Trying to be number one and trying to do a task well are two different things.

A preoccupation with achievement is not only different from, but often detrimental to, a focus on learning. Thoughts and emotions while performing an action are more important in determining subsequent engagement than the actual outcome of that action.

Maximum difficulty isn't the same as optimal difficulty.

Children learn how to make good decisions by making decisions, not by following directions.

Educators remind us that what counts in a classroom is not what the teacher teaches; it’s what the learner learns.

If unconditional love and genuine enthusiasm are present, praise isn't necessary. If they're absent, praise won't help.

In outstanding classrooms, teachers do more listening than talking, and students do more talking than listening. Terrific teachers often have teeth marks on their tongues.