A brighly colored beac ball floating in a vibrantly blue pool

How to Change Students’ Minds? Create Surprise…

Sometimes teaching is challenging. And sometimes, it’s REALLY challenging. For instance: Because I’m an English…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
Book Cover for Teaching & Learning Illuminated

Classroom Cognition Explained, or, Dual Coding Just Right

The Good News: research into cognitive science can be SPECTACULARLY USEFUL to teachers. (That’s why…



Posted in Book Reviews, L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
Penguins grouped together into the shape of a heart

An Argument Against “Chunking”

Learning and the Brain exists so that we can talk about good teaching together. Although…



Posted in L&B Blog | Leave a comment
Young woman draws an animated storyboard

Do Animations Improve Learning? A Definitivie Answer, Please…

Recently I discussed working memory overload with a group of wise and thoughtful teachers. I showed…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Whole Toolbox in One (Free) Download

If you want to learn more about improving teaching with psychology research, I’ve got good…



Posted in Book Reviews, L&B Blog | Leave a comment
Kindergarten students sitting on the floor, listening to the teacher at the chalkboard

The Cold-Calling Debate: Potential Perils, Potential Successes

Some education debates focus on BIG questions: high structure vs. low structure pedagogy? technology: good…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
A primary school student wearing a backpack and sitting at a desk raises an eager hand.

Navigating Complexity: When 1st Order Solutions Create 2nd Order Problems

Here’s a common classroom problem. As I’m explaning a complex concept, a student raises a…



Posted in L&B Blog | Leave a comment
3 middle school students working together on a problem from a textbook

Collaborative Learning and Working Memory Overload: Good News or Bad?

Consider the following paradox: Teachers need to give students instructions — of course we do! After…



Posted in L&B Blog | Leave a comment
Exasperated teacher standing in the middle of a chaotic classroom, holding her hands on her head and shouting

The Dangers of “The Big Ask”: In Defense of Stubborn...

Let’s face it: teaching is hard. I’ve been a classroom teacher for roughly 20 years —…



Posted in L&B Blog | 1 Comment
Picture of a student doing acrobatic movement in the classroom while carrying backpack with doodles on the blackboard

“Embodied Cognition” in Action: Using Gestures to Teach Science

Here’s a topic that has gotten lots of enthusiastic attention in recent years: embodied cognition….



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment