Mercer Island Parent Edge and joint sponsors will be hosting New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey for a presentation on her book, The Gift of Failure, on Tuesday, March 20th, at 7 pm in the Mercer Island High School Performing Arts Center.

More information from Parent Edge:
What’s the best way to motivate students to own their education, learn deeply and durably, and develop resilience? Allow them to experience failure as an integral part of becoming successful, resilient and self-reliant adults.

Jessica Lahey is an educator and the author of The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed.

She makes the case that children learn and develop best when they are given autonomy, allowed to feel competent, and are valued for the content of their character rather than the letters on their report card.

Jessica provides actionable recommendations to help parents during the critical school years. These recommendations help parents understand how the disappointment and frustration that occur from life’s inevitable problems should be seen as beneficial steps toward lasting, long-term success.

She offers practical advice for fostering intrinsic motivation and weaning kids off of extrinsic motivators such as short-term rewards, bribes, honors, coercion, and yes, even grades, while giving kids the support and encouragement they need in order to succeed.

More information on Jessica Lahey: 
Jessica Lahey is an educator, writer, and speaker. She is an English and writing teacher, correspondent for The Atlantic, commentator for Vermont Public Radio, and writes the “Parent-Teacher Conference” column for the New York Times. Jessica earned a B.A in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts and a J.D. with a concentration in juvenile and education law from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Learn more about Jessica’s experience by visiting her website.

Event Details:
Audience: This event is for adults and parents only; no students, please.
Cost: Free for PTA members of MISD; $20 for non-MISD members.
Location: MIHS Performing Arts Center, 9100 SE 42nd Street.
Island Books will have copies of The Gift of Failure available for purchase at the event.

This event is jointly sponsored by the PTAs of MIHS, IMS, Island Park, Lakeridge, Northwood, West Mercer, & MIPA.
Register here for the event >>