Awakening Genius in the Classroom

by Thomas Armstrong

"Every student is a genius," declares author Thomas Armstrong, and an educator's most important job is to discover and nurture the "genius qualities" that all students were born with but that may no longer be obvious. Urging readers to look beyond traditional understandings of what constitutes genius, Armstrong describes 12 such curiosity, playfulness, imagination, creativity, wonder, wisdom, inventiveness, vitality, sensitivity, flexibility, humor, and joy. He cites research in various fields that supports this broader understanding of genius and explains how influences in the home, the popular media, and the school itself "shut down" the genius in students. Combining thoughtful insights and practical information, Armstrong offers guiding principles to help educators awaken genius in the classroom--beginning with awakening the genius in themselves . Readers will find dozens of suggested activities and helpful resources to provide "genius experiences" and create a "genial climate" in the classroom. In addition, suggestions for further study at the end of each section provide starting points for personal and professional reflection and growth. As it celebrates the potential brainpower waiting to be unlocked in classrooms everywhere, Awakening Genius in the Classroom inspires educators to look at their students from a different perspective and to reinvigorate their teaching with a new sense of excitement and possibility. The result, Armstrong concludes, could extend far beyond the classroom and transform not only our schools, but the entire world.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Parenting, Adult

81 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 1998

About the author

I am the author of 20 books, including my latest The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Neurodivergent Brain (Completely Updated and Revised Second Edition), which is a complete rewrite of a book I wrote with a similar title but slightly different subtitle in 2010.

My other books include: The Myth of the ADHD Child, 7 Kinds of Smart, Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom, and The Power of the Adolescent Brain. I've also written for Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, and the AMA Journal of Ethics.

I see myself as a reader as much as, or even more than, a writer. Some of the books which I've enjoyed recently include Joseph and His Sons by Thomas Mann, The Story of the Stone/Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin, the complete Arabian Nights (3 volumes), translated by Malcolm C. Lyons, The Studs Lonigan Trilogy by James T. Farrell, and From Here to Eternity by James Jones.

Beyond literature and writing, my hobbies and pursuits include improvising on the piano, doing mindfulness meditation, watching great movies on The Criterion Channel, doing yoga, and cooking Mediterranean cuisine.

Married for twenty-five years, and now divorced, I live in a cute Victorian style home on a hill in Sonoma County, California with my dog Daisy.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the approach to learning, but like many education books falls a bit short on implementation. The most important thing to come from the book is the reminder to teachers that they must be actively and passionately engaged in learning (developing their own genius) in order to inspire their own students to develop their genius.

[GW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quote from this book by Pablo Casals:
"What do we teach students in school? We teach them that two and two make four and the Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what your are? You are a marvel!...In the millions of years that have passed, there has never been another person like you. You could become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. (Casals April 1983, p. 101), (Armstrong 1998, p. 65).

[Garreth Heidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book every August before I start school, and I've been reading it every year since I first picked it up almost 10 years ago. I'll agree with others who says it is full of generalizations only so far as this: What did you expect? If there were a specific, detailed method for genius, then we'd all be following it and our schools would be the top in the entire world. So sure, this is big-picture, right-brain thinking, and that's as it should be. Look at the work of Eric Jensen on the arts and thinking, or at the seminal culling of research and thinking that Daniel Pink and Richard Florida have done with their books, A Whole New Mind and The Rise of the Creative Class.

As an educator, no book in the past ten years, aside from Pink's A Whole New Mind, has had as great an influence on how I look at the students who enter my 7th and 8th grade classroom of a public school everyday, or on how I structure the environment of that classroom. As well, this book has had a profound influence on my own life and how I chose to live it. In truth, I feel far more in touch with my own capabilities and with what genius (in Armstrong's definition) I possess. Some readers might feel Armstrong is disingenuous in his redefinition of genius. However, Armstrong is quite clear and up front (it's right on the first page!) with how he is redefining genius. Itisn't so much an act of rationalization for his own intents. Rather it's a tracing of the etymology of the word, its history, and a reconnecting with the word's original meanings.

So if you're looking for a book that will tell you exactly what to do to create a genius, exactly how to think about what's wrong about the educational system, or exactly how to counter the societal impulses that counter our natural genius...look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a book to spark/awaken your own thinking about what's wrong with the way we understand education, with the way we treat our students, and which will ignite your own pursuit of genius, then buy this slim tome, read it in one sitting, consume it several times. You will not be disappointed.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book operates on the premise that "every student is a genius" and that educators need to encourage genius in their students and themselves. Armstrong defines "genius" as "giving birth to one's joy." He lists 12 qualities of genius (without claiming them as exhaustive): curiosity, playfulness, imagination, creativity, wonder, wisdom, inventiveness, vitality, sensitivity, flexibility, humor and joy. The first part discusses the nature of genius and these qualities. The second part outlines how genius is stamped out by homes, schools and media. The third part calls for teachers to make their classrooms genial--to re-awaken the genius that everyone has.

I agree with nearly everything Armstrong says, but I find the book neither practical nor inspirational. Some of my teaching textbooks are extremely helpful when it comes to details and concrete examples; some of them do not pay attention to details but are inspiring in that they make me want to become the best teacher I can be. This book doesn't fit into either category. I don't think it was a complete waste of time, though. It served its purpose in making me think more about classroom environments and the kinds of work that goes on in classrooms. I may refer back to the "12 qualities of genius" in the future.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is almost more of a pamphlet and it reads quickly. It started off a bit too textbooky, but I still give it 3.5 stars because I keep thinking about the points Armstrong makes about every child having a bit of genius in her.

The gist of Armstrong's theory is that there are different kinds of "genius" such as creativity, sympathy, and joy, and it's up to us (teachers) to help nurture the genius in every child. I liked that he believes that it begins with the teacher, and that he must first rekindle the genius in himself; that his joy and interest is contagious and you can't expect a child (or teen) to love learning if her teacher doesn't love teaching.

Another reviewer reads this book before every school year, and I think that's a great idea. We all remember teachers that made a difference in our lives and imagine what schooling would be like if every teacher left as much of an impression!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book full of ideas for me! Some many of the ideas I already implement, too. I felt affirmed in how I implement ideas in my classroom.

Qualities of Genius:
Curiosity, playfulness, imagination, creativity, wonder, wisdom, inventiveness, vitality, sensitivity, flexibility, humor, joy

Ways to shutdown Genius:
textbooks, worksheets, testing, grading, stereotyping, watered-down curriculum that appeases all groups of people to the point that students can learn real reasons, real causes, real issues

How to awaken genius in the classroom:
Provide choice, open-ended exploration, freedom from judgment, honoring every student's experience, believing in every student's genius

[Lawrence Linnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most curious thing is that often educators do not see the student's curiosity when it appears. Instead, they may regard it as "off-task" behavior, irrelevancies, silliness, and even rudeness (pp. 3-4).

But more than using a child's curiosity to serve the needs of any particular lesson plan, educators need to recognize that these kinds of innocent questions emerge out of a student's genius -- their often insatiable need to find out everything they can about the world (p. 4).

[Michelle Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focuses on the notion that every student is a genius. It covers what constitutes "genius," what forces in the world cause that genius to fade, and how we, as educators, can re-awaken that genius in our students. For me, the book was informative, though I wish there was more information on re-awakening the genius. That section of the book was very short and felt rushed.

[Anna Spanos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good, even though so much of it felt quite general, like Armstrong was just reiterating basic ideas for constructive classrooms that should be common sense. But a good quick read nonetheless (if you'd like to be reminded of how important good teachers are).

[En Hikmah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teaching and learning is not so easy for some people. But would be better if we know what to do and have something that shows us where to step. this book helps for that.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good food for thought.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there wasn't anything new or surprising in this book for me, it carried some good reminders, as well as some affirmations that I am approaching things from the right direction.

[Tracy Depuydt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great points, but very outdated.

[Audra Costello · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short read that was mostly common sense, but had an inspiring message that all teachers should listen to and follow.