Monthly Archives: January 2020

Today’s Humble Pie: 206 Bones

I was wrong. Somewhere, teachers really do write down long lists of words to be copied. Trust me: that’s not what “direct instruction means.” At all. Continue reading



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Is it Better to be a “Natural” or a “Striver”?

Research with musicians suggests that — although we say we prefer hard work — our value judgments end up rewarding perceived talent. Continue reading



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“How We Learn”: Wise Teaching Guidance from a Really Brainy Guy

How We Learn, by Stanislas Dehaene, offers a rich and fascinating look at human brains, their ways of learning, and the best ways to teach them. Continue reading



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Whose Online Teaching Advice Do You Trust?

Paradoxically, the right amount of self-doubt should inspire in readers a greater sense of trust. Continue reading



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I’m Curious: Does Curiosity Promote Learning?

Does curiosity promote learning? New research offers a surprising, complex, and subtle answer to that question. Continue reading



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Retrieval Grids: The Good, the Bad, and the Potential Solutions

“Retrieval grids” promote retrieval practice — that’s good! But they might lead to working-memory overload — that’s really bad. Happily, we might be able to solve this problem… Continue reading



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Take Time for You: Self-Care Action Plans for Educators by Tina H. Boogren

Teaching is an emotionally and cognitively demanding job, a fact that the public does not always appreciate. To cope with these demands and help teachers feel and do their best inside and outside of the classroom Tina Boogren encourages teachers



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Should Students Exercise DURING Learning? A Twitter Debate Rages…

Does exercise DURING learning help students? Twitter knows the answer to the question quite confidently. Research on the topic, however, invites us to be both cautious and optimistic. Continue reading



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Home News: Rememebring Bruce McEwen

I first heard Dr. Bruce McEwen talk about the neurobiology of stress in 2010. He had won an award (one of a great many) at MIT, and was lecturing on intricate hormonal interactions within the hippocampus. Even before he began



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An Unexpected Strategy to Manage Student Stress

We might be inclined to reassure our anxious students, and advise them to “remain calm.” This research, however, suggests a surprising alternative. Continue reading



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