Curiosity stimulates basic literacy skills, nurtures conversations,
builds collaboration, and opens our minds to what could be.

This past week, Atlantic Beach Elementary School (Florida) celebrated its annual literacy week. The principal reached out to a few people in the community and asked us to shoot a short video talking about how literacy has inspired us. You can find my short video in the “Video Recommendation for the Week” below.

While most of us associate literacy with reading and writing, I chose to focus on the skill of curiosity. I told the students that each book I have written started with questions—authentic questions about why I was writing a particular book. Who was the audience? Why does this audience need this book? Why do I want to write the book? What do I know about the topic? What do I still need to learn about the topic? On whom can I lean for help, guidance, and mentoring? How will I publish the book after I write it? When will I write it? What do I need to do before I begin writing? Where will I write it?

Each of my first 13 books developed from curiosity…and so will the next one…and the next one…and the next one….

In short, I have to be curious about a lot of pieces and parts in the writing process before I can write a book. Curiosity stimulates my reading and writing skills.

You see, curiosity opens our minds—but only if we ask authentic questions to learn. Check out this particular post.

In an article addressing inquiry-based learning, the author suggested ten strategies to stimulate curiosity. Near the top of the list: “Teach Students How to Ask Quality Questions.”  That was a skill I did my best to model (another top ten strategy) as a classroom teacher. Always asking questions—and never being afraid to say, “I don’t know. Let’s figure that out.”  I would suggest, as well, that such a mindset helps businesses grow and prosper.

The asking and digging associated with curiosity begins the inquiry process. But we have to listen as well. Or else how will we learn. As the Dalai Lama was reported to have said,

“When you talk, you are repeating what you already know.
But when you listen, you may learn something new.”

We ask questions. We listen. We reflect. We ask more questions. We listen some more. We grow.

Curiosity stimulates basic literacy skills, nurtures conversations, builds collaboration, and opens our minds to what could be.

Video Recommendation for the Week:

Make it a great week and HTRB has needed.

My new book has been released.
eBook ($2.99) Paperback ($9.99). Click here.

Roxie Looks for Purpose Beyond the Biscuit.

Well, actually, my dog Roxie gets top billing on the author page for this work. Without her, there would be no story.
Click here for more information about the book.

In the meantime, check out her blog.

And you can still order:

• My book, Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019), (print and e-book) is available on Amazon. More information (including seven free podcast episodes that spotlight the seven core values highlighted in the book) at the above link.
• Check out my book Stories about Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island (2017). It has been adopted for teaching, learning, and coaching purposes. I conducted a half-day workshop for a community college’s new faculty onboarding program using the scenarios in this book. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same. The accompanying videos would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

My podcasts can be found at The Growth and Resilience Network®.

You will find more about what I do at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

©2021. Steve Piscitelli
The Growth and Resilience Network®