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A Tangerine, A Hug, and 40 Winks

Grauer 8th grade Physical Education students relaxing together after a workout on the court - February 11, 2020

Here are common reasons a student might be misbehaving, low performing, or withdrawn during the school day:

-  Lack of sleep
-  Hunger
-  Missed medication
-  A headache or other pain
-  Illness
-  A conflict at home
-  A conflict with a peer
-  Didn’t do homework
-  Starved for attention

A parent gave me a bag of fresh picked tangerines this week and I was amazed at how quickly students wanted to grab one and eat it right up. Those tangerines flew out of the bag—it was like putting a drop of water on a dry sponge. Our students want to be healthy. More often than not, the answer to any of the above problems is a hug or a tangerine. And, of course, the other usual suspect: the single most impactful thing almost any of our students or teachers can do to gain in happiness and functionality instantly is: sleep.

Environmental Science students harvesting 26 pounds of carrots and celery in the Grauer garden - February 3, 2020


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Photos for Dr. Grauer's Column

Grauer 8th grade Physical Education students relaxing together after a workout on the court - February 11, 2020

Environmental Science students harvesting 26 pounds of carrots and celery in the Grauer garden - February 3, 2020

Fearless Teaching® Book
by Dr. Stuart Grauer

Fearless Teaching® is a stirring and audacious jaunt around the world that peeks—with the eyes of one of America’s most seasoned educators–into places you will surely never see on your own. Some are disappearing. It is a bit like playing hooky from school. You will travel to the Swiss Alps, Korea, Navajo, an abandoned factory in Missouri, the Holy Land, the Great Rift Valley, the schools of Cuba, the ocean waves, and the human subconscious—oh, and Disneyland.

There you will find colorful stories for the encouragement, inspiration, and courage needed by educators and parents. Fearless Teaching is not a fix-it book—it is more a way of seeing the world and the school so that you can stay in your work and focus on what matters most to you.

"Grauer’s writing reminds us that Great Teaching, singular, rare, unusual, is something that should be sought after and found. Thank you.”
—Richard Dreyfuss, Actor, Oxford scholar, founder of The Dreyfuss Initiative

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Dr. Grauer's Column: Archive of Past Columns

Dr. Grauer's Column - The Race to Somewhere

Schools and parents need a better definition of “success” for our youth. Instead of solely measuring scholastic aptitude and achievement, we must also measure social and emotional development, moral and character development, non-cognitive skills, and student engagement.

Dr. Grauer's Column - The Overstory

Dr. Grauer asks the question: Can we change the definition of intelligence to include a greater spiritual and ecological sensitivity? That would be a fantastic challenge for our schools.

Dr. Grauer's Column - 2020 New Year’s Remembrance

The start of a new year is the perfect time to look back and remember special people. In this week's column, Dr. Grauer remembers people who have helped him at different times in his life. Who is on your list?