The Big Picture: Education Is Everyone's Business

These are just a few of the questions that renowned educator Dennis Littky explores in The Big Picture: Education Is Everyone's Business. The schools Littky has created and led over the past 35 years are models for reformers everywhere: small, public schools where the curriculum is rich and meaningful, expectations are high, student progress is measured against real-world standards, and families and communities are actively engaged in the educational process.

This book is for both big "E" and small "e" educators:
* For principals and district administrators who want to change the way schools are run.
* For teachers who want students to learn passionately.
* For college admissions officers who want diverse applicants with real-world learning experiences.
* For business leaders who want a motivated and talented workforce.
* For parents who want their children to be prepared for college and for life.
* For students who want to take control over their learning . . . and want a school that is interesting, safe, respectful, and fun.
* For anyone who cares about kids.

Here, you'll find a moving account of just what is possible in education, with many of the examples drawn from the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center ("The Met") in Providence, Rhode Island--a diverse public high school with the highest rates of attendance and college acceptance in the state and a dropout rate of less than five percent. The Met exemplifies personalized learning, one student at a time.

The Big Picture is a book to re-energize educators, inspire teachers in training, and start a new conversation about kids and schools, what we want for both, and how to make it happen.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

A must read for educators, parents and others who are looking for an alternative to the current system., 2007-12-16


This was a very interesting read for me; I highly recommend it to parents, teachers and anyone who is interested in alternatives to the public school system. I was rapidly losing my trust in the current educational system. What's most disturbing for me is all of the professionals who write about urban education, its causes and how to repair it. Often, these professionals are so far removed from the problem its incomprehensible how they can propose to interpret the real life issues that exist. Littky's common sense approach that he introduced to The Met starts with treat every child with respect; give value to their dreams and their interest. Help them discover THEIR talents. Help them find the connection in putting their talents and interest towards building a life goal. Hire only educators who embrace this vision, and recognize that as teachers they are also part of the learning experience. I was most inspired by Littky's belief that all of the children who walk through the door of The Met will graduate, will succeed and will do something great with their lives. Believing in them, makes them believe in themselves. To quote Franklin Covey "begin with the end in mind".



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

A Must Read for Teachers, Administrators, Parents, Students and anyone wishing to impact Today's Education System, 2007-12-15


Dennis Littky truly understands the education system and HOW it SHOULD be run! The Big Picture is well written and an easy understandable read! Littky's book focuses on his life endeavor and efforts to change our failing school system. Littky shares personal stories throughout his teaching and administrative career and the development of the Big Picture Schools. These schools have had a profound impact on all students with 98% of students going on to college. He believes that students should be educated "one student at a time, evaluating students with multiple forms of assessment and measuring students' progress against real-world standards" (Littky, 2004, p. xvi). Each chapter ends with a set of questions to help you further your thought and apply it to your workplace. If you want to make a difference in the education system, this book is a MUST READ!



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Littky's view of education, 2007-12-14
This book opened my eyes to the endless possibilities, and opportunities of learning for students. It is an easy read that is hard to put down. Dennis Littky is a person that is not just talking about change in education, he is making change. He takes the focus off of the schools and puts it on the students. Littky has found that by focusing on students interest's, they are able to reignite students excitement they once had for learning. He also believes that we must act now and become involved if we plan to have an impact in these students learning opportunities, and their future. Students are encouraged in Met schools to pursue personal interests, and then a curriculum is designed around that to guide the student through their learning process.

I would highly recommend this book to any parent, teacher or administrator that wants to begin on the path to get their child or student excited about their own education.



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

The Need for Change, 2007-12-14
Dennis Littky's, The Big Picture is a portrait of how school should look-at least to Littky. The book is a brief description of Littky's work as cofounder of New Hampshire's Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, "The Met," and its many successes as an alternative to traditional schooling. But there is much more to it. The Big Picture is also a very critical look at the issues that America faces with its broken and failing education system. Every chapter ends with a handful of very deep and thought provoking questions that every educator, policy maker and parent should be asking of their local schools. The book is also filled with anecdotes, student writing and articles that support the idea of student directed learning. And finally, the book ends with a chapter entitled "Make It Happen," where readers are encouraged to begin looking at how to effect positive change in a school that does not want to change. Overall, The Big Picture is a very positive look at what can be done with a different approach, a little effort and the willingness to change.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

A whole new world, 2007-12-13
Littky's book is the bridge between theory and reality. There are many theories on how we should be teaching and how students should be learning but The Big Picture takes theory and applies it to the real world. Dennis has a refreshing view of how students learn and takes you on a journey to understand how student directed learning can be made a reality. The success of the Big Picture schools is astounding considering todays climate in education. The book is woven around Littky's ideas and thoughts intermixed with an excellent dose of student and parent comments regarding their experience in the Big Picture schools. The schools rely heavily on student direction, parent involvement, real work in the real world and presentations to demonstrate what has been learned. Dennis does an excellent job of taking the establishment to task for the use of tests as a measurement tool. Overall, this book changed my view of what is possible in education. A definite must read for everyone!

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