Wild Curiosity: How to Unleash Creativity and Encourage Lifelong Wondering

(Hardback)

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Wild Curiosity brings together cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology research with simple, effective advice for parents and teachers on how to ignite the fire of curiosity in children. The author offers a new way to think about parenting and teachingone that values autonomy, creativity, and celebrates the spontaneous and unexpected joys of learning. Following the groundbreaking work of researchers like Peter Gray and thought-leaders like Richard Louv, the book offers justification for the de-institutionalization of learning and a roadmap for how to create engaging, inspiring, and exciting experiences to nurture curiosity for children of all ages.

Reviews

This book brings together cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology research with experiences fro m the authors own life to explore what, exactly, makes us curious and why. Part memoir, part critique, this unrestrained book explores the applications of curiosity in our own lives and our childrens lives. It provides fascinating examples of how books can change us, how wilderness adventures can be transformative experiences, and how following curiosity may be a radical and revolutionary act in itself. How to best innovate using curiosity as a starting point How to find fulfillment through indulging our curiosity Wild Curiosity investigates all these questions and more, and shows us how curiosity connects, compels, and defines us. * The Manchester Journal *
The book comes at a time when curiosity is everywhere. . . .Wild Curiosity offers a unique perspective on how idiosyncratic curiosity can be a powerful force. * The Other Paper *
Wonder and awe: these are things that teachers and parents know lead to creating lifelong learners. Using examples drawn from modern neuroscience and research in psychology, author Erik Shonstrom offers insight and tidbits of wisdom for inspiring curiosity in children. In his book Wild Curiosity: How to Unleash Creativity and Encourage Lifelong Wondering, he argues that by celebrating spontaneity of the unexpected we can expose children to a world of learning beyond the textbooks and classroom walls. Drawing on the works of experts such as Ivan Illich and Richard Louv, the author calls on the reader to awaken the natural curiosity of young minds. * Green Teacher *
Wild Curiosityis a convincing and insightful treatise on what needs to change in education if we hope to nurturechildrens hungry mindsand inspirelifelong learners and searchers. -- Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, The Nature Principle, and Vitamin N
Smart, funny, literate, thoughtful, informedutterly engaging. Inspired, in fact, and inspiring, too. You want to teach better, learn better, think better, feel better Read this book. -- Dinah Lenney, assistant professor in the master of professional writing program at the University of Southern California, and author of Bigger than Life and The Object Parade
I have more than 50 week-long 'Encounter Weeks' under my belt. The natural emergence of curiosity and creativity that happens when you're in the woods is beautiful captured by Wild Curiosity. As a science teacher, I am deeply impressed with the literature that Shonstrom has compiled to back up his impassioned storytelling. This is a must-read for new and developing outdoor educators! -- Peter Goff, high school science teacher, Vermont Commons School, South Burlington, VT
Through the lens ofwondrous curiosity, Erik Shonstrom challenges teachersto revisit the soul and art of teaching. Wild Curiosityisa timely anchor in the shifting tides of standards-based, data-driven public education. It made me laugh, cry, and deeply reflectupon my practicesand vision as a21st Century educatorstriving to make a meaningful difference. -- Tracy Garland, elementary teacher, Orchard Elementary, South Burlington, VT
Wild Curiosityoffers remarkable insight into what truly motivates us all to learn. Shonstroms writing merges prominent research in this field with intellectual and witty insight into the nuances of curiosity, motivation, and learning. This book encourages us to reasonably question the institutional structures and practices of schooling that shape our society. It beckons us to remember what we most likely knew at one point in our lives: that it is inevitable that we will at some point follow our own untamed curiosities and that perhaps we should embrace a more natural way of learningone that values wonderment, awe, experience, ambiguity, and desire. -- Elisabeth Siddle, middle school educator and literacy coach, Frederick Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, VT

Author Bio

Erik Shonstrom has worked in education for nearly two decades. He has taught students while clinging to cliffs in Joshua Tree National Park, swimming frigid rivers in the High Sierra, snorkeling jellyfish infested waters off Mexico, paddling tippy kayaks amid the orcas of Puget Sound, trudging up narrow trails in the Adirondacks, andoccasionallyin the classroom. He has worked for charter, independent, public, and experiential education-based schools. The words youll need to know this because its going to be on the test have never passed his lips. Currently, Erik is a professor of rhetoric at Champlain College. He has published a number of articles on education in The Chronicle Review, Children & Nature Network, and Education Week, among others. To learn more about Erik please check out http://www.erikshonstrom.com/.