NISC

Speaker: Mel Levine - author of [A Mind at a Time] and [Ready or Not, Here Life Comes]

• • Topic:** Our mission as parents and educators: develop the total child, endorsing and nurturing individual strengths and uniqueness, to generate responsible, compassionate, contributing members of our expanding global community.

In searching for a theme that would appeal to //all// of the NISC member schools, it seemed a good starting point was to go back to the roots and consult the mission statements of each of the schools. The //mission statements// of [Atlanta Girls' School], [Atlanta Speech School], [Lovett], [Pace], [Trinity], and [Westminster], all share a common theme that binds the schools together in a fundamental, unified goal. That goal is to:

• develop the whole person - The whole person means the totality of intellectual, emotional, aesthetic, spiritual and physical capabilities that make him or her a unique individual

• endorse and nurture individual strengths and uniqueness, to cultivate each student's God-given talents, to build in each child the knowledge that his/her uniqueness is appreciated and valued

• instill creative and critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a love of learning, and that knowing how to learn is as important as what one learns

• develop self-knowledge, responsible citizenship, respect for diversity, service to others, moral integrity, environmental awareness, and sensitivity to issues of global significance

• to prepare students for work-life readiness -- allow students to gain confidence, discipline, and courage and enable them to grow into resilient, responsible, and productive leaders of their communities

These goals and ideals are directly perscribed by [Dr. Mel Levine], world-renown pediatrician and researcher into the learning processes of children and young adults. In his book, A Mind at a Time, Dr. Levine calls for us to recognize that every mind is different and that minds are "wired" with individual strengths and affinities. Like tools in a tool chest, a mind's [neurodevelopmental functions] (memory, attention, spatial ordering, language processing, etc.) work together as implements for learning and for applying what's learned. As we seek to develop the whole child and instill intellectual curiosity and a love of learning, parents, educators, and the students themselves should understand their mind's tool chest (neurodevelopmental functions) and how to use their "strong" tools to compensate for tools that may not be as strong.

• Every mind is different* -- understanding what each mind is "wired" for can help prepare students for work-life readiness and guide them along the path to becoming compassionate, contributing members of our expanding global community.

• • Are parents and educators preparing students for work-life readiness? **

//"We are in the midst of an epidemic of work-life unreadiness because an alarming number of emerging adults are unable to find a good fit between their minds and their career directions.. . our population of career-unready adults is expanding, and doing so at an alarming pace -- like a contagious disease. "

"Rearing and educating children involves establishing some long-range priorities. I believe there is at present a vast gulf between what is taught in school and what is essential to learn for a gratifying adult work life."

" . . the ability to think critically, to brainstorm, to monitor and refine your own performance, to communicate convincingly, and to plan and preview work are among the important skills that could make or break startup adults across countless occupations." Dr. Mel Levine//

Mel Levine's book, [Ready or Not, Here Life Comes], is about preparing kids for the tough demands of adult life as they transition from adolescence into the startup years as contributing members of society.

Mel Levine at Trinity

Trinity was fortunate to host Dr. Mel Levine this past September for a one-day visit to our school. Mel met with the heads of school from various neighboring schools in the morning, followed by a brief talk with parents, and then development with staff. I was struck by how powerful his (limited) talk was here, and that everyone I hear from states how dramatic and informative his presence is. Parents and teachers from Trinity are eager to have Mel back again!