Learning from Home during School Closures: A Special Message
Some schools have directed teachers to provide several weeks of learning materials. The keys to successful learning include motivation and consistency. Whether your student has teacher-designed “learning activity packets,” or parent-directed...Study Skill: Dual Coding Explained
Dual coding is the process of combining text and images when studying. Dual coding theory has its roots in the practical use of imagery as a memory aid 2500 years ago. The memory emphasis evolved into broader applications of imagery aimed at accelerating the...High Expectations: “Tough” Teachers Benefit Students
Grade inflation is very prevalent. Because grades provided by teachers are highly subjective, comparing grade point averages (GPA’s) whether from...Active Learning Strategy: Writing vs. Typing
Handwriting notes is an effective strategy for knowledge retention because writing is a cognitive process. It is one of the strategies of active learning because it engages the brain to maximize understanding and retention. Eschewing high tech methods of...More Caveats about Screen Time
In a previous blog (November 2019), I provided a brief summary of the consequences of screen time for children. Additional research by the American Academy of Pediatrics demonstrates the alarming effects that smartphones, tablets, computers, and other devices have on...ACT Policy Changes
On October 8, the ACT announced changes that will occur beginning in the fall of 2020. The three major changes will provide students with more flexibility regarding test taking and score reporting....Synchronize with Teens’ Chronobiology
The beginning of fall heralds the semi-annual changing of the clocks. This “spring ahead, fall back” ritual has special implications for teens, whose high school classes usually begin shortly after the cocks crow. While those waiting at the bus stop before 7 am may...The College Board’s “Landscape” Replaces Adversity Score
The College Board reacted to outcry about the proposed “adversity score” by replacing it with “Landscape.” The question: How different is this new metric from the pilot program that 50 colleges and universities used over the last couple of...The College Board’s Adversity Index
In May, the College Board announced that it would expand the use of a pilot program that provides an “adversity index” to students’ SAT scores. The College Board has for several years been testing an “adversity index” designed to place...