Whether we're conscious of them or not, myths about teaching and learning rule the way many of us think about education. Consider these: What the teacher wants me to say is more important than what I want to say; if I make a mistake, my job is only to replace it with the right answer; if I get too far behind, I will never catch up. Never too helpful in any era, for learning and living in the 21st century, these entrenched misperceptions do a disservice to the enterprise of learning and preparing students for the world, says Allison Zmuda.

In this interview, she discusses strategies educators can take to counteract myths to give students a more optimistic, empowered, and dynamic view of learning.

This interview was conducted by ASCD project manager and staff writer Rick Allen.

Whether your school improvement effort is just starting out or well under way, this book sheds light on how to ensure your plans lead to continuous improvement that gets all staff members involved. Using a fictional school setting with representative characters, the authors reveal essential principles of continuous improvement, systems thinking, collective accountability, and the change process.

This interview was conducted by Director of ASCD Book Acquisitions & Development Scott Willis.