Author Archives: Dana Carmichael

About Dana Carmichael

Dana has a professional interest in Authentic Intellectual Work. This means focusing on improving intellectual quality in the classroom and increasing student engagement. By day, she does this work with a passion. By night, she is a thematic reader, examining a random essential question for the year through fiction, nonfiction, film and general random conversations.

Guest Posting – New Book

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Dana Carmichael

As my friends read their Christmas presents, a few have sent me their synopsis of the books they’ve read. Here is the first guest blog of what I hope will be many more contributions to this year’s theme – Which … Continue reading →

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New Year’s: To Make or Not Make a Resolution? That is the Question!

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Dana Carmichael

I vote make one! It’s a new decade – think about it. Some day our grandchildren will be studying about the 2010’s, just like we studied about the “Roaring Twenties” or ” the Age of Enlightenment.,” and they’ll ask “What … Continue reading →

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What’s in a Chat?

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

Before we talk about the soul, I want to share this story about communication: A colleague told me about this friend of hers, a man about 42, who had just figured out something really important about his wife. He said when … Continue reading →

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Friends and Change

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

…Old habits and routines push at the door and we think we lack strength to keep them blocked from entering this new space we’ve created. When this happens, friends are the key – lean where you feel strength pushing you … Continue reading →

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Which Ideas Change Us – What about a New Year’s Resolution??

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

As New Year’s approaches and the dawn of a new decade hovers, benign, it is interesting to think about which ideas will change us…and which ideas we will change? So many people look at the changeover of time, from December … Continue reading →

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Avatar….Which Ideas Make us Change and Why?

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

Yesterday I took my son and his friend to see James Cameron’s latest epic, Avatar. I’m not sure what I expected, but the movie far exceeded anything I had in mind. It was like Princess Mononoke in Totoro’s Tree meets GI … Continue reading →

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Innovation in Thought

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

This is a great video about innovation. It fits perfectly into the theme. I’m still thinking about it myself, but just wanted to pass it along. Warning: it’s pretty long so make yourself comfortable before you start watching. http://www.educationevolving.org/clayton-christensen-speech-2009.asp

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Still Reading? YES

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

Someone asked me yesterday if I was still reading. The answer , of course, is yes. But nothing is worse than having a blogger make up stuff when the mood hasn’t really struck her. As WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg said … Continue reading →

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Princess Mononoke and Ideas About Change

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

If you have ever seen the movie Princess Mononoke, you’ve been among the lucky. It is compelling anime by Hiyao Mizaki. Last night I was watching it with my son. There is a scene when the young prince Ashitaka has … Continue reading →

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7-21: Critical Years?

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Dana Carmichael

I’m two chapters into the A. Lincoln book. It’s interesting, but one of those slow starters. My hope is that every couple of chapters I glean something worthy of the theme. Today’s is the interesting claim by White that Lincoln’s … Continue reading →

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