Think like a learner: Teri Hein at TEDxRainier

We need to teach children to think like learners. Learners that absorb new information and use it to share with other people in new stories. Teri Hein, a teacher for more than 30 years, has learned we need to assume the best of our children: Assume that they are kind and open, smart and capable, strong and resilient—and when we do, they'll be inspired and think like learners.

Teri Hein grew up in the Palouse of Eastern Washington, the great-granddaughter of early homesteaders to the Washington Territories. She comes from a long line of wheat farmers, school teachers and Lutheran (the liberal faction) ministers.

Hein is the Founding Executive Director of 826 Seattle, a youth writing and tutoring center located in Greenwood. Prior to launching 826 Seattle, she was a founding team member and teacher at The Hutch School, an innovative program for school-aged cancer patients in treatment at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. She has taught in Honduras and Ecuador and, under the auspices of the Fulbright Foundation, researched cultural learning styles in Latin America.

She has published numerous essays and short stories, including her memoir Atomic Farmgirl. Hein—and the programs she has founded—have been recognized with two KCTS-9 Golden Apples, the Mayor's Arts Award and Seattle Met's Light A Fire Award. In 2012 Hein travelled to The White House to accept the National Youth Arts and Humanities award presented to 826 Seattle by First Lady Michelle Obama.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)