Forget the 10,000 hour rule— what if it’s possible to learn the basics of any new skill in 20 hours or less? Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of prac­ticing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com­plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet­ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the meth­ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key­board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim­ple techniques he teaches: Define your target performance level: Fig­ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better. Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo­nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first. Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice. Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu­rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve. Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chain­saws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.

A surprisingly simple way for students to master any subject--based on one of the world's most popular online courses and the bestselling book A Mind for Numbers A Mind for Numbers and its wildly popular online companion course "Learning How to Learn" have empowered more than two million learners of all ages from around the world to master subjects that they once struggled with. Fans often wish they'd discovered these learning strategies earlier and ask how they can help their kids master these skills as well. Now in this new book for kids and teens, the authors reveal how to make the most of time spent studying. We all have the tools to learn what might not seem to come naturally to us at first--the secret is to understand how the brain works so we can unlock its power. This book explains: Why sometimes letting your mind wander is an important part of the learning process How to avoid "rut think" in order to think outside the box Why having a poor memory can be a good thing The value of metaphors in developing understanding A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating Filled with illustrations, application questions, and exercises, this book makes learning easy and fun.

This title probes deeply into the relational dynamics that help boys succeed as learners. Drawing on interviews with students and teachers in thirty-five schools across six countries, the authors examine the particular ways boys extend and receive empathy.

For ages 3 months to 5 years. This revolutionary early-reading program encourages infants and toddlers to NATURALLY learn the written word AT THE SAME TIME as they learn the spoken word. This systems introduces children to the wonderful world of words using Titzer's fun, multi-sensory reading approach. Babies and toddlers do not just watch this DVD. They interact with it! Volume 2 introduces approximately 50 new key words. After 3 months your child will be ready for this volume. Set includes: Interactive DVD; 5 double-sided word and picture cards; 1 wipe-clean word card and non-toxic pen.

Today is Maelaniis first day in her new school and she is very nervous. With hopes that this experience will be better than the disappointing one she had at her old school, Maelanii meets her teacher, settles into her classroom, and soon notices that everyone seems happy. At the end of the day, Maelanii writes a heartfelt note to her teacher, Ms. Clarke, about how much she hates school and leaves it on her desk. The next day when Maelanii arrives at school and finds a thoughtful note from Ms. Clarke to her, she feels super special. With encouragement from her teacher, Maelanii begins to embrace learning, finds new friends, and discovers she has untapped capabilities that allow her to achieve big goals and receive an unimaginable award at the end of the school year. In this inspirational book for children, a dedicated and kind-hearted teacher helps lead an insecure student to realize that she can do anything she sets her mind to and, most importantly, to believe in herself.

Explore the world of dinosaurs in this bright and bold board book full of peek-through holes, flaps, and surprises from the I Can Learn! series. Children will delight in exploring the pages, while learning all about dinosaurs in their many shapes and sizes! Learning is fun with the I Can Learn! series where young readers can explore colors, shapes, counting, and many other first concepts in these hands-on books. Manipulating special features such as tactile elements, sound buttons, and flaps is an excellent way for children to reinforce learning and strengthen hand-eye coordination.

How do you approach a math problem that challenges you? Do you keep trying until you reach a solution? Or are you like Amy, who gets frustrated easily and gives up? Amy is usually a happy and enthusiastic student in grade five who loves to dance, but she is struggling with a tough math assignment. She doesn’t think she is good at math because her classmates always get the answers faster than she does and sometimes she uses her fingers to help her count. Even though her mom tries to help her, Amy is convinced she just cannot do math. She decides not to do the assignment at all since she thinks she wouldn’t do well anyway. As Amy goes about her day, her experiences at ballet class, the playground, and gym class have her thinking back to how she gave up on her math assignment. She starts to notice that hard-work, practice, and dedication lead to success, thanks to her friends and teachers. She soon comes to understand that learning math is no different than learning any other skill in life. With some extra encouragement from her math teacher, a little help from her mom, and a new attitude, Amy realizes that she can do math!

Children will love to press the soft, silicone buttons on the digger to hear entertaining and realistic sounds, from the rumble of the engine to the sounds of the tracks moving across the construction site in this touch and feel sound title from the I Can Learn! series. Includes an on/off switch on the back cover to extend battery life. Follow the noisy digger for a busy day on a construction site in this interactive book filled with engaging rhymes, illustrations, and a tactile digger featuring corresponding sounds. Little ones will love pressing Digger's parts to hear an entertaining range of sounds, from a revving engine to the clanking of the tracks and a beeping caution light! The tactile features and sounds promote learning through fun! Learning is fun with the I Can Learn! series where young readers can explore colors, shapes, counting, and many other first concepts in these hands-on books. Manipulating special features such as tactile elements, sound buttons, and flaps is an excellent way for children to reinforce learning and strengthen hand-eye coordination.

Great learning starts when students believe in their academic abilities. In You Can Learn!, authors Tim Brown and William M. Ferriter introduce intentional and purposeful steps collaborative teams can take to increase the self-efficacy of every learner. By incorporating the book's research-backed practices, professional learning communities will cultivate a culture where students at every grade level see themselves as competent learners fully capable of succeeding in school and beyond. Discover key instructional strategies to develop and reinforce student learning and achievement: Understand why self-efficacy in the classroom is important for student achievement and well-being. Discover how to implement efficacy-building practices designed around foundational PLC elements. Study a research-based approach to student engagement that spans grade levels and subject areas. Review recommendations for how to start utilizing the strategies outlined in each chapter. Utilize reproducible templates and tools to enhance individual and team understanding of the material. Contents: Introduction Chapter 1: Building a Commitment to Learning in Students Chapter 2: Helping Students Understand the Expectations for a Unit of Study Chapter 3: Helping Students Assess Their Progress Toward Mastery Chapter 4: Helping Students Take Action Epilogue References and Resources

Nicole Biscotti, a mother and educator, and her nine-year-old son, Jason, candidly share their perspective on what it means to go to school with ADHD. This book is an important reflection for all of those who are interested in the education of children with ADHD. The ways that ADHD can present in the classroom are explored, and many common myths are debunked. This book provides educators with research-based, kid-approved strategies to improve achievement for ALL children, while proactively addressing the needs of students with ADHD. Insights and strategies are also presented by educational experts Alice Aspinall, Barbara Bray, Peg Grafwallner, Dr. Brad Johnson, Dr. Kevin Leichtman, Kate Lindquist, M.Ed., Shilpi Mahajan, Scott Nunes, Laura Robb, and Melissa Thorpe Sidebotham.