They say that it is a compliment when a person is considered to have forgotten more than others know. Fortunately, I have a bookcase full of books that I consider to be important in my office. This helps me to be sure that if I forget too much, I can be reminded of the knowledge I once held.
As Head of School, one of the things I enjoy most about my job is meeting with parents to discuss their children. Having worked in education for over 30 years, and heading BHS for the last 13, I have picked up a thing or two over the years. Since adolescence is such a challenging time in a child’s development, I really enjoy sharing some of the things that I have gleaned through the years.
Much of what I have come to understand about adolescence has been learned through experience, however, it is the writing and findings of many great educators, researchers, and thinkers that have helped me put into context those experiences. During a recent conversation, an inquisitive parent asked fme to recommend a book that I found especially helpful. I had several recommendations on the ready, but soon realized that some of my go-tos were a little dated. So, I decided to review a few and see which were still relevant.
One book that has really stood the test of time and has really helped me to make sense of adolescence is Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, by Daniel Seigel. Since reviewing that book myself, I remembered how chock full of useful information it is. Furthermore, I have found it especially useful recently. Hopefully, it will be sometime before I, again, forget what I have learned.