Hi, I'm Dave Levin. One of the joys in my job is getting to talk to parents about their hopes and dreams for when their kids grow older. Invariably, you hear things like I want my child to be successful. I want my child to be happy and kind and curious and to work hard and to love learning and to be nice to others. And then you ask teachers, so what are you guys teaching? And you'll hear things like reading, writing, math, science, and history. This should not be an either or. It should not be about whether I'm teaching rigorous academics or I'm teaching character strengths like grit, and self-control, and zest, and social intelligence, and gratitude. There is a way to combine academic rigor and character development. >> This week we'll be writing letters that express our love, respect, admiration for someone that you already thought about in our write away. This course is an online version of professional development sessions I've been leading for the last seven years. Combining lessons I've learned from some of the top psychologists, sociologists, and neuroscientists in the country, with the work I've had the honor of doing with some of our country's best K-12 teachers. When I say I you say am. I. >> Am. >> I >> Am. >> It will explore the most recent research in psychology, sociology, and neuroscience. And how K-12 educators are applying that research in their classrooms in both public and private school settings. In the end, our goal is to make sure that the idea of academic rigor and character development are woven into the very DNA of your classroom. We want to encourage you to shoot really high, so that when you're working as a fifth grader, or as a sixth grader, or a seventh grader you're imagining yourself as the president of the United States. If you are a teacher, a coach, or a parent interested in how these ideas might apply at home or how you could help your child at school explore them, this course is for you. Our goal is that you will leave it being able to weave the development of character strength into all aspects of your practice. As a teacher, as a coach, and as a parent. In addition, I think we're gonna have ton of fun along the way as well. I hope you'll join us and register.