Overloaded and Underprepared - by Denise Pope & Maureen Brown & Sarah Miles (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Praise for Overloaded and Underprepared

"Parents, teachers, and administrators are all concerned that America's kids are stressed out, checked out, or both--but many have no idea where to begin when it comes to solving the problem. That's why the work of Challenge Success is so urgent. It has created a model for creating change in our schools that is based on research and solid foundational principles like communication, creativity, and compassion. If your community wants to build better schools and a brighter future, this book is the place to start."
--Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind

"Challenge Success synthesizes the research on effective school practices and offers concrete tools and strategies that educators and parents can use immediately to make a difference in their communities. By focusing on the day-to-day necessities of a healthy schedule; an engaging, personalized, and rigorous curriculum; and a caring climate, this book is an invaluable resource for school leaders, teachers, parents, and students to help them design learning communities where every student feels a sense of belonging, purpose, and motivation to learn the skills necessary to succeed now and in the future."
--Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University

"Finally, a book about education and student well-being that is both research-based and eminently readable. With all the worry about student stress and academic engagement, Pope, Brown and Miles gently remind us that there is much we already know about how to create better schools and healthier kids. Citing evidence-based 'best practices' gleaned from years of work with schools across the country, they show us what is not working, but more importantly, what we need to do to fix things. Filled with practical suggestions and exercises that can be implemented easily, as well as advice on how to approach long-term change, Overloaded and Underprepared is a clear and compelling roadmap for teachers, school administrators and parents who believe that we owe our children a better education."
--Madeline Levine, co-founder Challenge Success; author of The Price of Privilege and Teach Your Children Well

"This new book from the leaders behind Challenge Success provides a thorough and balanced exploration of the structural challenges facing students, parents, educators, and administrators in our primary and secondary schools today. The authors' unique approach of sharing proven strategies that enable students to thrive, while recognizing that the most effective solutions are tailored on a school-by-school basis, makes for a valuable handbook for anyone seeking to better understand the many complex dimensions at work in a successful learning environment."
--John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University

From the Back Cover

REDUCE STRESS AND IMPROVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS WITH THIS RESEARCH-BACKED FRAMEWORK FOR CHANGE

Our increasingly fast-paced world is interfering with sound educational practices and harming kids both physically and mentally. Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids gives teachers, administrators, and parents the information, tools, and strategies needed to begin making immediate changes at school, in the community, and at home to benefit all students. Based on the Challenge Success program--a research-based project founded at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education--this vital resource shows how to create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for kids.

Step by step, Denise Pope, Maureen Brown, and Sarah Miles outline a concrete framework to reduce student stress while engaging kids in real learning. Overloaded and Underprepared details strategies and techniques that have been proven to work with tens of thousands of students, like hands-on learning and alternative assessments, as well as educating kids and parents about healthier ways to handle stress. The book helps to identify areas for improvement at school, brainstorm possible solutions, identify potential obstacles, and offer ways to achieve buy-in from multiple stakeholders.

The illustrative, real-life case studies from schools throughout the country offer a guide for change and a practical action plan that can be implemented in a single classroom or on a school-wide scale. Overloaded and Underprepared helps better prepare students--mentally, emotionally, and academically--to handle the challenges they will face in school and in life.

About the Author

DENISE POPE, PHD, is a senior lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education and the co-founder of Challenge Success.

MAUREEN BROWN, MBA, is executive director for Challenge Success, where she oversees daily operations as well as marketing and strategic planning.

SARAH MILES, M.S.W., PHD, is director of research for Challenge Success. She researches how schools and classrooms can best support student learning and engagement.