As early childhood professionals, we recognize that the care and guidance we provide to children today helps construct the foundation for their success as adults. This is vital work and can cause us to ask ourselves important questions: How will the lessons that we teach and the opportunities that we provide affect them later in life? Are we setting children up for success?
The Formula, by Harvard economist Ronald Ferguson, along with award-winning journalist Tatsha Robertson, is a new book that might help answer some of these questions. The combination of research on child development and brain growth, along with noteworthy personal stories, makes the book an interesting and informative read.
Although the book looks at parenting practices and was written for a target audience of parents, the research and information make this a great resource for teachers and early learning professionals. This book would also be a good one to recommend to parents who have expressed interest in this topic. Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.
Ronald Ferguson has been on the faculty of Harvard’s School of Government since 1983. He is an economist who focuses on social science and educational challenges. He received an undergraduate degree from Cornell and a PhD from MIT, both in economics. His writings on education and youth development have been featured in publications such as the National Research Council, the U.S. Department of Education, and various books and journals.
Ferguson co-founded Tripod Educational Partners in 2014. The organization works with states, districts, and schools to gather, organize, and report on student, teacher, and family perspectives. Tripod was created as part of a school-based initiative focused on raising achievement and reducing the achievement gap.
Tatsha Robertson has an MA in journalism from Ohio State University and more than 20 years of experience in investigative and new writing. She was the first female New York City Bureau Chief for the Boston Globe and has been an adjunct instructor at NYU. Robertson has won several awards including Time Inc.’s Henry Luce Award for Public Service and 10 awards for news coverage from the National Association of Black Journalists.
