Elements of Creativity
Specific characteristics of the creative individual appear to be disparate and elusive. Creativity takes many different forms, so attempting to define it can be an exercise in futility. Does a creative artist display the same characteristics as...Writing: A Significant Factor in Cognitive Skills
The importance of teaching and supporting handwriting has implications reaching far beyond the elementary classroom. Teaching handwriting in the early grades can stimulate small motor coordination. Virginia Berninger, a researcher and professor of educational...Active Reading and SQ3R
In 1946, an American experimental psychologist, Francis Robinson, published a book called Effective Study. He delineated a method to improve reading comprehension: SQ3R. His goal was to help military personnel become better learners. The abbreviation provides the...Sleep and Anxiety
Quality sleep is crucial for good health. While that statement may be a truism, why do so many people underestimate the importance of good sleep habits? Not until the 1990’s did medical research focus on what appeared obvious to parents and teachers....Supporting Creativity
Children are naturally creative. In his very popular 2006 TED talk, Sir Ken Robinson explained that children “have extraordinary talents. Unfortunately, that attribute appears to diminish with age. A NASA study found that 98 percent of preschool children ...Erudition: How important is Vocabulary?
Vocabulary refers to the words we must understand to communicate effectively. Educators often consider four types of vocabulary: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The average teenager has about 3,000 words in his vocabulary. However, in 2016 researchers...Be wary of “Anti-social” Media!
A recent book entitled The Coddling of the American Mind provides a rather disturbing view of the emotional state of the generation now present on college campuses. Known as “iGen” (short for Internet Generation) or “Generation Z,” they...Teens, Sleep, and Risky Behavior
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) confirms what many have suspected: Insufficient sleep has potentially dangerous results for adolescents and teens. These effects can include learning difficulties and impaired...The “Old McDonald” Approach to Teaching
Teaching, a crucial profession, entrusts educators with developing not only their students’ academic skills but their interpersonal competence as well. Few experiences rival a teacher’s excitement witnessing the expansion of minds eager to learn. It is a truism that...