A couple of times a month, I will pull together a few current articles related to education for your review. Articles covering a variety of topics will be selected to share what I hope will be relevant and useful information. Some articles will be research-based, others will be about leadership or instructional practices, and some will be opinions pieces or current events. I’ll bring some articles that I agree with, some I disagree with, and some that just made me think.
Let me know if you have specific areas of interest and I will be on the lookout for articles on those topics.
Today’s articles are:
To Boost Learning, Just Add Movement: The author argues for the use of movement in the classroom to help all learners based on research that suggests that
- Small gestures have a positive impact on what is remembered
- Movement improves brain function and boosts academic performance
- More is remembered when presented in multiple modalities
The article includes a link a podcast, ways to add movement to instruction (with video examples for all ages), and tips to get started.
4 Things Teachers Shouldn’t Be Asking Their Students to Do: The author warns that children aren’t “smaller versions of adults” and sometimes are asked to do “things that are unreasonable given their developmental level.” Examples include: silence, sitting still for a long time, forced apologies, and zero tolerance for forgetfulness.
A Synthesis of Quantitative Research on Reading Programs for Secondary Students: This is a review of 69 previously conducted studies that examine the impact of 51 different reading programs for students in grades 6 – 12. The programs were divided into categories based on the type of intervention used in the program. Summary of results: “Programs that provided a daily extra period of reading and those utilizing technology were no more effective, on average, than programs that did not provide these resources. The findings suggest that secondary readers benefit more from socially and cognitively engaging instructions than from additional reading periods or technology.”
High School Doesn’t Have to Be Boring: In this New York Times opinion piece, authors offer their thoughts after spending six years visiting schools around the country. They conclude that most classes, “lack rigor, challenge, and relevance” and offer suggestions on how to improve learning.
Contact Jill Morris (209-1128) with any questions or if you have any topic requests or suggestions.