Let's talk about standardized testing. This has been a hot topic in American education for years. Why the controversy? Standardized testing takes a good idea to an extreme that doesn't always result in good education. When the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated standardized testing for all public school students, public educators were forced [...]
As they grow, children are (consciously or subconsciously) taught to conform to rules and boundaries, and not to question for fear of displeasing others or being mocked. Without even realizing it, adults often curb their curiosity and critical thinking, in place teaching them conformity and acceptance of what they believe is right. Even in school, [...]
Keeping students motivated is an incredibly important part of being an effective teacher. Students' potential to learn is almost endless as long as they can stay motivated to continue working hard—especially in the face of difficult problems. Grades are the classic way to motivate students. Traditionally, good grades have been held out as a kind [...]
It seems like every day we hear frightening new data on the rise of bullying, and it doesn't take much more than a casual scroll through our social media feeds to find horrific stories of bullying and the awful impacts it has on the children who have endured this abuse. Especially with the rise of [...]
In many instances, teachers want students to compete: for great grades; on projects; to be the "best" in the classroom. Many of the schools often considered to be the "best" drive students to higher levels of academic success through competition-based learning. Students are trying to do better, achieve better, top their classmates. As a result, [...]
A few weeks ago we asked our teachers to let us know the things they would like their student's parents to know. The responses we received back covered many different angles, but they were so good we thought we should share it. This is a Tenney teacher list, but we think this list would resonate [...]
A big red zero in the grade book typically means only one thing: a student has failed to turn in an assignment. Giving zeros for classwork that wasn’t turned in on time is the typical response of most teachers to a student who has failed to complete the necessary work. Zeros, however, can [...]
In an international news story attracting a great deal of attention, France has recently banned cell phones in school for students under the age of 15. While many American classrooms are choosing to embrace smartphone technology, others, like those in France, are discovering just how detrimental phones can be to the learning process in general. [...]
Customized Instruction The right education will prove to be a valuable asset to every child who receives one. However, many children pass through school to graduation without actually learning what they are supposed to learn. The scandal that occurred in the Atlanta school district where several educators manipulated student scores so that the students would be eligible [...]
Most parents would agree that customized instruction for students is more effective than the broad curriculum used in the classroom by large schools, yet they might still wonder: how much of a difference will it really make? Caring parents understand how choosing the education path for their children is a big responsibility, as it's one [...]
