I recently read about the Sequoyah Shool in Pasadena, California, where engaging students is the school’s primary concern. Engaging students through curiosity By Josh Brody director, Sequoyah School, Pasadena, CA from Pasadena Star News I recently sat in on a parent-teacher conference led by a 6-year-old student. She was presenting her tree notebook. She eagerlyContinue reading “How to Engage Students in School”
Category Archives: In the News
For $99 a Month, Students Get Math, English, and Science Tutoring from a Network of Teacher in India
According to an article on Newser, tutoring has been outsourced to India. For $99 a month, students can get unlimited help with English, math, or science from TutorVista, a network of Indian teachers. Demand for the service is so high that the company is hiring 1,500 more teachers in the coming weeks.
Middle School in Missouri Tries No Homework Policy
According to an article in South East Missourian, a middle school in Bloomfield, Missouri, is trying out a no homework policy. After the principal noticed that poor grades were a result of either low homework scores or failure to turn in homework assignments, she decided to see whether a change in policy, allowing for lessContinue reading “Middle School in Missouri Tries No Homework Policy”
The Milleys Capture Canada (and the U.S. and U.K. as well)
The day I wrote about the Milleys, parents from Calgary, Canada, who negotiated a contract with their children’s school allowing their children to opt-out of homework, the national press asked me to put it in touch with the Milleys. Since then, the Canadian newspapers, radio, and TV have reported the story, all of the coverageContinue reading “The Milleys Capture Canada (and the U.S. and U.K. as well)”
Why “Race to the Top” will Fail
My favorite education blogger, Susan Ohanian, posted a link to this wonderful piece by Marion Brady in the Washington Post. The One Reason Duncan’s “Race to the Top Will Fail By Marion Brady November 4, 2009 When “Race to the Top” fails, as it will, the main reason won’t be any of those currently beingContinue reading “Why “Race to the Top” will Fail”
Hooray (again) for Canada – Simcoe County District in Ontario Implements Decent New Homework Policy
In April, I wrote about a school in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, which, after eliminating most homework, found that students were more engaged and less tired and teachers were more focused. Now, the County District in which that school is located, Simcoe, just instituted a new district-wide homework policy. Some of the things that I particularlyContinue reading “Hooray (again) for Canada – Simcoe County District in Ontario Implements Decent New Homework Policy”
Success – One Thousand Parents and Teachers Pack School Board Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, and Board Backs Down
In September, I wrote about parents in Pam Beach County, Florida, who were up in arms about the School Board’s new policy allowing for 60 minutes of homework in 3rd grade and 90 minutes in 4th and 5th. Homework was just one of their concerns. The others included frequent testing, a calendar of skills thatContinue reading “Success – One Thousand Parents and Teachers Pack School Board Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, and Board Backs Down”
England Should Raise the Starting Age of School to 6, says Cambridge Primary Review
The Cambridge Primary Review, just released its first comprehensive inquiry into English primary education in 40 years. A team of 14 authors relied on, among other things, more than 4000 published sources, both national and international, as well as 28 specially-commissioned research surveys, to write the report. The conclusion I’m most interested in is theContinue reading “England Should Raise the Starting Age of School to 6, says Cambridge Primary Review”
Parents Should View Homework with Skepticism
I was really happy to see this piece by David Shenk, “Does Homework Work?” in the Atlantic Monthly: School’s back, and so is Big Homework. Here’s what my 7th grade daughter has to do tonight: 1 Math review sheet, 1 Science essay, French vocab for possible quiz, History reading and questionaire, and English reading andContinue reading “Parents Should View Homework with Skepticism”
One Giant Step Backwards, One Baby Step Forward
Palm Beach County, Florida, instituted a new homework policy over the summer, allowing for 60 minutes of homework in third grade and 90 minutes in 4th and 5th. According to an article in the Florida Sun Sentinel, parents are up in arms. (If you’re one of those parents, please let me know.) At the sameContinue reading “One Giant Step Backwards, One Baby Step Forward”
Stop Homework 