academic standing Archives

Read the Evidence

by Laura Maniglia | Jul 20, 2024 | academic standing, brain development, cognitive skills, instruction, learning, reading, teachers, testing

The human brain is naturally adapted for spoken language. However,”reading and writing are acquired skills for which the human brain is not yet fully evolved.” For nearly 400 years, phonics has been the prevailing method of reading instruction. “However, in the mid...

Recess is Vital!

by Laura Maniglia | Jun 18, 2024 | academic standing, active learning, attention & focus, brain development, cognitive skills, exercise, instruction, kindergarten, learning, parents, public schools, recess, student engagement, students, teachers

A positive correlation exists between physical activity and cognitive development. Government health guidelines recommend sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Yet most children do not meet that guideline. “Recess, a regularly...

Teach for America

by Laura Maniglia | Apr 19, 2024 | academic standing, Charter schools, instruction, math, NEA, parents, PTA, student engagement, teacher effectiveness, teacher training, teachers

The Teach for America (TFA) program launched in 1990 “to address a national teacher shortage and dire academic issues for low-income kids that had not improved in a century.” TFA is a competitive program that recruits high performing college graduates to teach...

Dyscalculia?

by Laura Maniglia | Feb 2, 2024 | academic standing, attention & focus, brain development, Child development, cognitive skills, instruction, math, parents, students, teachers

Many people know about dyslexia, the learning disorder that involves reading difficulty. However, less known is another learning disorder related to math: dyscalculia. This learning difficulty involves brain areas that handle math and number-related skills and...

Not Your Parents’ SAT

by Laura Maniglia | Jan 21, 2024 | academic standing, enrollment, SAT, testing

A number of select colleges and universities have recently revised their policies regarding admissions testing. “High school GPAs are often perceived to represent inconsistent levels of readiness for college across high schools, whereas test scores (e.g., ACT...

Another Pivot on Admissions Testing

by Laura Maniglia | Jan 11, 2024 | academic standing, Admissions, enrollment, grading system, parents, public schools, testing

My previous blog regarding the resumption of required admissions testing for MIT ended with a speculation: Now that MIT has recognized that standardized tests are a valid part of the admissions process, it may be only a matter of time before ...

Read the Evidence

Recess is Vital!

Teach for America

Dyscalculia?

Not Your Parents’ SAT

Another Pivot on Admissions Testing

If schools were permitted to have just one training, this is the one!