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81% of teachers, 56% of parents want 4-day week -- but students will learn less
The four-day school week is popular with teachers and parents, but research shows students learn less.
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 62 min read
1 comment


California tells schools: Go easy on homework
A new California law urges school to set homework policies that ease stress and promote "equity."
Joanne Jacobs
Jan 31 min read
1 comment


Why teachers are stressed: Student misbehavior is #1 complaint
Student misbehavior is the "number one cause of job-related stress in teachers," reports Matt Lincoln for CBS12 in Palm Beach County,...
Joanne Jacobs
Nov 22, 20242 min read
2 comments


Teaching fragility
Students stressed by the election results can skip classes tomorrow at their elite New York City private school, reports Christopher Maag...
Joanne Jacobs
Nov 5, 20242 min read
2 comments


An 'F' for grading: Can expectations go any lower?
Grading may be stressful, writes George Leef on the Martin Center for Academic Renewal. It may deliver unwelcome news to students or...
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 4, 20242 min read
4 comments


Learning is hard, and cheating is easier than ever: What can teachers do?
Teachers can't turn every student into an eager learner, but they can make it harder to cheat.
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 3, 20242 min read
4 comments


Parents, don't drive yourself crazy
"Intensive parenting" is driving parents crazy.
Joanne Jacobs
Sep 22, 20241 min read
1 comment


Covid stress hurt memory, 'flexible thinking' for kids and teachers, says study
Students -- and teachers -- lost reasoning, memory and executive-function skills during the pandemic. Stress? Long Covid? Screens?
Joanne Jacobs
Sep 21, 20241 min read
0 comments


'Mad minutes' don't cause math anxiety -- and kids learn more
New research shows timed math tests don't worsen math anxiety.
Joanne Jacobs
Aug 9, 20242 min read
0 comments


The race is not always to the swift when kids play SEL sportyball
Do coaches need a "social and emotional learning" curriculum to mentor student-athletes?
Joanne Jacobs
Jun 7, 20242 min read
7 comments


Why I quit teaching: Pay was OK, but not the loss of autonomy
Ben Stein quit teaching after 20 years as a teacher and coach in the West Des Moines school district, he writes on USA Today. He was...
Joanne Jacobs
Apr 2, 20242 min read
3 comments


'White flight' from overachieving Asians?
A "B" grade is an "Asian F" and a "white A," they used to say in Silicon Valley high schools. Maybe they still do, if they have enough...
Joanne Jacobs
Dec 2, 20232 min read
20 comments


Mom knows everything: Apps let parents track kids' schoolwork -- and drive them crazy
If only parents were involved in their children's education, teachers said, students would do so much better. If only teachers...
Joanne Jacobs
Nov 5, 20232 min read
5 comments


America needs strivers
Rewarding mediocrity is a losing strategy for America, writes Doug Lemov, author of Teach Like a Champion 3.0, on Education Next. U.S....
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 26, 20232 min read
10 comments

Homework load keeps getting lighter as grades go higher
Forty-four percent of 13-year-olds (eighth grade) did no homework in 2022, writes Tom Loveless. The numbers are very similar for...
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 6, 20232 min read
8 comments


Timed tests are misleading: Success is a marathon, not a sprint
The new digital SAT will take two hours, instead of three, and will give students more time to answer each question. That's a much better...
Joanne Jacobs
Sep 22, 20232 min read
6 comments


Teachers are thriving in charter, private schools
Teachers, Facing Increasing Levels of Stress, Are Burned Out, according to a March story in the New York Times. That seems to be true for...
Joanne Jacobs
Jun 13, 20231 min read
6 comments


Why parents choose virtual schools
Virtual schooling has a bad reputation, writes Ian Kingsbury, a senior fellow at the Educational Freedom Institute, in City Journal....
Joanne Jacobs
Jun 6, 20232 min read
4 comments


Sad, sleepy teens: Will starting school later improve mental health?
Worried about the teen mental health crisis, nine states and a number of major cities are considering mandating later start times for...
Joanne Jacobs
May 13, 20231 min read
9 comments


Set up to fail: In real life, you've got to show up and do the work
"Equitable grading" is supposed to be fairer to students who have trouble completing homework, getting to school on time and studying for...
Joanne Jacobs
May 11, 20233 min read
7 comments
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