RSS

Research findings: How best to study

Elizabeth — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:27:28 +0000

Want to help your child learn better? It may be time to rethink age-old views on how best to study.

The New York Times points to a recent review of research on the subject that was published in the journal, Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Among the conclusions of the psychologists who conducted the review are: students study better when they vary their environment and material, when they space study sessions, and when they self-test.

Standardized Test Overhaul

Elizabeth — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:21:40 +0000

This New York Times article explains that the new standardized exams being introduced under the Obama administration represent an overhaul of those established under the No Child Left Behind Legislation introduced under former President George Bush.

The newspaper reports that new tests described by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be computer based and "will measure higher-order skills ignored by the multiple-choice exams used in nearly every state."

Mass. to lead development of new standardized tests

Elizabeth — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:01:52 +0000

A consortium of states led by Massachusetts and Florida have received a $170 million federal grant to design a standardized testing system for U.S. states.

The move, reports The Boston Globe, is another signal that the future of the MCAS could be in doubt. Some - reportedly many of them conservatives and Republicans - oppose Massachusetts dropping the MCAS in favor of the new tests, arguing that they will not be as rigorous.

Governor Deval Patrick says he remains firmly committed to the MCAS as a graduation requirement.

Boston Magazine: Best High Schools in Massachusetts 2010

Elizabeth — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:09:17 +0000

Boston Magazine has ranked Weston High School the best public school in the state.

The Boston Globe carries this summary of public high school rankings reported in the September issue of Boston Magazine.

Also among the top ten are: Dover-Sherborn, Lexington, Wellesley, Concord-Carlisle, Bedford, Brookline, Wayland, Newton North and Newton South.

Some of the criteria used in the rankings are: MCAS scores, SAT scores, per pupil spending, and student-teacher ratio.

Welcome back to school

Elizabeth — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:47:44 +0000

The school year has begun. My youngest son, aged 10, is attending a new school. Over breakfast this morning, I asked him if he was excited for his first day. "Yes," he replied while eating a celebratory croissant. "But surprisingly, I don't have butterflies."

My neighbor shared his story with me. Traditionally, he stands at the bus stop with his children on the first day of school. His daughter is now in Middle School, so she takes the early bus with my ninth-grade daughter. His younger child, aged 10, takes the later bus.

Achievement-based teacher evals gain ground

Elizabeth — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:24:00 +0000

Evaluating teacher performance by calculating the value they add to their students' achievement is becoming more widespread, reports The New York Times.

The newspaper writes that the system, known as value-added modeling, is exploding nationwide and has become a factor in deciding bonuses and even who gets fired.

While some support the method - saying it is an effective method for increasing teacher accountability, others argue it can be unfair.

Perschoolers depressed?

Elizabeth — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:54:04 +0000

Can preschoolers be depressed?

That's the subject of this feature in The New York Times Magazine.

Some child psychiatrists and developmental psychologists say depression can surface in children as young as 2 or 3.

But diagnosis of any mental disorder at such a young age is subject to debate, reports the newspaper. Parents, grandparents, and even some mental health experts have reservations.

Whenever you get short term cash advances, create a personal spending budget

Bernadeth I — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:55:20 +0000

To get one of the most out of short term credit, you need to make a personal spending budget. Nobody wants to be on a budget. Nevertheless, no matter how much money you make, you nevertheless have to be on one. When short term cash advances or pay day loans become part of your financial strategy, controlling spending with a budget is the best way to make certain the money being borrowed is used in the best way.

Delaying Kindergarten

Elizabeth — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:15:58 +0000

"Kindergarten has steadily become, as many educators put it, 'the new first grade'."

That's according to The New York Times that states that delayed enrollment in kindergarten is now common for boys and girls.

The newspaper reports that in 2008, the most recent year for which census data is available, 17 percent of children were 6 or older when they entered kindergarten. In 1970, 14.4 percent of children started kindergarten at age 4. Now, less than 10 percent do.

Confusing Immaturity with ADHD

Elizabeth — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:48:42 +0000

If your child is the youngest in the class and has a diagnosis of ADHD, it could be a mistake.

That's according to researchers quoted in this article on WebMD.

The article says that new research, slated to be published in the Journal of Health Economics, suggests that immaturity can be mislabeled as ADHD.

Opinion: Teachers more effective if not focused on scores

Elizabeth — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:06:23 +0000

Education Week blogger, teacher trainer, and former sixth-grade science teacher, Antony Cody writes that children perform best when teachers are not overly focused on scores.

He bases his opinion on research in England that shows that "pupils show greater motivation, are better behaved and are more likely to be independent and strategic thinkers when teachers are not obsessed by grades."

He notes that there, as here, government policy now places a lot of pressure on teachers and on schools to improve students' scores.

College-entrance exam scores stagnate

Elizabeth — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:32:43 +0000

Scores on ACT college-entrance exams remain low, showing few gains in the last few years.

That's according to new data reported by The Wall Street Journal that "show that fewer than 25% of 2010 graduates who took the ACT college-entrance exams possessed the academic skills necessary to pass entry-level courses."

Some experts say the lack of rigor in high-school courses is partly to blame. Elementary schools, meanwhile, are reported to have shown progress on national achievement exams.

Parents' role grows in DC schools

Elizabeth — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:03:57 +0000

In an effort to better support their students, schools in Washington D.C. are developing parent resource centers and other initiatives to encourage parent involvement.

The Washington Post reports that the moves come as a study from the Harvard Family Research Project shows that parental involvement is key to student achievement.

Schools in the public, private and charter sector are reportedly all making efforts to engage parents in their children's education both inside and outside the classroom.

Studying the Brain Unwired

Elizabeth — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:14:26 +0000

What happens when the brain is given the opportunity to disconnect from technology?

That's the subject of debate in this article in The New York Times.

The article chronicles the journey of five neuroscientists who spend a week in a remote area of southern Utah trying "to understand how heavy use of digital devices and other technology changes how humans think and behave, and how a retreat into nature might reverse those effects."

Study: Teen academic success and chastity

Elizabeth — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:07:51 +0000

A new study finds that teens' academic success is not tied to chastity.

The study's findings, reported in The Boston Globe, suggest that teens in committed relationships do no different in school than those who do not have sex.

Researchers did find, however, that teens who have casual flings get lower grades and have more school-related problems than those who abstain.

More public school dividing class by gender

Elizabeth — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:56:22 +0000

Boys and girls at Imagine Southeast Public Charter School are part of a growing trend in public schools: single-sex education.

The Washington Post reports that while a debate rages about single-sex education, at least four publicly funded schools in Washington D.C., as well as other public schools across the country, are dividing students by gender.

Benefits of summer camp

Elizabeth — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:27:49 +0000

Reviving the lost art of letter writing - that's one of the benefits of summer camp, according to this article in USA Today.

One camp director is quoted as saying that writing letters home and solving problems by yourself is one of many life lessons camp provides.

Also quoted is the president of the National Council of Teachers of English. Camp, she says, provides an authentic purpose for writing a letter.

Study: How to stop summer reading loss

Elizabeth — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:03:29 +0000

New research offers a simple solution to summer learning loss in reading: Give low-income children access to books at spring fairs.

The New York Times reports that the three-year study by researchers at the University of Tenenssee, Knoxville, tracked the reading habits and test scores of more than 1,300 Florida children from 17 low-income schools.

Children who were given free books for three summers had significantly higher test scores than children who were just offfered free activity and puzzle books.

A new kind of summer camp for early adolescence

Elizabeth — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:04:53 +0000

This New York Times article profiles a new breed of summer camps -New York-based programs that cater to the adolescent.

Two programs are profiled: Teen Hampton, a program on the East End of Long Island, and Passport NYC, a three-week program at the 92nd Street Y.

The 92nd Street Y camp is described as "aspirational", with the focus being on cultivating professional aspirations in one of four creative fields.

The Long Island camp eschews the term camper, allows adolescents to sleep late, and gives them the ability to make their own schedules.

Student plagiarism in digital age

Elizabeth — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:17:06 +0000

A growing number of students in today's digital age do not understand that using words they didn't write is unacceptable.

That's what cases recounted by tutors and college discipline officials seem to suggest, according to this article in The New York Times,

The newspaper reports that educators who study plagiarism say that the concepts of intellectual property, copyright and originality are under assault and that the Internet may be redefining how students understand authorship.

Why summer vacation should go

Elizabeth — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:00:28 +0000

In this abridged version of an August 2 article on summer vacation, Time Magazine journalist David Von Drehle puts forward "The Case Against Summer Vacation."

Von Drehle points to well-documented statistics on summer learning loss and notes that "summer is among the most pernicious - if least acknowledged - causes of achievement gaps in America's schools."

He explains that children of low-income families suffer the most and that American children as a whole lose out to children around the globe who may be spending four weeks longer in school each year.

Study: Good kindergarten teachers matter

Elizabeth — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:41:30 +0000

Wondering if that well-qualified kindergarten teacher really makes a difference?

A new study has found that some teachers in a Tennessee experiment not only were able to help students learn vastly more than others, but also result in these students being more likely to go to college, less likely to become single parents, and more likely to save for retirement. "Perhaps most likely," reports the article in The New York Times, "these students were earning more."

Equity of kindergarten test?

Elizabeth — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:17:36 +0000

In 2008, New York City education chancellor Joel I. Klein made citywide standardized test scores the sole criteria for admission to the city's gifted kindergarten programs.

Under the test-only system, the percentage of Blacks and Hispanics in the programs has dropped from 46 percent under the old system to 27 percent this year, reports The New York Times.

The newspaper also reports that the test-prep industry for 4-year-olds has burgeoned, leaving some to question whether those who can pay for tutoring are now given an unfair advantage .

Mass standards better than national?

Elizabeth — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:46:13 +0000

In the ongoing debate over states' adoption of national academic standards, The New York Times reports that 27 states have already adopted the national education standards and about a dozen more are expected to do so in the next two weeks.

The move to adopt the standards in English and math is attributable in part to the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition.

Overview: Common academic standards vs. state

Elizabeth — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:44:56 +0000

States' plans to adopt common academic-content standards are generating vigorous opposition among some officials in Massachusetts and other states.

The common standards were organized and developed by two Washington-based groups with the unofficial blessing of federal education officials. Adopting the standards by Aug 2 means additional points for securing grants through the federal Race to the Top competition.

But abandoning state standards, such as those on which Massachusetts MCAS exams are based, is controversial.

My Summer Learning Loss x 4

Elizabeth — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:56:27 +0000

An article I read today has got me thinking. According to an article in LD online, research by the foundation Reading is Fundamental (RIF) suggests that children who do not read over the summer experience a loss of reading fluency and comprehension skills, while students who do read actually gain skills. In addition, the author throws in, students lose more than two years of grade level equivalency in math if they are not stimulated.

Shocking, right?

Stop summer learning loss

Elizabeth — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:11:05 +0000

Allowing your children to take a break from reading and math this summer? You may want to reconsider, according to this article in LD Online.

The article refers to research by the foundation Reading is Fundamental that suggests that children who do not read over the summer experience a loss of reading fluency and comprehension skills, while students who do read actually gain skills. In addition, students reportedly lose more than two years of grade level equivalency in math if they are not stimulated.

Opinion: The Case for Foreign Languages

Elizabeth — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:46:04 +0000

In this "Opinion" piece in Education Week, former teacher and UCLA Graduate School of Education lecturer, Walt Gardner argues that not enough attention has been paid to foreign language instruction in U.S. education.

Gardner suggests that foreign language classes continue to be viewed as options, rather than as necessities. He does note that a higher percentage of U.S. students are studying foreign language than at any time in U.S. history.

Let children choose what they read

Elizabeth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:50:02 +0000

With summer in full swing, we thought mykidsupport members might find this article - published in the UK newspaper, The Guardian - to be an informative read.

The article outlines recommendations by American publishing expert Michael Norris in May's Book Publishing Report on how to effectively encourage children to read.

Among the recommendations by Norris are to let children discover books for themselves, to associate reading with pleasure and achievement rather than with work, and to avoid editing your child's book choice by age.

Schools group students by skill, not grade

Elizabeth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:20:21 +0000

Instead of grouping students by grade, some schools are grouping students by ability.

That's according to this article in USA Today that notes that struggling schools in Kansas City, MO, are part of a district that's the latest to try the approach.

"Starting this fall officials will begin switching 17,000 students to the new system to turnaround trailing schools and increase abysmal tests scores," reports the newspaper.

But while advocates say the approach cuts down on student frustration and boredom, critics say implementation can be tricky.

Teens getting fewer summer jobs

Elizabeth — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:11:42 +0000

Nationwide, teens are facing the most difficult summer hiring season in decades.

That's according to this article in the LA Times that reports the May unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds was the highest figure since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the unemployment rate in 1948.

The newspaper says older workers are snapping up jobs normally held by teens.

Profile: Best-Selling Author, Actor and Dyslexic Henry Winkler

Elizabeth — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:46:54 +0000

The former star of the television sitcom "Happy Days", Henry Winkler did not read his first novel until he was in his thirties. Now, Winkler, who is dyslexic, is reinventing himself as a best-selling children's author.

Together with co-author Lin Oliver, Winkler has written a set of 17 books that have already sold 2.5 million copies in the US, reports this article in The Independent.

Study: ADHD medication no long-term growth effects

Elizabeth — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:11:35 +0000

Neither attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) nor medications used to treat it have a long-term impact on kids' growth, a new study published online in The Journal of Pediatrics suggests.

The summary of the report, featured in Reuters, comes in the wake of previous reports that have shown that medication may at first make kids with ADHD eat less and grow slower than their peers without the condition.

America's Best High Schools

Elizabeth — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:14:23 +0000

Newsweek has published its annual ranking of America's best high schools based on the proportion of advanced-placement courses and tests taken by a school's student body.

To come up with their ranking, Newsweek took the total number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate(IB) or Cambridge (AICE) tests given at a school each year and divide by the number of graduating seniors.

The Move to Discourage Best Friends

Elizabeth — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:41:19 +0000

Some educators and other professionals are questioning whether a child should have a best friend.

That's according to this article in The New York Times that reports that the classic best-friend bond can signal potential trouble for school officials trying to discourage exclusivity. As a result, reports the newspaper, school officials are encouraging students to cultivate a wider network of good friends.

Some psychologists, however, worry that discouraging best friends can deny children the strong emotional support and security that comes with intimate friendships.

Engineering in Kindergarten

Elizabeth — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:12:36 +0000

Engineering is becoming a priority in early education in some US school districts.

That's according to this article in The New York Times that reports that in classes as young as kindergarten, students are receiving engineering lessons.

Supporters say that engineering reinforces math and sciences skills, promotes thinking and creativity, and teaches students not to be afraid of taking intellectual risks at a time when American students are falling behind in some of these skills.

Risks in Parenting While Plugged In

Elizabeth — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:18:36 +0000

In this article, Julie Scelfo of The New York Times examines the impact of technology on parenting.

As a starting point, she uses the work of Sherry Turkle, the director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Institute on Technology and Self, that is based on five years of study and 300 interviews. Turkle's findings, to be published in her upcoming book "Alone Together", finds that feelings of hurt, jealousy and competition are widespread.

Massachusetts wants more preschool teachers with bachelor's degrees

Elizabeth — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:37:06 +0000

Massachusetts is calling on more preschool teachers to earn bachelor's degrees.

The Boston Globe reports that less than one-third of early educators who teach in private programs - where the the vast majority of preschoolers attend - hold bachelor's degrees.

But early childhood education advocates say that a bachelor's degree may lead to only a slight increase in an already low salary, sometimes only 25 cents more per hour. Current annual incomes reportedly can be as low as $30,000 a year.

Survey: More sleep means more success

Elizabeth — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:48:40 +0000

New research reported by NPR shows added sleep leads to better performance.

The Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic study showed that extra hours of sleep helped college football players' performance on drills such as the 40-yard dash and the 20-yard shuttle.

The players performance was measured before and after six weeks of 10 hours of sleep. In the 40-yard dash, the players' time improved an average of one-tenth of a second.

The article also notes a study that showed that children with bedtime rituals and rules were associated with higher scores on language and math skills.

Survey on impact of helicopter parents

Elizabeth — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:52:58 +0000

Fox News has published the results of a recent study that takes a closer look at the impact of so-called "helicopter parenting" on college freshmen.

Noting that the findings from the 300 person study are preliminary and that more studies are needed, Fox News reports that the results indicate that over-parenting may lead to children who are not ready to leave home.

Australia and Dyslexia

Elizabeth — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:24:51 +0000

This reporter for the Australian-based "Age" newspaper puts a lens to St Paul's Primary School, one of many schools in the UK that have been awarded dyslexia friendly status by the British Dyslexia Association.

The school is shown in contrast to the way dyslexia is treated in Australia - "where, apart from New South Wales, it is not legally recognised as a learning disability and debate still centres on whether the condition really exists."

Why Science Matters

Elizabeth — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:49:53 +0000

On the drive back from school a few weeks ago, my 12-year-old son began imagining the future. “When I’m older, we won’t be driving on the street,” he began. “We’ll be riding cars in the sky. Roads won’t be needed. We’ll be so much more advanced. Think how far technology has come in 30 years.”

Best Education Towns in the Nation

Elizabeth — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:02:52 +0000

Web site greatschools.net has put together a list of the top schools in the country and with that, they've assembled what they deem to be key contributors.

Included in the right column of the article are links to the top public schools listing and the methodology they used to determine the rankings.

This article, entitled "Best cities to live and learn 2010", lists small classrooms, innovative programs, strong superintendents, and a supportive community among the commonalities of top schools.

Books in Home = Academic Achievement

Elizabeth — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:47:14 +0000

A new study finds that children who grow up in a home with more than 500 books spend three years longer in school than children whose parents have only a few books.

The study, published in the journal of Research in Social Stratification and Mobility and reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education also finds that a child whose parents have lots of book is nearly 20-percent more likely to finish college.

The study was conducted over 20 years, in 27 countries, and surveyed more than 70,000 people.

9 Tips for SAT Success

Elizabeth — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:33:14 +0000

Brian Burnsed of US News and World Report has written nine tips on whether the SAT is right for you and how to earn your best score.

He covers everything from whether to take the alternative ACT and how to prepare mentally and physically.

He also discusses strategy and time management.

Princeton Review Ends Free Tutoring

Elizabeth — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:53:38 +0000

As of the end of the 2009/2010 school year, test prep and online learning company Princeton Review will no longer offer free after-school tutoring.

The news, reported in The Boston Globe, comes with a company statement that "recent philosophical changes at the state and federal levels have significantly altered the landscape" for such programs and hurt growth opportunities.

The program, called Supplemental Educational Services, reportedly worked with about 100 school districts nationwide to create free tutoring services for students.

SAT Prep Company: No 255-Point Boost

Elizabeth — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:00:49 +0000

The Princeton Review company has stopped making the claim that its "Ultimate Classroom" SAT test-preparation course can boost SAT scores by 255 points.

The report in The Boston Globe states that the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, which examines accuracy in advertising, announced that the test-prep company made the move voluntarily after a challenge by competitor Kaplan, Inc.

The article also reports that most kids who take the SAT twice do not see large improvements in their scores.

Mom's Voice Soothes

Elizabeth — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:56:40 +0000

A mother's voice may give as much comfort as her hug.

That's the finding of researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Madison who measured the same amount of stress reduction in children who had their mother's physical interaction as those who had their mother's vocal interaction.

Their conclusion is that speech may be as important as touch in the development of important social bonds.

Colleges Seeing No Downturn in Acceptance

Elizabeth — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:39:25 +0000

One comparative measure for colleges is admission yields and according to this article in The New York Times, some of the most competitive colleges are reporting no downturn despite a sluggish economy.

Admissions yields represent the percentage of applicants offered acceptance who decide to enroll. Institutions like Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are finding that compared to last year, about as many or even more applicants are deciding to enroll, says the newspaper.

The Finnish Miracle

Elizabeth — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:16:56 +0000

The 2006 results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) are well known: among 57 nations, 15-year-old students from Finland placed first in science, second in math, and third in reading. What continues to draw attention is why.

This article in Greatschools.net examines what's different about Finnish schools. Among their findings are a more relaxed environment, fewer working hours for teachers, and less homework for children.

Teachers also enjoy a high level of respect and a comparatively large amount of autonomy in their work.