Fires in the mind: what kids can tell us about motivation and mastery

Foreword by Dennis White ix 1. What Does It Take to Get Good? Young people are developing mastery in ways we easily overlook1 2. Catching the Spark Kids tell what draws them in and gives them confidence in learning 11 3. Keeping at It When do young people stick with something and make it their own? 31 4. Asking the Experts Looking at how experts work, students make sense of their own process 55 5. Exploring Deliberate Practice Young people look closer at what makes practice effective71 6. Practice and Performance Demonstrating mastery also helps students improve 87 7. Bringing Practice into the Classroom Students imagine the classroom as a community of practice97 8. Is Homework Deliberate Practice? Whether, when, and how to give kids practice after class 117 9. School Projects That Build Expert Habits Students talk about their most compelling curricula 135 10. Making School a Community of Practice Kids suggest ways that schools can foster expert habits 153 Appendix A: The Practice Project: A Five-Day Curriculum Outline for Secondary Teachers or Advisers How to help students investigate the expert process 159 Appendix B: Resources That Help Light Fires in the Mind Inspiration, tools, organizations, and other resources165 The Student Contributors 173 Acknowledgments 177 About the Author 181 About What Kids Can Do 182 Index 183