Month: April 2023

My Five Favorite TED Talks of All Time

Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

By Jennifer Ward

1. Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are

In this TED Talk, Amy Cuddy gives insight into our body language and communication. She discusses her own path and how she arrived at where she is today. This is my most-watched TED Talk of all time.

“Fake it ’til you become it.” – Amy Cuddy

2. What Reality Are You Creating For Yourself?

I recently watched Issac Lidsky’s TED Talk, and I found his story to be very moving. He doesn’t just speak about struggles he has faced but how they have actually been a blessing.

“Hold yourself accountable for every moment, every thought, every detail. See beyond your fears.”- Issac Lidsky

3. The Art of Being Yourself 

In this TED Talk, Caroline McHugh gives some powerful advice on confidence and being yourself. As someone who has struggled with public speaking, I could really relate to this. She is truly an intelligent woman and a brilliant speaker. I could listen to her all day.

“Since that day, I have never been the center of attention. You’re the center of mine. And that is a very different feeling.” – Caroline McHugh

4. The Power of Mentoring

I love hearing success stories. Lori Hunt’s story is emotional and inspiring, reminding us about the power of mentoring. Her TED Talk made me think of my own struggles early on in college and how I overcame them. It also made me think of mentors I’ve had along the way and how fortunate I was to have met them.

“One day of mentoring, can change one life forever.” – Lori Hunt

5. The Power of Introverts 

We often value and praise extroverts for being outgoing and expressive, but what about the rest of us? Susan Cain asserts that a third to half of the world’s population is made up of introverts. Basically, that breaks down to one out of every few people you know. That’s a lot. She also discusses how we should reconsider undervaluing and underestimating introverts in the workplace. As someone with introverted qualities, I wholeheartedly agree.

“Go into the wilderness. Be like Buddha, have your own revelations.” – Susan Cain

Do you have any favorite TED Talks we can add to the list? Are there any videos here that resonated with you? Let’s start a conversation in the comments below.

Hey there! Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this blog post, please send me a like or comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can subscribe to future blog posts at the top of the sidebar to your right or connect with me on Twitter: @jennwardwrites.

Thank you again for your support!

Three Books Every Educator Should Read

Photo by Alexandre Van Thuan @Unsplash

By Jennifer Ward

For the past decade, teaching has been my life. My Brooklyn public school classroom is like a second home to me. I’m sure most teachers feel the same. I spend a lot of time there because my students are an important part of my life, and I love teaching. Over the years, there are a few books that I have found to be very insightful about education in the United States. They may not offer a step-by-step guide on what to do as a new teacher, but they shed light on systemic flaws and how so many politicians and those in higher positions get education wrong. Being an educator goes beyond knowing what to do in the classroom. It also means understanding the issues we are confronted with and where they stem from outside the classroom. These are three books I have found helpful along my way.


Photo by Austria National Library @ Unsplash

The Life and the Death of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch

In the midst of Bloomberg’s mayoral term in New York City, I read Ravitch’s book for a class I took in college. Bloomberg’s business model approach is part of what Ravitch discusses, which shows how there is a lack of understanding of what students, parents, and teachers need. Although this was many years ago, a lot hasn’t changed. Ravitch goes into depth about NCLB, No Child Left Behind, and how standardized tests and accountability causes major damage. My favorite chapter in this book is “The Billionaire Boys’ Club,” which talks about The Gates Foundation and The Walton Family Foundation, both of which vastly influence education in America. It is eye-opening and disconcerting, yet necessary to think about the survival of public schools.

Photo by Roman Mager on Unsplash

Lives on the Boundary by Mike Rose

Mike Rose, author of Lives on the Boundary, is another book every educator should read. It discusses the educational challenges students from impoverished and immigrant homes face. Rose grew up in California and was a child of Italian immigrants during the 1940s and 1950s. Although he became a successful educator and author, he had many struggles early on. He never forgot those hardships and has written about them in many of his books. Lives on the Boundary draws from Rose’s personal experiences, as well as those around him, leaving us with a book that is poignant and informative.

Photo By Elke Wetzig (Elya) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1167249

Teacher Man by Frank McCourt

Teacher Man is a candid memoir authored by Frank McCourt that chronicles his professional growth as a teacher in New York City. His career spanned decades while he taught at high schools and universities. This book was published a few years before his death in 2009. I love a beautiful memoir, but even better when it is about an author and teacher I truly admire.

Have you read these books? Are there any you would add to this list? Let’s start a conversation in the comments below.

Hey there! Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this blog post, please send me a like or comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can subscribe to future blog posts at the top of the sidebar to your right or connect with me on Twitter: @jennwardwrites.

Thank you again for your support!

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