A woman seated in a small airplane cockpit with her hands on the yoke

Teachers’ Professionalism: Are We Pilots or Architects?

I recently attended a (non-Learning-and-the-Brain) conference, and saw a thoughtful presentation that included a discussion of…



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A triangular yellow road sign reading "Hard Work Ahead." the sign has a large hand print on it, and smudges of dirt or grime.

The Benefits (and Perils) of Thinking Hard

Back in 2010, Professor Dan Willingham launched a movement with his now-classic book Why Don’t Students…



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A man and woman sit across a small table talking with each other. He shrugs his shoulders in puzzlement, she points in irritation.

Learning Goals Reconsidered (No, Not THOSE Learning Goals)

I’ve been discussing a topic with colleagues in recent months, and want to share my…



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Incremental Steps with Growth Mindset

The field of education often races to extremes, and the field of Growth Mindset has…



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A young girl reads and draws in a garden

Even More Questions (3rd of a Series)

This blog post continues a series about research into questions. I started with questions that…



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The Best Way to Teach: When Clarity Leads to Muddle

Most teachers want to be better teachers. You’re probably reading this blog for research-based guidance on…



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A baby wearing a suit with a "binkie" in his mouth, hoding and staring at a cellphone

A Smartphone Has, and Is, a Mirror Function

A recently published study looks at the role that ADULTS play in their children’s phone…



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Two students raising their hands and laughing as they look at each other

Again with the Questions (Second of a Series)

Three weeks ago, I started a short series of blog posts about asking questions. After…



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A hand holding a pencil filling out answers on a stardardized test

The Great Exam Debate: A Conversation with a Colleague

A colleague recently reached out to ask me about research into the benefits and perils…



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Drawings of men and women making a variety of hand gestures

Do Gestures Improve Learning? Baby Steps Toward a Conclusion

The idea that “gestures improve learning” has be increasingly popular in recent years. I first…



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