9 Ways

Changes Learningand Lives

Liberating Genius

By Tammy Dunbar, featuring The Room Nine Kids

Liberating Genius is a free e-book authored

by Angela Maiers and Mark E. Moran.

It creates the conditions for a

successful launch of genius hour.

To download Liberating Genius, visit

www.Choose2Matter.org/liberatinggenius

“Liberating Genius” changes learning and lives

through self-reflection, character-building,

collaboration, and the inspiring motto,

"You are a genius and the worldneeds your contribution."

After "What is my Genius," a dramatic hush came

over the room when students received their folders

and read the kind words others had written about them.

All the positivity was so uplifting.

Students asked if they could keep the folders.

When I said "Yes," they decorated them and reverently

placed them in their backpacks.

Liberating Genius Promotes Community

Liberating Genius Broadens Our Thinking

Our “KinderTechBuddies” program has blossomed.

The original mission was to teacher kindergarteners tech tools.

After Liberating Genius, my students have powerful conversations

with their buddies about their talents, passions and ambitions.

We helped our “kinders” create a poster displaying their genius, and

we’re working on more lessons to help them discover their strengths

and passions. Kinders cheer when my students enter the classroom.

Liberating Genius in Action

The Room Nine Kids

are now far easier to convince

that their genius, ideas and passions

are worthy of the world.

My students were excited by

their Thrively passion profiles.

Liberating Genius Helps StudentsBelieve in Themselves

Because Liberating Genius calls for frequent

reflection, we discussed the value of silence in

honing our “inner voice” that guides us to decisions.

Students were stunned to realize they had

almost no quiet time in their lives.

We now enjoy silence during each lesson.

Liberating Genius Makes StudentsMore Reflective

Liberating Genius Creates a"Can Do" Mindset

When I handed out flyers for the annual canned food drive,

students asked about our local food bank;

how many families it serves, and how much food it took

to feed a family of four.

The students researched the answers, both online and in person. They

then used what we had studied about advertising to design a window

display and newspaper article alerting the community to the food drive.

We more than doubled the amount

of food collected last year!

Liberating Genius in Action

At our student/faculty basketball game, I asked my

students which team they hoped would win.

“Either way, Lincoln wins,” replied one with a smile, as

others nodded in agreement.

This is typical of the community-minded attitude

my students have embraced.

Liberating Genius ExtolsCooperation Over Competition

The Room Nine Kids understand thattogether we are stronger and that no matter

who among us wins, we all win.

On our recent standardized tests,

my students' scores increased dramatically.

I’m not ready to attribute this entirely to

our new lessons, but I do know that our

students now approach testing with

more confidence and more creativity.

That, I am certain, can be directly traced

to liberating their genius.

Liberating Genius Helps Students Approach Tests With Confidence and Creativity

Liberating Genius Engenders Compassion

Our students created “Passion Portraits” of fellow students

using their “Power Words” from Thrively. Students then

decided to create “Compassion Portraits” of KinderTechBuddies,

who then drew themselves on the same picture. Next,

my students wrote “You Matter to Me,” printed the pictures and

gave them to their buddies. The buddies put their heads on

the shoulders of their fifth-grade buddies and smiled.

My students were touched, and forever changed.

Paola told me, “I think they know now

how important they are to us.”

Liberating Genius in Action

In the past, it has been a long process before students

chose their genius hour projects.

This year, only 1 of my 31 Room Nine Kids hadn’t

decided on a project after the first conference.

Students will explore family recipes, stop-motion

movies, origami, anti-bullying activities, professional

soccer and other passion projects.

Liberating Genius Helps StudentsFind Their Passion

One student has already startedher project of creating blueprints

for and building her first (mini)home, with a goal of being an

architect who builds affordablehomes for those who haven’t

owned homes before.

Because their collective genius hasbeen liberated,

for The Room Nine Kids and for theworlds and lives they will change.

the future looks brilliant

Liberating Genius Changes Learning and Lives

The Room Nine Kids

About Tammy DunbarTammy teaches fifth grade in Manteca Unified School District and

Pre-Service Technology at Teachers College of San Joaquinin Stockton, California.

She is a popular presenter and trainer around the country. She presentedat the 2015 Microsoft Global E2 conference and earned earned two

global awards for project excellence.

Tammy is the 2006 Teacher of the Year in Manteca Unified School Districtand the 2016 California Woman of the Year, Assembly District 12.

Follow her @TammyDunbar orfind her at www.teachergeekischic.com.

About Angela MaiersEducator. Entrepreneur. Leader. Disruptor. Visionary. Angela Maiers embodies each ofthese descriptors with passion, commitment and fierce determination. She has beencreating and leading change in education and enterprise for 25 years, teaching everylevel of school from kindergarten to graduate school and consulting with companies

around the world.

She helps learners and leaders understand the transformative power of technologyand the Internet. Her powerful message and down-to-earth style has made her ahighly sought-after keynote speaker for education conferences, corporate events

and innovation summits.

She is the author of six books, including Classroom Habitudes and The Passion-DrivenClassroom, and her “You Matter” talk at TEDxDesMoines has been viewed several

hundred thousand times. Angela is an alumna of The University of Iowa, with a B.A. inEducation and M.A. in Educational Supervision and Reading.

About Mark Moran

Mark Moran is a seasoned entrepreneur, executiveand corporate attorney.

He is also the founder of Dulcinea Media, an education-focused publisherof Websites and search engines. He is an expert in online research skills.

Previously, he was General Counsel of 24/7 Real Media (now Xaxis), acorporate associate at the NYC law firm Proskauer Rose, and a controller

at The Bank of New York. He has an MBA and JD from FordhamUniversity, and a B.A. in Economics from The University of Virginia.