Welcome to the Critical Skills Blog, home to over a thousand human-generated articles—never AI—on topics that matter to continuous education. To find articles of interest, use the “Search” tab. Please feel free to comment, and please subscribe. All content on this site is free.
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New Book – “The Critical Skills”
I just recently put up the draft chapters of “The Critical Skills.” Please feel free to check it out and make comments as appropriate. More⇢
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Personal Experience With the “Production Skill” in the Spooky and Secret World of Nuclear Submarines
This is a personal story about an experience I had many, many years ago when I was in the US Naval Nuclear Submarine Force. For over 40 years I have rarely if ever talked about it. The intent of this rather lengthily example is to show the various stages of… More⇢
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Implementing the “Common Core Standards” – A Creative Approach!
Teaching to the Common Core Standards requires students to actually demonstrate that they know how to think and how to apply and understand the material which they are taught. Aligning the curriculum to the Common Core Standards is much easier IF one considers the student as “having a job as… More⇢
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Can Teachers Teach To The Common Core Standards?
I suppose the answer to that question is, “It depends . . . ,” but my general feeling is that the answer is, “Not right now.” This is not to say that teachers won’t eventually be able to teach to the common core standards. It IS saying that many teachers… More⇢
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The G.O.P.’s Newest Target: The Common Core Standards
It looks like the G.O.P. is conceding the fight over Obamacare is futile – and it’s time to move on. It also looks like the next target will be the Common Core Standards . . . already labeled “Obamacore” by some. It’s ironic that the Common Core Standards were initiated… More⇢
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Growing Opposition to the Common Core Standards
We knew it would be coming – especially when prospective presidential candidates feel a need to sound off in opposition of something. It has arrived! The political opposition to the Common Core Standards. Many of us remember the promising days of the “School to Work Opportunities Act of 1994” –… More⇢
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Teaching and Learning . . . or Preparing Students for Standardized Tests? Same Old Story?
Ginia Bellafante presented an interesting article in the March 28, 2014 edition of the Sunday New York Times entitled, “Standing Up To Testing.” Well done, Ginia! With the emergence of the Common Core Standards, one might think that schools would focus their teaching and learning efforts on the components of… More⇢
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David Coleman – Hope for the SAT? Let’s Hope So! Good Luck, David!
Todd Balf’s article “The SAT Is Hated By . . . .” in the March 9 issue of the New York Times Magazine sheds some light on the problems created by high stakes standardized testing – specifically the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The article is excellent and offers some hope… More⇢
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The Critical Skills Journey – Déjà vu All Over Again?
The Critical Skills Journey – Déjà vu All Over Again? I don’t know whether or not to be encouraged and optimistic or depressed. They’re back . . . . Critical Skills . . . . this time hidden within what are now called Common Core Standards. I was encouraged this… More⇢
Meet Your Host – Charles Cranston Jett
Charles Cranston Jett is an author, civic educator, and Professional Certified Coach based in Chicago. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (Class of 1964) and Harvard Business School, he served during the Cold War aboard the nuclear submarine USS Ray (SSN 653), where his tactical innovations helped inspire Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan character. He developed the Field Studies methodology to teach “Critical Skills” and was endorsed by the Department of Labor in 1994. He is the author of six books, including Super Nuke!, hosts three podcasts, and writes across his Critical Skills Blog and Civic Sage platforms on history, leadership, and the health of the American republic. He and his wife, Dr. Nancy Church, co-host the Chicago Salons at Water Tower Residences.
