Building academic knowledge is still essential, but success in most professional and personal pursuits demands an additional set of skills and dispositions such as self-direction, collaboration, communication, and a growth mindset. These "habits of success" can be developed--they are not fixed, innate traits--but traditional approaches…

Taking risks does not come easily to many honors students. Often their success is based on carefully following directions and working hard to meet established expectations. Although the Minnesota State University, Mankato Honors Program's competency-based model encourages students to focus on personal growth rather than course completion, our…

While working as director of counselors in training at Camp Mishawaka in northern Minnesota, the author observed that while sailing, children were beginning to understand their surroundings and becoming aware of where they stood in nature. By spending time connecting to their physical location, children develop a relationship with the subconscious…

Facts on teenage pregnancy, particularly with reference to Minnesota, are discussed. Contents discuss the following topics: Teenage pregnancy is a significant problem in the United States; adolescents' stage of development influences their views on sexuality; many sexually active adolescents do not use contraceptives; adolescent males have special…

This manual describes the "Friends" project, a year-long effort in Minnesota to develop methods for the staff of residential service agencies to support people with developmental disabilities in establishing friendships with nondisabled people in their communities. Six agencies around the state selected a total of 23 individuals (ages 11…

"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) "R" is for Resilience: Schools Turn to "Asset Development" to Build on Students' Strengths (Nancy Walser); (2) Beyond Bargaining: What…