Powerful Shame

March 7, 2023 by Learning-Activist

The most powerful shame motivates us to avoid what might lead to feeling it. It’s how body-shame limits our clothing choices and performance-shame limits our singing and dancing. Most importantly, it’s how mind-shame limits our learning. For more see: Mind-Shame

Not in DNA!

September 14, 2022 by Learning-Activist

Click this or the image for more.

Caution: Learning is the leading cause of disabled learning

July 29, 2022 by Learning-Activist

Preventing Acquired Learning Disabilities

July 22, 2022 by Learning-Activist

Acquired Learning Disabilities – Curiosity Invited Clip

Stewarding Healthy Learning for Parents

May 12, 2022 by Learning-Activist

This video is the closing summary from David Boulton’s Fathers and Families International Conference talk on March 9th, 2022 Event Description: Learning is not just one of the things children do. Everything children do, in every of moment life, involves learning; every movement, every emotion, every thought, every word, and every belief. Babies LEARN to … Read more

Growth Mindset. Really?

November 11, 2023April 14, 2022 by Learning-Activist

I have long had concerns about the “Growth Mindset” movement. I have a sense that it’s well-intentioned and kindred in some ways, but that it is in danger of becoming yet another fad – another protocol that ends up deemphasizing first-person learning because of how it pushes what to believe. About a week ago I … Read more

Curiosity Invited Podcast: Learning – The Central Dynamic of Being Human

March 28, 2022 by Learning-Activist

Curiosity Invited Podcast. David Bryan in dialogue with David Boulton about learning and the role it plays in how human beings become who they become. #DavidBryan #learning #healthylearning #whatislearning #whatsnotlearning #curiosityinvited

Ultimately what’s going to shift the behavior of the country over the long-term is understanding how fundamental this [healthy learning] is to everybody through the economic channel. …We must come up with a way of describing, measuring, and supporting the health of children’s learning. It is the unhealthy learning environments that are the problem.

Yes, that’s the message. That’s the message you’ve got to get across. Arthur Rolnick Senior V.P. and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Associate Economist with the Federal Open Market Committee.

It’s not that somebody ‘knows’ the current science, because the current science might be wrong. But it’s that somebody knows how to learn about new science, and adapt. It’s also how they learn to adapt to workplaces… how to learn to do something that they had never even thought about doing when they were in school. That’s the key element. Dr. Eric Hanushek Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

So then the fundamental intention of our education system must be to use knowledge, skills and experience not just as the end, but as the means through which we’re exercising how well someone is able to participate and become self-extending in learning what they need to learn when they need to learn it.

Precisely.

The Institute for the Study and Prevention of ACQUIRED Learning Disabilities.

“This is critical to the future of our society as a whole! I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and cannot begin to put into words how powerful it was. The general message (Healthy Learning) being spread is something that everyone needs to hear and understand in order to maximize the learning and success of future generations. The one-day experience was remarkable and unforgettable!” – J. Shirron, Teacher, LodiUSD, Lodi CA

“The most powerful professional development experience I have ever had. This was truly an awakening for me! – Julie Colley Lowery, Education Specialist, Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services

“A Mind-Blowing Way to View Learning. While many of us have observed this effect on an intuitive level, it took writer, researcher, and learning activist David Boulton to express the problem of incomplete learning in terms of its devastating effect on kids.” – Patricia Kokinos at ChangeTheSchools.com

“You made a wonderful contribution. The topics have stimulated classroom discussions. We are extremely pleased with the impact made in our community. ALL the comments heard from the registration people, people in our classes this week, table discussion leaders etc. have been positive. You are great. The BIG picture was outstandingly FINE!” – Linda Koehler, Professor of Special Education, University of Central Missouri

“The training was extraordinary! Six months later, conversations are still occurring around thoughts from that event. It was the easiest and best event we have done! Thank you for outstanding professionalism and customer service while delivering dynamic, relevant information and challenge!” – Mary Ashe, Coordinator,The Literacy Connection Project Enlightenment, Raleigh, North Carolina

More comments about PL/PD events
NOTABLE PAST LIVE EVENTS:

Science of Educating Conference – National School Mental Health Association – 21st Century Learning Initiative – World Futurist Society – PBS: New Science of Learning – Future of Learning Keynotes for Apple – New American Schools Design Team – National Technological University – California Education Summit – Dalian Medical University (China) – International Dyslexia Association – Nebraska School Psychologists Association – South Carolina Education and Business Summit – Scientific Learning’s National Circle of Learning – Lindamood-Bell Conference – Carus Foundation – Contra Costa Literacy Coalition – Convocation for New Britain Schools – Burnaby School District – JP Associates – University of Greenville SC – ACE of Florida – Michigan Council for Exceptional Children – Florida State Literacy Coalition – United Way – Rotary International – National Center for Family Literacy – Fundamental Learning Center – Wyoming State Education Leadership

“After listening to David Boulton, who explained and played several video interviews in his (National Circle of Learning Conference) keynote address, it was as if the pieces of the puzzle magically appeared and fit into place.” – N. Schmidt, Trainer, Onondaga Cortland Madison County BOCES, Syracuse, New York

“Clear explanations that do not focus on the blame game but work toward solutions. This was a tremendous awakening! This much needed information must be spread to the masses!” – B. Smyzer, Educator

“You are doing a great service – you are a voice crying in the wilderness about a problem that is very real right now & is only going to get worse (given the ongoing demographic changes of the US) AND you are presenting the way to help (rather than just admiring the problem!) you’ve done (& continue to do) outstandingly well!!! good show! good work!” – Dr. B. Stone, Psychologist, Kansas

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: