Unleashing the Positive Power of Differences: Polarity Thinking in Our Schools

Move from entrenched differences to common goals! All too often, key education initiatives collapse because leaders fail to anticipate and learn from the concerns of those charged with implementation. This illuminating book shows how education leaders can bring opposing groups to common ground, resulting in a solid plan built on diverse wisdom.   Acclaimed education coach Jane Kise demonstrates how polarity thinking—a powerful tool for bridging differences developed by Barry Johnson of Polarity Partnerships—provides an alternative to endless debates and either/or thinking. Rather than seeing conflicting forces, the tools help us view them as equally important—even interdependent—concepts, approaches, or models. Readers will find: Ways to recognize polarities, map the positive and negative aspects, and channel energy wasted on disagreement toward a greater common purpose Tools for introducing and working with polarities Polarity mapping to help leaders improve processes for leading change and creating buy-in Ways to use polarity with students as a framework for higher-level thinking "Jane Kise provides guidance for educators engaged in deep change and implementation of initiatives in which stakeholders have opposing perspectives. Through authentic examples of significant changes educators face today, Kise guides educators to leverage polarity thinking to promote commitment, engagement, and investment." — Joellen Killion, Senior Advisor Learning Forward "The mind, entrenched in the rigidity of either/or thinking, dwells on the divisions and ignores the connections of both/and.  This engaging and practical book helps our students (and their teachers) transcend those divisions in a journey toward enriched enlightenment and greater flexibility." —Arthur L. Costa, Emeritus Professor California State University, Sacramento

Table of Contents:
List of Professional Development Activites Acknowledgments About the Author Part I. Understanding Polarity Thinking Chapter 1. Introduction: Let′s Put Our Differences to Work for Us Chapter 2. Getting Unstuck in Education Part II. The Big Picture of Polarity Thinking in Education Reform Chapter 3. Leveraging Education Goals: Academic Success AND Whole Child Success Chapter 4. Ensuring Effective Teachers: Evaluation as a Measure of Effectiveness AND a Guide for Professional Growth Chapter 5. A Math Wars Truce: Mastery of Knowledge AND Mastery of Problem Solving Chapter 6. Making Diplomas Meaningful: Standardization AND Customization Part III. Putting the SMALL Polarity Thinking Tools to Work Chapter 7. Introducing Polarity Thinking to Your Team Chapter 8. Guiding Your Team Through Polarity Thinking Chapter 9. Using Polarity Tools to Explore Initiatives and Opposing Experts Chapter 10. Working With Common Polarities in Education Chapter 11. Students and Polarities: A Tool for Critical Thinking Part IV. A Closer Look at Why We Believe What We Believe Chapter 12. Carl Jung, Neuroscience, and the Truth That We′re Wired to Develop Different Viewpoints Conclusion: Moving Beyond Polarization in Education Appendix A. A PACT Process Case Study Appendix B. Chapter 9 Reading: How Do We Help Students Succeed? References Suggestions for Further Reading Index

About the Author :
Jane Kise, an educational consultant with extensive experience in leadership, instructional coaching, differentiation, and effective mathematics instruction, is considered a worldwide expert in Jungian type and its impact on leadership and education. The author of over 20 books, she works with schools and businesses, facilitating the creation of environments where everyone—leaders, teachers and students—can flourish.   She trains educators around the world on coaching, collaborative practices, effective change processes, and differentiated instruction, especially in mathematics. A frequent conference keynote speaker, her past engagements include education conferences and type conferences across the United States and in Europe, Saudi Arabia, Australia and New Zealand. Jane has also written articles for several magazines and has received awards for her differentiated coaching research.    Jane currently teaches doctoral courses in education leadership for the University of St. Thomas and is a past faculty member of the Center for Applications of Psychological Type. She served as President of the Association for Psychological Type International. She holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management and a doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She is certified in Neuroscience and Jungian Personality, is a MBTI ® Master Practitioner qualified to use MBTI Steps I, II and III, and is certified in emotional intelligence instruments and leadership 360 tools. You can read more about her work at www.janekise.com.

Review :
"Practical and inspirational! Leveraging the Positive Power of Differences is a must read for educators at all levels of a school system. Drawing from a wealth of information and stories from the field, Kise shows educators and students "why" they must have conversations about polarizing issues, and then shows "how" to engage productively in the conversations. Everyone benefits! After reading this book, educators and students will have the necessary tools to transform school cultures and classrooms into climates of trust and collaboration." "Jane Kise is an expert in personality type as applied to educators.  Although useful, ways of understanding leadership, coaching, and teaching, personality types are based on polarities.  Kise uses them, however, as part of a framework for understanding and resolving critical polarities in education, such as depth versus breadth in curriculum.  She provides a set of steps for making use of personality types and moving from conflict to common purposes and then into action for the good of student and adult learning." "Making sense of ′pendulum swings′ in education is difficult for all educators; however, the use of Jane Kise′s polarity tools keeps planning, decisions, and acceptance of change centered on what’s most important—student learning!" "We live in an increasingly polarized world. At last, Leveraging the Positive Power of Differences provides a meaningful and relevant way to harness the passion that drives people to take positions at opposing poles and leverage their energy to focus on the common good." "Conservatism vs. liberalism; autonomy vs. interdependence; competition vs. cooperation--our lives are now and our children’s future lives will be filled with intellectual tugs of war between opposites.  The mind, entrenched in the rigidity of either/or thinking, dwells on the divisions and ignores the connections of both/and.  This engaging and practical book helps our students (and their teachers) transcend those divisions in a journey toward enriched enlightenment and greater flexibility.   Ah, but there’s the dilemma:  rigidity vs. flexibility." "Kise’s Unleashing the Positive Power of Differences provides pragmatic guidance for educators engaged in deep change and implementation of initiatives in which stakeholders have opposing perspectives. Through authentic examples of significant changes educators face today, Kise guides educators to leverage polarity thinking to promote commitment, engagement, and investment. Rather than squandering time and effort in determining right and wrong, Kise helps educators learn how to extract ideas from diverse stances on an issue to accelerate and sustain change. When educators use polarity thinking, they model for their students and stakeholders how to develop healthier, more productive strategies for strengthening community."