Becoming Brilliant

In just a few years, today’s children and teens will forge careers that look nothing like those that were available to their parents or grandparents. While the U.S. economy becomes ever more information-driven, our system of education seems stuck on the idea that “content is king,” neglecting other skills that 21st century citizens sorely need. Becoming Brilliant offers solutions that parents can implement right now. Backed by the latest scientific evidence and illustrated with examples of what’s being done right in schools today, this book introduces the 6Cs—collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence—along with ways parents can nurture their children’s development in each area.

We find our way forward by going back. The invented history of the Western world is crumbling fast, Anishinaabe writer Patty Krawec says, but we can still honor the bonds between us. Settlers dominated and divided, but Indigenous peoples won't just send them all "home." Weaving her own story with the story of her ancestors and with the broader themes of creation, replacement, and disappearance, Krawec helps readers see settler colonialism through the eyes of an Indigenous writer. Settler colonialism tried to force us into one particular way of living, but the old ways of kinship can help us imagine a different future. Krawec asks, What would it look like to remember that we are all related? How might we become better relatives to the land, to one another, and to Indigenous movements for solidarity? Braiding together historical, scientific, and cultural analysis, Indigenous ways of knowing, and the vivid threads of communal memory, Krawec crafts a stunning, forceful call to "unforget" our history. This remarkable sojourn through Native and settler history, myth, identity, and spirituality helps us retrace our steps and pick up what was lost along the way: chances to honor rather than violate treaties, to see the land as a relative rather than a resource, and to unravel the history we have been taught.

A pep talk in your pocket This short, small, highly illustrated book will fill you to the brim with happiness, positivity, wellbeing and, most importantly, success! Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker are experts in the art of happiness and positive psychology and The Art of Being Brilliant is crammed full of good advice, instructive case studies, inspiring quotes, some funny stuff and important questions to make you think about your work, relationships and life. You see being brilliant, successful and happy isn't about dramatic change, it’s about finding out what really works for you and doing more of it! The authors lay down their six common-sense principles that will ensure you focus on what you’re good at and become super brilliant both at work and at home. A richly illustrated, 2 colour, small book full of humour, inspiring quotes and solid advice A great read with a serious underlying message – how to foster positivity and bring about success in every aspect of your life Outlines six common-sense principles that will help you ensure you are the best you can be

Calling all teenagers—quit the moaning and start loving life! Don't be a cliché. Don't stay in your bedroom grunting and grumbling. How about getting motivated, energized and start making a difference?! The Art of Being A Brilliant Teenager teaches you how to become your very best self—and how to figure out who that is, exactly. The bestselling authors of The Art of Being Brilliant and Be Brilliant Everyday are experts in the art of happiness and positive psychology and, with this new book, you'll find your way to becoming brilliant at school, work, and life in general. Stay cool under all the pressures you're facing, and plot a map for the future that takes you wherever it is you want to go. Become proactive, determined, successful and most importantly: happy! Fact: your life span is about four thousand weeks. It seems like a lot, but it's not. Complaining about life, homework, parents, and relationships may be normal now, but don't let it become your defining trait. When you're forty years old and still moaning, a big chunk of your four thousand weeks have slipped by, and you're no closer to happiness than you were as a teen. This book is a guide to starting the journey to your ideal life now, instead of wasting time being a drip. Discover the real you, and what you want out of life Stop moaning and get moving now, while there's plenty of time Lose your bad habits before they become your personality Figure out how you want to contribute, and find a way to do it The bottom line is this: it's easy to be the average version of yourself, but is that really all you want? Don't you want to achieve something? Get started now. The Art of Being A Brilliant Teenager helps you figure out where you want to go, and how to get there. So, whether you're an ambitious teenager, a parent or teacher desperate to turn a down-beat teenager into a ray of positivity and delight, How to Be a Brilliant Teenager is here to help.

This essential guide provides both new and established trainers with accessible, innovative and engaging strategies to create an inspirational learning environment. This professional book is suitable for early years, primary and secondary teachers, school leaders and heads of department who are supporting their teaching colleagues in schools. It offers practical advice on planning and delivering great training sessions, including suggestions on how best to share existing knowledge in a group and how to combine dialogue and written text to effectively develop ideas in the classroom. The thinking behind each idea is not only clearly explained but is accompanied with a wealth of practical strategies that can be applied to a variety of training and teaching situations. This accessible resource is designed to help busy teaching professionals motivate their colleagues and deliver effective training. Generously illustrated throughout, the book is separated into four learning phases: preparing for successful training; offering direct input through new ideas; embedding participant learning; and monitoring, evaluating and planning for the future. Becoming a Brilliant Trainer: A Teacher’s Guide to Running Sessions and Engaging Learners will be an invaluable text for both trainee and qualified teachers, school leaders and all those with an interest in delivering great training sessions.

The BESTSELLING book on BEING A TEEN, now updated into an all new edition. In a world where there’s a lot of talk about ‘living your best life’ and being your ‘best self’, The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager shows you how. The book has a strong academic underpinning (its DNA is taken from the author’s PhD) but is written in a fun and non-patronising way. The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager is a book that prepares young people for REAL life; addressing modern issues of screen time and social media, as well as the teenage perennials of confidence, positivity, motivation and relationships. The book is built on a rock-solid foundation of wellbeing and human flourishing but is quirky in tone and entertaining to read. Dr Andy Cope’s words are brilliantly brought to life by award winning illustrator, Amy Bradley. The book includes activities and thought-provoking questions that encourage the user to interact with the material. Reflecting and journalling helps make the messages stick. Learn how to: Stay upbeat in a fast-paced world Be resilient and rise to life’s challenges Create strong relationships Conquer anxiety Tap into your values and use them to guide your life Shape your future The book has a deliberately light touch but is not light-weight. It doesn’t dodge the issues. In a world of rising anxiety, The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager provides a personal upgrade to ‘world class’. It shows young people how to let go of bad habits and develop positive traits that will fire up their future. It covers themes of resilience, values, consumerism, purpose and communication, in a page-turning way. The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager is THE go-to book to ease young people into adulthood.

The Black Dog of Depression has descended over the adults of Dublin. Uncles are losing their businesses, dads won t get out of bed, mothers no longer smile at their children. Siblings Raymond and Gloria have had enough and set out one night with one goal in mind: to stop the Black Dog, whatever it takes. In a chase through the streets and parks and beaches of Dublin, the children run after the Black Dog, and soon dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of kids join in their fight. They discover they have one weapon against the Black Dog. The weapon is a word: brilliant. Illustrated throughout by a bright new talent and told through the masterful dialogue for which the acclaimed Roddy Doyle is known, Brilliant is a very special book with a storybook feel.

How to Be a Brilliant Teaching Assistant draws on knowledge from very experienced teaching assistants and Susan Bentham’s own extensive research to explore the common denominators that unite all brilliant teaching assistants. The book explores becoming a brilliant teaching assistant as a journey and not an end point, and provides support that will help you along the way, whether you’re just starting out in your career or you’ve been an experienced teaching assistant for years. This accessible book covers all aspects of the teaching assistant role, such as: Key roles and responsibilities Meta-cognition and understanding children’s learning Delivering high quality lessons alongside teachers Developing useful subject knowledge Undertaking research and professional development Illustrated with activities, discussion points and anecdotes, this book is a source of support, guidance and inspiration for every teaching assistant engaged in the ongoing process of becoming an outstanding professional.