Fires in the Mind

Images of Practice From You and Your Students

For our ongoing video series “Case Studies in Practice,” we go out to hear directly from youth who are working hard to get really good at something.

In their own words, these young people talk about how they got started and what it takes to keep going even when it gets hard. And they also speak of "flow" — that wonderful feeling of energized, full involvement in a challenge within their reach.

Whether that challenge involves ballroom dance or building a robot, reading the classics or debating a political issue, kids have something important to say about what inspires, encourages, and assists them to meet it.

We'll be regularly posting such images of practice on this page and on our YouTube channel. But we’d also love to see the moments of powerful and effective practice that you might be capturing as you work with youth!

If you have media posted on YouTube or SchoolTube that you think would interest others, please send it along to kcushman @ firesinthemind.org. If we use it on the site, I'll send you a free copy of the book Fires in the Mind.

October 7, 2011
What makes the pages turn?

What makes the pages turn?

October 7, 2011
What if we made a robot?

What if we made a robot?

October 7, 2011
Shut your eyes and pretend

Shut your eyes and pretend

October 7, 2011
‘With all due respect’: How debate sharpens thinking

‘With all due respect’: How debate sharpens thinking

October 7, 2011
Just life . . . but solved as word problems

Just life . . . but solved as word problems

October 7, 2011
Learning on a different wavelength

Learning on a different wavelength

January 25, 2011
The hole in the wall

The hole in the wall

January 16, 2011
Pick up the baton!

Pick up the baton!

December 7, 2010
Get kids to chart their progress

Get kids to chart their progress

November 21, 2010
‘Only I can determine who I am!’

‘Only I can determine who I am!’

October 29, 2010
How bureaucracy blocks deliberate practice

How bureaucracy blocks deliberate practice

September 30, 2010
A launch worth watching

A launch worth watching

September 24, 2010
Practice, performance, pride

Practice, performance, pride

August 24, 2010
Singing Pythagorus

Singing Pythagorus

June 16, 2010
The rhythm of joint action

The rhythm of joint action

June 6, 2010
Bait the hook for math thinking

Bait the hook for math thinking

May 31, 2010
Constructing wings to fly with

Constructing wings to fly with