Do kids actually lose “Basic Skills” and “regress in learning”?
The following announcements, from the UK, and from the USA, are similar to many world-news articles I’ve been reading during the past 8 months: A report by the British school inspection body found that children across…
What is the power of Preschool?
First, we have to answer, “What is “preschool?” Easy. If we consider that first grade of primary, with students about 7 years of age, is the beginning of elementary education, then, logically, any schooling before…
Can a pandemic provoke changes in Education?
One year ago, the world changed. To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, “It happened slowly, and, then, all at once.” Weeks of uncertainty became a season of suffering, and then the deadliest year in the history of…
The power of words
The words you use are more powerful than you imagine. Most people greet each other with words that have no power. Think of the last time you heard someone else (or even yourself) respond to…
12 important ideas about classroom management – part 2
This second part continues presenting insights about classroom management, now with ideas from 7 to 12. 7. An effective teacher MANAGES a classroom. An ineffective teacher DISCIPLINES a classroom. See #5 to look at this…
12 important ideas about classroom management – part 1
I wonder why some teachers have great classroom control, involved students, and seem happy with their work; yet, others find teaching a nightmare, so use strict, boring, rigid control, actually stifling their students, whose behavior…
Do standardized, multiple-choice exams relate to academic standards and learning outcomes?
The simple answer: NO! As common as they are, especially in low-performing countries on PISA, multiple-choice or standardized exams are good for only one thing: THEY ARE EASY TO CORRECT. Do they assess what a…
Are there techniques I need to know for reading aloud to kids?
Our previous post dealt with providing storytelling or reading experiences for young children. Once children get to ages 5 – 12, they love to hear fairy tales, mysteries, and classics. Cinderella, Snow White, the Hardy…
Why don’t kids like to read?
In my previous post, I had written that the next one would be about reading. This is it! Some say that expensive books, or the Internet, television, and smartphones are reasons for not reading. Yet,…
Learning English? Be a baby – or, at least, learn like one
Learning another language is not a priority for some people, so they never are truly successful. Maybe they understand a little, and, perhaps, they can read some short paragraphs in a newspaper or magazine. The…