A final message

from the authors

This book draws on practical examples drawn from research and the authors’ own experience. Some of the examples (like the abacus, dominoes and playing cards, opposite) go back centuries.

But we live in a world of supersonic change. And many of the school examples, in particular, often depend on the drive and brilliance of a principal or specific teacher, or the dynamism of a board or government. Often those policies change with a change in people. Where that has happened since the earlier versions of this book, we’ve chosen to leave the success-models intact—because that is what the book is about: successful principles that work, whether or not someone has since chosen to amend them.

Chinese journalists, in particular, have also asked: how can we be sure that foreign-language learning methods suitable for an alphabet culture can work just as easily with a “picture word” language. Can we point to Chinese schools getting the same results? The simple answer is: we can’t. That’s not the task we set ourselves. Again, we have reported the best specific success stories we have researched or seen in action, wherever they may have been applied. It is up to all readers to select and use those they like best. And we’re always looking for examples that work even more effectively. Please email them to:

Gordon Dryden: gordon@learningweb.co.nz or Jeannette Vos at: vos@learning-revolution.com